1. Needs assessment: Nonformal environmental education programs are designed to address identified environmental, educational, and community needs and to produce responsive, responsible benefits that address those identified needs.
1.1     Environmental issue or condition
1.2     Inventory of existing programs and materials
1.3     Audience needs

2. Organizational needs and capacities: Nonformal environmental education programs support and complement their parent organization’s mission, purpose, and goals.
2.1    Consistent with organizational priorities
2.2    Organization’s need for the program identified
2.3    Organization’s existing resources inventoried

3. Program scope and structure: Nonformal environmental education programs should be designed with well-articulated goals and objectives that state how the program will contribute to the development of environmental literacy.
3.1    Goals and objectives for the program
3.2    Fit with goals and objectives of environmental education
3.3    Program format and delivery
3.4    Partnerships and collaboration

4. Program delivery resources: Nonformal environmental education programs require careful planning to ensure that well-trained staff, facilities, and support materials are available to accomplish program goals and objectives.
4.1    Assessment of resources needs
4.2    Quality instructional staff
4.3    Facilities management
4.4    Provision of support materials
4.5    Emergency planning

5. Program quality and appropriateness: Nonformal environmental education programs are built on a foundation of quality instructional materials and thorough planning.
5.1    Quality instructional materials and techniques
5.2    Field testing
5.3    Promotion, marketing, and dissemination
5.4    Sustainability

6. Evaluation: Nonformal environmental education programs define and measure results in order to improve current programs, ensure accountability, and maximize the effects of future efforts.
6.1    Determination of evaluation strategies
6.2    Effective evaluation techniques and criteria
6.3    Use of evaluation results