A grassroots, ground-up effort! A new professional development and capacity building project to elevate the prominence of ʻāina-based education (ABE) statewide, making it a more accessible and affirmed profession that honors Hawai'i's unique environment, culture, and people who mālama and aloha ʻāina.
The ʻĀina-Based Education Certification (ABEC) program will be designed to serve both formal (classroom teachers) and non-formal educators (e.g. educators at non-profits and government agencies) as well as students grades 10 and up. Diversity and inclusion will be fundamental, potentially reaching teachers and students from communities throughout Hawaiʻi and involving a wide range of partner organizations to provide outdoor and hands-on training opportunities. While this project is centered on professional development, its impact could be systemic, elevating the prominence of ABE and making it more accessible and commonly practiced. ABE can ignite passion for conservation careers and build a long-term conservation ethic for Hawaiʻi that is needed perhaps more than ever before.
In 2022, with the Hawaiʻi Alliance for Environmental Education, we researched best practices for environmental education certification in other states and also conducted an opinion survey, answered by more than 170 individuals including students and teachers from across Hawaiʻi. While it was not a scientific survey, the results provide direction in forming the pilot program. High priorities that emerged are: expanding relationships among ʻāina-based educators and community partners to reinforce place-based learning, and ensuring that education integrates Hawaiian culture and language as well as nurtures collective responsibility for environmental stewardship.
Why ABEC?
Empower Educators
Recognize and Reward ʻāina-based education
Uplift student engagement in stewardship
Cultivate next generation leadership
Build the conservation career workforce
Opportunities to earn an ABEC
Pilot Phase: Aʻo ʻĀina PD Program for Professional Level 1 ABEC Certification
Kupu and Mālama Learning Center are excited to announce the opening of the Aʻo ʻĀina Professional Development Program! Aʻo ʻĀina, formerly known as Natural Resources Professional Development (NRPD) Program, uses a work-based learning approach to enhance teachers’ knowledge of different natural resource careers and topics, with each educator’s journey (~40 hours of programming) individually curated to expand on their interests and help fill their knowledge gaps. Upon successful completion of the program, participants are awarded $595.
For additional details about Aʻo ʻĀina, please check out the following websitehere. If you are interested in applying to join the Aʻo ʻĀina Professional Development Program.
E kala mai, the application is period has closed. We will post future updates when available
We are designing the pilot phase structure for earning an ABEC that is not part of the Aʻo ʻĀina PD program particularly for educators who desire more flexibility. We intend to launch in early 2024. Please let us know if youʻre interested in learning more!
How to get involved
If you are interested in any of the following;
Interested in being an ABEC participant (educator or student)
Would like to be on the Advisory Council (i.e. if you are an experienced ABE educator, administer, or students looking to review ABEC material
Want to be a mentor & "subject expert" for our applicants to receive ʻike from you
Please email pauline@malamalearningcenter.org
Mahalo NUI to NOAA BWET Hawaiʻi, Kamehameha Schools, and Kupu for being core supporters of this initiative through grants and in-kind support.