Since the 1970s, an active group of education professionals in New Hampshire has used the environment as a context of learning. Members of New Hampshire Environmental Educators (NHEE) have actively been providing resources and professional development opportunities to all educators. The New Hampshire Children in Nature Coalition brings together organizations and individuals who are dedicated to connecting children, youth and families to the outdoors. Members of these two organizations, other educators and individuals joined to form the Environmental Literacy Plan (ELP) Working Group in order to draft New Hampshire’s plan. After engaging stakeholders through various means, a draft was created, reviewed and is presented here.

New Hampshire's Environmental Literacy Plan provides an organized framework to ensure environmental literacy for all people outlined by the six Key Areas of the plan. Key Areas 1 and 2 ensure that environmental literacy activities address state education goals and are aligned with student graduation requirements. Key Area 3 focuses on the need for professional development to assist teachers and school districts. Key Area 4 considers the assessment of Environmental Literacy, and Key Area 5 addresses implementation and funding. Finally, Key Area 6 stipulates that environmental education opportunities be provided in schools and communities. The Environmental Literacy Plan serves as a component creating a pathway for achieving statewide environmental literacy and is a required element for federal funding based on the pending No Child Left Inside legislation.