A moderated thoughtful public process where citizens will learn from one another, weighing various approaches, and find courses of action consistent with what the community and individuals hold valuable.  During a deliberative forum, people:

• Look at different ways of thinking about a problem
• Exchange views with others
• Weigh benefit and trade-offs of different options
• Listen and reconsider in a safe environment

Wild Rose Education coordinated this 2nd annual bioblitz in collaboration with the Colorado Natural Heritage Program and the landowner John Powers.

Environmental Issues Forums (EIF) are a North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) initiative designed to promote meaningful, productive deliberation about difficult issues that affect the environment and communities.
Environmental Issues Forums in the Classroom - In April 2016, the White House announced the inclusion of NAAEE and Kettering Foundation's Environmental Issues Forums (EIF) in the President's Climate Education and Literacy Initiative. NAAEE is committed to supporting teachers’ use of the Climate Choices issue guide in their classrooms. During the summer of 2016, Sarah Johnson was part of a team who created and drafted the new middle school level teacher's guide. The guide provides an introduction to the EIF issue guide Climate Choices: How should we meet the challenges of a warming planet? Using Climate Choices offers an opportunity for teachers and students to use a deliberative process to consider climate change choices. This resource provides background information on deliberation, how to use Climate Choices in the classroom, and material to help teachers moderate a forum with students. Ito also includes resources on teaching about climate change. Read more about EIF and NAAEE.