To accomplish this mission, the Center coordinates the development of instructional materials, offers professional development workshops for preservice and in-service teachers, and maintains a library of instructional materials available on loan.

A LIBRARY of instructional materials and videos related to environmental education are available on loan at the Center. Topics include plants, animals, habitat, air, water, solid waste, energy, and nonpoint source pollution. Additionally, there are materials that incorporate environmental issues in science and mathematics. For more information on specific needs, contact the Secretary, Trish Sowell at (270) 745-4424 or email at trish.sowell@wku.edu.

WEEK-LONG INSTITUTES are scheduled in the summer, and one-day workshops are schedued throughout the year . Training in the use of classroom activity guides is conducted for preservice and in-service teachers, as well as for nonformal educators. Following the training, participants receive the activity guide. See Upcoming Events.

DR. TERRY WILSON, Director of the Center since 1989, designs the program to encourage the collaboration of scientists and the general public. Terry spent most of his career specializing in teacher and leadership training in the area of environmental education. In addition to working with teachers in Kentucky, he conducted international training in environmental education for educators and natural resource managers in Asia, Russia, and throughout North America.

Born and raised in Ohio, Terry became a teacher and Director of the Outdoor Education Program for the Madison Local Schools (Mansfield). This marked the beginning of a more than 30-year career developing and implementing science and environmental education programs. Terry moved to Kentucky in 1974. In Kentucky, he directed several environmental programs for schools, universities, and governmental agencies. He served as the Environmental Education Coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Education and Director of the Center for Environmental Education at Murray State University for ten years.

Terry served on the board of directors for numerous state, national, and international organizations involved in promoting science and environmental education. He served three terms on the Board of Directors for the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), one year as its President, and as editor and publisher of "The Environmental Communicator." He was the first recipient of the "Environmental Education College Teacher of the Year," given by the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education. Additionally, Terry testified before a Congressional subcommittee on the National Environmental Education Act of 1990.

Jaiya Gonsalves Ellis, Program Co-ordinator for the Center, coordinates and facilitates teacher and non-formal educator workshops, promotes and provides educational resources for the community and local school districts, and assists Dr. Terry Wilson with Graduate courses.

Jaiya was born and raised in Washington State, where she went to Washington State University and obtained a Washington State Teachers license in Elementary Education with a minor in Sport Management. Jaiya came to Bowling Green in July 2003 and obtained her Masters in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Environmental Education while working for Housing and Residence Life as a Hall Director. Jaiya has been a part of the Center since July 2006.

Jaiya's passion is working in a non-formal educational setting focusing on Environmental Education. She strives to enhance the curriculum for young children to be aware, have an understanding of, and formulate a desire to be an active participant in their community, when it comes to environmental issues.

TRISH SOWELL, Secretary for the Center since 2002, manages the library, purchases all supplies, prepares documents for payment, maintains database for workshop participants, processes workshop applications, and helps construct and maintain the Center's Web site.

Trish was born in Missouri and moved to Kentucky in 1983, where she earned her Associate of Art degree in Information Systems at Western Kentucky University in 1995. For entertainment she likes sewing, gardening, camping, boating, fishing, concerts, attending events with her two teenage boys.