While state and federal educational standards concentrate on the basics, to the exclusion of almost everything else, proponents of Eco-literacy are finding ways to bring the outside world into the classroom. And vice versa.

The Center for Ecoliteracy's decision to concentrate on tools and frameworks, rather than developing detailed curricula, was deliberately made, explains Creative Director Karen Brown. That allows parents and teachers seeking to promote their work to approach it from a local policy-based perspective instead of getting caught up in debates over standards and details.

Eco-literacy is almost 180 degrees away from the indoor-oriented lifestyles of many students in the 21st century, observes Karen Brown, Creative Director for the Center for Eco-Literacy in Berkeley. That's a big reason why it's so important.