FreeChoice Learning and the Environment explores the theoretical, practical, and policy aspects of freechoice environmental education for learners of all ages. “ Free-Choice Learning and the Environment is essential reading for environmental educators. From theory to practice and implementation, and the application of research, it brings to light, in a highly easy-to-read format, the power and necessity of free-choice learning for understanding and addressing the multitude of issues we face in our environment.” ―Brian A. Day, North American Association for Environmental Education “This well-researched book with an extensive, impressive bibliography is an excellent scholarly venture into free-choice learning about the environment. Recommended.” ― Choice Reviews “This collection of well-known and esteemed authors provides timely and much-needed theoretical, scientific, and practical understanding of the learning that occurs in zoos, botanical gardens, parks, and other popular settings where people experience nature in largely informal and unstructured ways. For many people today, these settings represent one of the most important ways of experiencing nature. This book provides a window into how these areas affect us and, importantly, can be enhanced to provide a more meaningful and lasting understanding and appreciation of the natural world.” ―Stephen Kellert, Yale University John H. Falk is executive director of the Institute for Learning Innovation and Sea Grant Professor Emeritus of Free-Choice Learning at Oregon State University. He is known internationally for his work in the area of free-choice learning; the learning that occurs while visiting museums, science centers, zoos, aquariums, parks, watching educational television or surfing the internet for information. His recent research has focused on studying the long-term impacts of free-choice learning institutions; understanding why people utilize free-choice learning settings during their leisure time and helping cultural institutions of all kinds re-think their future positioning and business models in the 21st century. Dr. Falk has authored over two hundred scholarly articles and chapters and has published more than a dozen books in this and related areas.