Environmental education teaches students about the world around them, preparing them for their future by providing access to environmental topics and shaping the way they look at and approach problems. While this method is often viewed through nature and its systems, its benefits for K-12 students are wide-reaching. Research shows that environmental education can drastically improve students’ attitudes toward learning and foster an interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers.

 83% of students struggle to connect what they learn in school to potential future careers.

Rios, J. M., & Brewer, J., Outdoor Education and Science Achievement. Applied Environmental Education & Communication.

But the full impact of environmental education goes much further. It is a powerful tool for the development of key soft skills, such as critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and more. These skills are incredibly important in today’s world—they enable a higher level of communication and problem solving, both skills that are important in building strong interpersonal relationships, navigating complex situations, and achieving personal and professional goals.

Environmental Education Prepares Students for the Careers of Tomorrow

Research shows that 83% of students struggle to connect what they learn in school to potential future careers. Environmental education can bridge that gap by connecting students to unique industries and offering materials that challenge the way they approach tasks. This focus on skill development is a deliberate response to the growing demand among companies for a highly skilled and adaptable workforce.

According to the World Economic Forum, 85% of employers are prioritizing upskilling their workforce, as workers can expect that, on average, two-fifths of their existing skills will change or even become outdated over the 2025-2030 period.

Students who participate in environmental education are better prepared to thrive in today’s evolving workforce, as they are already equipped with the very skills many employers are working to develop in their existing employees. Environmental education teaches students to think creatively, communicate effectively, and work across diverse teams—skills that will set these students apart in the coming years.

The Environmental Education Initiative

Teaching students about the world around them and preparing all learners for a better tomorrow is why Discovery Education, NEEF, and other stakeholders have partnered to create the Environmental Education Initiative (EEI). Through high-quality resources, project-based learning experiences, and robust research that explores the environment and builds students’ knowledge and skills, EEI helps students build the knowledge and skills needed for future success.

Generation Innovation, for example, encourages students to think creatively and critically by placing them at the center of the decision-making process, challenging them to develop innovative solutions to real-world environmental issues. Through a growing collection of multimodal resources, educators can help kickstart student curiosity by showing how this type of problem solving can be adapted to a wide range of industries and issues.

All the high-quality instructional materials are standards-aligned and highlight the four pillars of innovation: environment, community, resources, and STEM. By providing students with engaging environmental resources, the Environmental Education Initiative fosters essential skills that enrich their learning today and empower them to thrive in tomorrow’s workforce.

The Future Looks Bright for Environmental Education

NEEF and Discovery Education will continue to offer dynamic resources to students at no cost, encouraging educators and school districts to get ahead on environmental stewardship—one of the fastest growing skills according to the Future of Jobs Report 2025. Students around the world will be able to benefit from these materials and build real-world connections to industries as they work to become creative problem-solvers and innovative thinkers.

By inspiring curiosity and meaningful learning today, environmental education builds important skills, strengthens students’ academic outcomes, and lays the foundation for future career success.

Learn More About the Benefits of Environmental Education

For more specific information about the benefits of environmental education for students, check out NEEF’s Benefits of Environmental Education resource page. This exhaustive resource provides detailed descriptions of these benefits along four distinct concepts:

• Improving Academic Achievement
• Encouraging Environmental Stewardship
• Deepening Personal Development and Well-being
• Strengthening Communities

Each of these concepts are backed by academic research, case studies, and educator surveys. There are also links to additional environmental education resources, including monthly newsletters, games and activities, grants and professional development opportunities for educators, and more.

Amy Nakamoto is Executive Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Partnerships at Discovery Education, connecting partners to K–12 classrooms through real-world content and coalitions. She brings cross-sector experience in education, nonprofits, and philanthropy to drive initiatives that support student success.