The PEEC program’s mission is to foster and empower a professional environmental education network to promote environmental literacy in South Carolina. To achieve this mission, the PEEC course provides challenging and engaging multidisciplinary avenues to strengthen an individual’s skill set as an environmental educator.

The PEEC content blends the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) Core Competencies with South Carolina specific topics, examples, and regions.

Program Highlights

• Timeline for Completion: 2 years
• Eligibility: South Carolina K-12 formal and nonformal educators
• Environmental education training and experiences in the different regions of the state
• 120 Hours of Renewal Credit through the S.C. State Department of Education

Required Elements

• Four, two-night and three-day, in-person workshops designed to develop skills for effective environmental education instruction.
• Eight online modules using Google Classroom online learning platform. These modules explore topics such as the foundations and history of the field of environmental education.
• Individualized elective component (90 hours) that encourages exploration of and the different regions of the state and aligns with the personal interests of the participant.
• Capstone project that demonstrates mastery of knowledge and skill and involves the implementation of a new or revised program or product.

Length Certification Valid: 5 years (recertification available)

Information Session: April 28, 2026 from 5:30 – 6:15 pm via Zoom (Deadline to register April 24)

PEEC Application Period: May 1 – June 30, 2026

New Cohort Announced: July 31, 2026

PEEC Kick-off Meeting: September 15, 2026 from 5:30 – 6:15 pm

Workshop #1 (Coastal): January 15 – 17, 2027

Workshop #2 (Upstate): August 3 – 5, 2027

Workshop #3 (Midlands): January 14 – 16, 2028

Workshop #4 (Upstate): August 1 – 3, 2028