Contacts:
E.V. Bell, Education and Outreach Manager, S.C. Sea Grant Consortium: elizabeth.bell@scseagrant.org
Keith Willoughby, Executive Director of EEASC: director@eeasc.org
CHARLESTON, S.C. (May 15, 2025) – On April 25, 2025, the Environmental Education Association of South Carolina (EEASC)’s state certification program, the Palmetto Environmental Education Certification (PEEC), received national accreditation by the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE).
PEEC is South Carolina’s first environmental education (EE) professional certification designed for both formal and nonformal educators. In 2018, the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium launched PEEC in partnership with a 14-member steering committee comprised of classroom teachers, nonformal educators, college professors, and ecotourism professionals. Now coordinated through a partnership between the Consortium and EEASC, the two-year program engages participants through in-person training workshops, online modules, group discussions, individualized outdoor explorations, and culminates in capstone projects designed to fine-tune skills for effective environmental education. PEEC is endorsed by the S.C. Department of Education for 120 renewal credits and is valid for five years, with recertification available. The current cohort of nine educators is expected to graduate with their certification in August 2026.
Now accredited by the NAAEE, individuals certified through PEEC are recognized nationally: their certification carries with them even if they relocate to a new state. The NAAEE is a U.S.-based nonprofit focused on strengthening the field of environmental education and increasing the visibility and efficacy of the profession. NAAEE accredits state and provincial certification programs that meet rigorous standards and undergo an intensive review process to ensure ongoing compliance with the Guidelines for Excellence and best practices in EE.
EEASC is a nonprofit that has represented environmental education in the State of South Carolina since 1977 and serves as S.C.’s affiliate for NAAEE. EEASC connects, supports, and equips South Carolinians to promote environmental stewardship through education. Their mission is to strengthen environmental literacy by providing professional development, resources, and networking opportunities for educators in both formal and non-formal settings. EEASC envisions a South Carolina where all people understand, value, and act to protect the environment. They achieve this through statewide programs like PEEC and partnerships with organizations like the Consortium that inspire lifelong learning and community engagement.
“We are incredibly proud that PEEC has earned national accreditation from NAAEE—this recognition affirms the program’s quality and the powerful impact it’s having on environmental education across South Carolina.” — Keith Willoughby, Executive Director, EEASC
“The PEEC program was built from the ground up by South Carolina educators and reflects the importance of the environmental education field to communities across the state. The goal of PEEC is to create a network of skilled environmental education professionals who can creatively and effectively communicate the importance of our natural resources and foster a culture of stewardship across all ages and abilities.” — E.V. Bell, Education and Outreach Manager, S.C. Sea Grant Consortium.
Find more information and materials on PEEC for the press.
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