Evaluation of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Conservation Education Programs

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) asked the authors to conduct an evaluation of five youth and two teacher education programs. The main goal of the evaluation was to determine to what extent these programs influence participants’ level of environmentally responsible behaviors. In light of this goal, data were collected on variables that have been linked to environmentally responsible behaviors. These variables included participants' environmental sensitivity, perceived knowledge of ecology/issues/action strategies, personal responsibility, perceived skill, and intention to act. Information about teachers’ perceived barriers to teaching about the Bay was also obtained. Based on the evaluation’s results, CBF decided to adapt each program to target a smaller number of specific ERB characteristics instead of attempting to influence all ERB characteristics through each one of its programs. CBF also focused on encouraging teachers to use multiple activities and programs which build on one another. Last, more effort was put into helping teachers implement the curriculum as intended and reducing their barriers to teaching about the Bay.