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Cecilia Berg Center for Environmental Education

Located in Oxford, Ohio, the non-profit Center for Environmental Education is committed to helping heal natural systems.  Working with partner organizations both locally and abroad—including  Miami University's Hefner Museum of Natural History, the Institute for the Environment and Sustainability, and Tasbayam (a Costa Rican environmental organization)—the Center participates in efforts to restore local habitats and ecosystems; offers inquiry-based educational programs for audiences of all ages; and sponsors innovative education and conservation projects at Tortuguero, Costa Rica. Through certification programs and hands-on service-learning projects, the Center enables Miami students to improve the health of the natural world as they teach others about natural systems and ecological processes.  In this way, students can help heal our 'world of wounds'—one project at a time.

Effective environmental education–that which fosters an environmentally literate citizenry helps people:

  • understand how nature works
  • appreciate the interdependence of all life, thus respecting both the living and nonliving components of the biosphere
  • recognize that environmental problems are caused by the interaction between natural and cultural systems
  • adopt an interdisciplinary approach to solving those problems
  • act to prevent or solve environmental problems, should we choose to do so

Visit Us

The Hefner Museum of Natural History contains specimens that were collected by Miami faculty, alumni, and others dating back to the early years of the university. The 53,000 specimens in our collection represent a slice of the Earth's fascinating natural history.

Faculty and Staff

We are happy to serve as a resource for faculty and staff across many disciplines, from the sciences, to the arts and humanities, to education.  Inquiry activities offered at the museum encourage intellectual engagement and critical thinking, and foster a deeper understanding of subject matter through hands-on discovery. 

Staff members are available Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., to help Miami faculty and staff incorporate specimens and exhibits into their classrooms or research programs.  Faculty and staff are encouraged to contact the Hefner to:

  • arrange a class visit
  • review and select specimens for classroom or lab use
  • check out museum Discovery Trunks or other resources

Students

The Center supports the retention of undergraduates by offering students the opportunity to design and conduct creative, self-directed independent studies and capstone projects, or to work or volunteer in an ever-evolving dynamic environment.

Opportunities for students include but are not limited to, classes and certifications, volunteer positions, independent studies and internships, and Discovery Trunks and other resources for classroom use. For more student or volunteer opportunities, contact a member of the Hefner staff today.

Support the Center

The Bever Family of Oxford, Ohio, provided the initial financial support to establish and endow the Center for Environmental Education at Miami University. We are deeply grateful for their commitment to environmental education and to the Oxford community. We are also thankful to Duke Energy, which funded the development of the certification program for early childhood environmental educators.

Donate now

Cecilia Berg Center for Environmental Education

100 Upham Hall
Oxford, OH 45056