Earth Education Speeches
with Steve Van Matre
Professor Van Matre is widely known as an author, designer, educator, entertainer, organizer and provocateur. His animated talks and spirited commentaries -- such as "Sunship Earth," "Environmental Education: Mission Gone Astray," and "Starmakers" -- seldom leave anyone unmoved.
Since the beginning of the environmental movement, he has presented hundreds of speeches and training sessions and completed 20 world speaking tours on behalf of The Institute for Earth Education.
Overviews & Testimonials...
A Voice for the Earth...
Steve Van Matre's popularity in the field of nature education began with his publication of the Acclimatization and Acclimatizing books, and the 1974 National Geographic story on his program. Today, Steve enjoys a worldwide reputation as an author, designer, educator -- and yes, as an organizer, speaker and "provocateur."
"Falling in love with the earth is one of life's great adventures. It is an affair of the heart like no other; a rapturous experience that remains endlessly repeatable throughout life. This is no fleeting romance, it's an uncommon affair, one unconstrained by age or custom, and strengthened rather than diminished through sharing. The more one gives it away, the stronger it grows."
A former classroom teacher, camp director, youth leader, educational consultant and university professor, Steve is based today at Cedar Cove in Greenville, West Virginia.
Cedar Cove is the first international living and learning centre dedicated exclusively to training educators in building comprehensive instructional programs that will address the root causes of our environmental problems.
The original Acclimatization books, now pioneering classics in the field, have been followed by Sunship Earth and Earthkeepers -- powerful outdoor learning programs for upper elementary students, and The Earth Speaks -- a collection of thoughts and impressions of those who have enjoyed a deep sense of relationship with the earth and its life. Professor Van Matre's call to action, Earth Education... A New Beginning, represents a synthesis of his twenty-five years in the field and sets the course for a new educational path in the future.
From Previous Participants:
One thought leaped to mind when I first came into contact with earth education programs: These programs are so powerful because they use the best possible applications of learning theory. It was exciting to hear Steve Van Matre present this vital aspect of the institute's work in his powerful speech, "Educators as Mapbearers, Toolkeepers, Starmakers." Steve challenges, inspires and motivates us to look at ourselves as educators in a thrilling new light.
- Jim Blake
Environmental Program Coordinator
The Third International Camping Congress
Toronto, Ontario, CANADA