Dedicated or Delusional
The decision to stay or go
When do you know when to walk away?
When is the right time to ignore sunk costs?
These decisions require an honest conversation with oneself. I don't know what emotions these questions stir up in you. I can, though, tell you what they stirred up in me.
Yes, it would be easy to walk away from this line of work. To say I tried and then move on.
The thing is, I can't.
I wonder sometimes, is it because I'm delusional or dedicated?
Am I stubbornly hanging on to an identity I've outgrown?
Is there a "there" here?
I decided for myself that there is something here and that its location is not within the traditional boundaries of environmental education. It's in all the other ways environmental education happens.
This is why I immerse myself in journalism circles, attend journalism conferences, take courses for journalists, and want to introduce environmental educators to solutions journalism. There is something over there. It fits comfortably with my values around environmental learning, community, and my concerns about our changing climate.
How many ways can you do EE? Lots.
Think about the podcast guests who have shared stories about their work and why they started it. Through them, we have learned that independent environmental educators work in communities in many ways. We've had the privilege to learn from dozens of guests. There isn't enough room here to cite their diverse approaches to environmental learning and nature connection.
Let's consider one past guest. Sarah Johnson is an environmental science professor, interdisciplinary climate educator, and founder of Wild Rose Education. For more than 10 years, Sarah has partnered with teachers and organizations and created opportunities like the Youth Climate Summit. Her work, like that of many others, has changed during the past year. Relationships have changed, and networks have fragmented. She writes eloquently about this change on her website. You may see some of your experience in hers.
What have you had to reconsider during the past year?
Did you consider leaving the field?
If so, what made you stay?
You are not alone.
New Audio Series
A new audio series launched this week. The series kicks off with a conversation with Ivón Hassel, building engineer, timber scientist, and author of The Magic Within a Tree.
Each installment will be published within this newsletter.
Hope you enjoy the first episode.
News & Events
- New desk reporting on, with, and for Indigenous communities (Mongabay)
- The Future of the Climate Movement, a new series by The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women (HERO)
- 13th World Environmental Education Congress in Perth, Australia (September 21-25, 2026)
- Using virtual reality to explain the realities of rising sea levels (Environmental Education Research, Open Access)