“I’m thrilled to announce my book, Empowered: One Planet at a Time, will be used again as a textbook for the Natural Resources 478, Environmental Issues Investigation and Action course (3 credits) in the College of Natural Resources at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. We pilot tested the book for this course last spring semester. I was informed that it will be used again this coming semester. I guess you could say, it passed the test,” said author and environmental educator Patty Dreier.

The NR 478 description in the UWSP Course Catalog reads: Rationale and strategies for investigating environmental issues at local, state, regional, or national levels; select and implement actions to resolve issues through political, economic, legal, educational, and lifestyle avenues. Group project. Available for graduate credit.

At the UW-Stevens Point College of Natural Resource, NR 478 is a required course for a bachelor of science degree in Resource Management: Environmental Education and Interpretation. It is an elective for the following bachelor of science emphases in Resource Management: Sustainability, Environmental Science and Management, and Conservation Law Enforcement. It is also an elective for the Environmental Education Minor for Elementary/Middle School.

“When I wrote Empowered, I designed it to be used as a resource to equip people with the tools needed to make changes happen on issues that matter to them—in their individual lives, workplaces, communities, or classrooms they may teach. A cornerstone Human Dimensions in Natural Resources academic discipline in the UWSP College of Natural Resources is to use problem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills to address environmental problems. Knowing my book is being used in a way I dreamed it to be used is very fulfilling. And to connect during the semester with the students is icing on the cake,” said Patty Dreier.