“When the U.S. public school system prioritizes environmental education, it can get funded, and all kids benefit.”
Jason Morris
This week we spoke with Jason Morris, the Senior Program Officer for the Environmental Education Program at Pisces Foundation.
We spoke to Jason about the need for schools to prioritize environmental education, as well as the funding needed to make that possible. He has experienced first-hand the systemic challenges facing environmental education programs, including but not limited to, ensuring that there is sufficient funding and that programs are reaching the high needs of students and schools.
In our interview, Jason talks about the six elements needed for a well-developed landscape for environmental education and the different routes that can be taken to acquire funding.
Hear more from Jason here:
Relevant Links
Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (AEOE) – AEOE is a statewide organization that was created by and for outdoor and environmental educators. It is the California affiliate for the North American Association of Environmental Educators (NAAEE), its mission is to advance the impact of environmental and outdoor education in California.
Blue Sky Funders Forum – The Blue Sky Funders Forum is a national collaborative that helps members learn, connect, and grow philanthropy that supports the many benefits of environmental literacy and stronger connections to nature. We are a community united in the belief that when people have meaningful experiences outdoors their quality of life, health and social wellbeing improve, and in turn, their communities become stronger and more sustainable.
ChangeScale – ChangeScale builds cohesiveness, effectiveness, and prominence in the field of environmental education throughout the San Francisco and Monterey Bay Area. It works collaboratively to achieve greater collective impact on environmental education outcomes than any one organization could achieve independently.
North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) – NAAEE uses the power of education to advance environmental literacy and civic engagement to create a more equitable and sustainable future. It works with educators, policymakers, and partners throughout the world.
NatureBridge – NatureBridge’s mission is to connect young people to the wonder and science of the natural world, igniting self-discovery and inspiring stewardship of our planet. Through overnight, hands-on environmental science programs, it takes more than 35,000 children and teens each year into our national parks to explore the outdoors, connect with their peers, discover themselves and develop a lasting relationship with the environment.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – NOAA’s Environmental Literacy Program provides grants and in-kind support for programs that educate and inspire people to use Earth system science to improve ecosystem stewardship and increase resilience to environmental hazards.
Pisces Foundation – The Pisces Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations to accelerate to a world where people and nature thrive together. It supports early movers, innovative ideas, and bold leaders and organizations, adapting based on what it learns.
Rethink Outside – Coordinated by Blue Sky Funders Forum and informed by the voices of hundreds of stakeholders and allies, the new shared narrative leverages and shares communications research, tools, and strategies to tell a new story and engage new partners to bring the promise of healthy communities to all. Together, we aspire to create a future where everyone has positive experiences outdoors and shares the joy, health, growth, and sense of community that comes with it.
Ten Strands – Ten Strands is the leading field catalyst and “backbone organization” in the state of California and the founder of CAELI. It partners with the state government, local education agencies, providers of environmental education, community members, and funders to make environmental literacy a reality for all California’s K–12 students.
News and Events
Teaching Climate Consequences with CLEAN: Motivate and Inspire, Don’t Despair
Mar. 4, 2021 CLEAN
In this webinar, climate communicator Karin Kirk will share strategies for building connections between cause and effect, showcasing solutions, and using local approaches to make science relevant and inspiring.
California Farm to School Virtual Conference
Mar. 10–12, 2021 California Department of Food & Agriculture
This year’s agenda focuses on expanding food access, increasing equity, lifting student voice, and opening school markets for California specialty crop producers, with an emphasis on establishing farm to school programs that connect classrooms, cafeterias and communities.
Building Racial Equity in Environmental and Outdoor Science Organizations
Deadline Mar. 12, 2021 Lawrence Hall of Science and Youth Outside
This 2-year series and associated research study will support environmental and outdoor science organizations to build capacity to foster equitable, inclusive, and culturally relevant work environments and organizations.
How Paving with Plastic Could Make a Dent in the Global Waste Problem
Feb. 11, 2021 E360
Roads in which waste plastic is melted down and mixed with paving materials are becoming more common around the world. Although for now they remain a niche technology, experts say the roads could become one of a diverse array of uses for discarded plastic.
Feb. 19, 2021 Ensia
Rejoining the Paris Agreement is just the first step toward U.S. green global leadership.
International Mother-Tongue Day in the context of climate change
Feb. 22, 2021 NewsDay Zimbabwe
Yesterday, February 21 2021, was International Mother-Tongue Day and this year’s theme is, “Fostering Multilingualism for Inclusion in Education and Society.”
How Digital Skills Can Promote Cultural Literacy and Create Pathways to Equity
Feb. 24, 2021 EdSurge
As part of their celebration of Black History Month, EdSurge spoke to Victor Hicks about his culturally relevant approach to closing the digital divide.
Environmental Literacy – Building Our Understanding of Interdependence with Karen Cowe
Feb. 24, 2021 180 days
In this podcast, Ten Strands’ CEO Karen Cowe discusses her personal interest in the environment and education, share her stories, and explains Ten Strand’s new partnerships that focus on combining equity and culturally responsive teaching with environmental literacy.
The world’s oldest known wild bird just turned 70—why she’s so special
Feb. 25, 2021 National Geographic
Wisdom the albatross, who has survived tsunamis, outlived most of her mates, and raised over 40 chicks, is pushing the boundaries of what we thought birds could do.
Black Americans have disproportionately suffered from pollution. It’s time for a new policy.
Feb. 26, 2021 Vox
Marrying civil rights and environmental protections could close the gap on health disparities caused by industrial polluters.
A Better Way to Think About Climate Change and the Kids Conundrum
Feb. 26, 2021 GQ
Few people have thought as deeply about climate change as author and activist Naomi Klein. Here she shares her ideas on the big question of whether to have children and how we might begin the monumental work of saving the planet—and maybe even one another.