Leaving environmental education
After deciding to leave
I once attended a conference session for outdoor educators dedicated to coping strategies. This session was not about the kind of coping strategies you might typically think of first. These coping strategies were about how to continue working in the field of environmental education (EE).
I sat back and listened as the session facilitator engaged outdoor educators in a conversation about resources they use and what they do when their seasonal work ends. As I looked on, I began to hear that all-too-familiar rant starting up in my head again. The one that goes something like this:
Why does it feel that to be a teacher, you need to have more than one job?
The individuals I listened to during this session were young, energetic, and passionate educators who were very good at what they did. I know because I observed them working in their element throughout this two-day conference held at an outdoor residential camp. While this energetic group of educators generously shared resources, I could feel that some of them were on the verge of leaving environmental education to get a “real” job.
How can we help early-career professionals transition to other environmental roles after they’ve decided to leave traditional EE?