Ecoschooling generally involves:
* Integrating environmental education into all aspects of the curriculum: This goes beyond a single "science" unit on nature. It means incorporating ecological principles and perspectives into subjects like math (calculating carbon footprints), social studies (exploring environmental justice), art (creating nature-inspired projects), and language arts (writing about environmental issues).
* Experiential learning: Hands-on activities, fieldwork, outdoor learning, and community projects are central. Students directly engage with the environment, learning through observation, investigation, and participation.
* Promoting environmental responsibility and action: Ecoschooling aims to cultivate environmentally conscious citizens who are empowered to make positive changes in their lives and communities. This could involve school-wide sustainability initiatives (recycling programs, composting, energy conservation), community cleanups, advocacy projects, or sustainable gardening.
* Holistic approach: It often considers the interconnectedness of social, economic, and environmental issues. It recognizes that environmental problems are complex and require a multifaceted approach to solutions.
* Connection to place: Learning is grounded in the local environment. Students study the specific ecology, history, and cultural relationships to their region.
In short, ecoschooling is an approach to education that seeks to nurture environmental awareness, responsibility, and action within a holistic and place-based learning context. Many schools might incorporate elements of ecoschooling without explicitly identifying as such.