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Directors and staff clearly model environmentally-sound practices and lifestyles (or there is evidence that they are working on them). |
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Programs are designed with specific outcomes in mind and use stimulating educational techniques and tools to pull instead of push the learners. |
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Everything works together and the visitors and participants are oriented to the sequential and cumulative ways in which they can proceed. |
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Programs and exhibits focus on major ecological concepts, such as, energy flow and cycling, and connect these processes to the daily lives of the participants and visitors. |
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Facilities are environmentally-sound in design and operation (or are being retrofitted to become more so). |
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Programs and exhibits challenge participants and visitors to make changes in their own lives and model possible choices for them to consider. |
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Overall atmosphere conveys great care and concern about the earth's places and processes, while promoting a sense of wonder and adventure for natural areas (emphasizing magic and meaning instead of names and numbers). |
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Programs serve as carefully crafted and focused "springboard" experiences (in ecological understanding and feeling) that must be completed later back at home and school. |
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Regular workshops or courses are offered in crafting more harmonious lifestyles (organic gardening, environmentally-responsible investing, modifying homes, etc.). |
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The characteristics described above dominate the overall feel of the place (from entrance to exit) and there are few, if any, discordant notes (unnecessarily caged animals, environmentally-unsound materials and practices, racks of trinkets for sale, etc.). |
