Category: Bulletin

This week we wanted to take a look at the Biden Administration’s Executive Order on combating climate change. The order identifies specific actions and goals that include net-zero emissions, ecosystem conservation, and environmental justice. One area that wasn’t mentioned in the order is an approach to climate action through the education system.

We looked at the ways in which the Biden Administration’s $1.5 Trillion Budget Request can utilize both the education budget and the allocation for tackling climate change in this week’s article: read here.

At Green Guardians, our motto is “environmental literacy, community action”, which directly correlates with the community-focused approach to environmental education. Our goal is to provide educators and students with the tools and connections needed to create an education system with environmental literacy as the foundation across all subjects and grade levels.

Are you looking to join us as we champion for a sustainable and equitable future for all?

Join our newsletter!

Relevant Links

ACE National Strategy Framework for the United States

Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) —climate education, training, public awareness, public participation, access to information, and international cooperation—  as embedded in the UNFCCC Article 6 and Article 12 of the Paris Agreement, can accelerate climate action and advance people-centered climate policies through increasing public awareness, building local capability, enhancing information sharing, encouraging innovation and beneficial behavioral norms, and promoting ongoing engagement.

Biden Proposes $1.5 Trillion Federal Spending Plan | NPR.org

The Biden administration on Friday unveiled a $1.5 trillion partial budget request for the next fiscal year, calling for increases across a range of domestic programs aimed at fighting poverty and climate change while keeping defense spending relatively flat.

Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad

The United States and the world face a profound climate crisis.  We have a narrow moment to pursue action at home and abroad in order to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of that crisis and to seize the opportunity that tackling climate change presents.  Domestic action must go hand in hand with United States international leadership, aimed at significantly enhancing global action. 

K12 Climate Action 

Their mission is to unlock the power of the education sector to be a force toward climate action, solutions, and environmental justice to help prepare children and youth to advance a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable society.

Letter to Biden-Harris Administration | ACE Framework

ACE Framework writes in support of Article 12 of the Paris Agreement: Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE), which seeks to inform, engage, and empower the public to join in finding and implementing solutions to the climate crisis. 

The White House: Fact Sheet

President Biden Takes Executive Actions to Tackle the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, Create Jobs, and Restore Scientific Integrity Across Federal Government. 

Current News and Events

Sustainability & STEM Virtual Earth Day Summit

Apr. 22-24, 2021 Backyard Basecamp

From hands-on science activities and engineering challenges for children of all ages, story-times for preschoolers, discussion forums on intersectional environmentalism, workshops to guide you on going zero waste with kids, and composting 101, our program of events is filled with informative, interactive workshops.

2021 Virtual Earth Week Celebration

Apr. 18-24, 2021 Inland Empire Utilities Agency and the City of Chino

Take part in educational activities – including activities from Project WET – learn about our environmental resources and how to protect them and participate in opportunities to receive free giveaways!

Live Webinar: Getting Your Citizen Science Project Off the Ground

Apr. 19, 2021 NEEF

NEEF will teach educators about citizen science through a webinar co-hosted with SciStarter, an online citizen science hub. The webinar will walk viewers through the process of creating, developing, and implementing a citizen science project.

Google’s New Timelapse Shows 37 Years of Climate Change Anywhere on Earth, Including Your Neighborhood

Apr. 15, 2021 EcoWatch

Google Earth’s latest feature allows you to watch the climate change in four dimensions.

Why we’re optimistic we can save our oceans

Apr. 15, 2021 National Geographic

For all the threats to the ocean—warming, overfishing, pollution—a veteran undersea photographer sees ways to help and reasons for hope.

California enlists surveillance satellites to sniff out greenhouse gas ‘super-emitters’

Apr. 15, 2021 Los Angeles Times

Years after former Gov. Jerry Brown pledged California would launch its “own damn satellite” to track planet-warming pollutants, the state plans to put not one, but two satellites in orbit to help it hunt for hard-to-find “super-emitters” of methane and carbon dioxide.

Biden’s EPA gets serious about funding environmental justice

Apr. 15, 2021 The Hill

The Biden administration signaled its commitment to environmental justice in its Jan. 27 executive order on Tackling the Climate Crisis. Now the administration has taken two big steps toward funding that commitment.

97% of Earth’s land area may no longer be ecologically intact

Apr. 15, 2021 Frontiers Science News

Only between 2% and 3% of the Earth’s terrestrial surface can be considered ecologically intact, according to a new study published in Frontiers in Forests and Global Change. This percentage is drastically lower than past assessments.

‘Failure is not an option’: after a lost decade on climate action, the 2020s offer one last chance

Apr. 15, 2021 The Conversation

In May 2011, almost precisely a decade ago, the government-appointed Climate Commission released its inaugural report. Titled The Critical Decade, the report’s final section warned that to keep global temperature rises to 2℃ this century.

How Biodiversity Can Prevent Pandemics

Apr. 12, 2021 Sierra

For years, some scientists have argued that despite its benefits, biodiversity poses a major risk to human health, because the sheer variety of species in biodiverse landscapes creates greater opportunities for new pathogens to develop.

Creating Meaningful Professional Development For New Staff Members

Apr. 5, 2021 TeacherCast

In this episode of “Ask the Tech Coach,” Jeff and Susan welcome educator and Green Guardians advisor Scott Bedley onto the program to discuss his school district’s professional development program that supports new teachers.

This week, we want to highlight the importance of creating partnerships between the formal and nonformal education sectors to advance environmental literacy across the nation.

We have had discussions with knowledge leaders Judy Braus, Andra Yeghoian, and Jason Morris about this topic, so we wanted to revisit the benefits of these partnerships, and how they can provide a holistic environmental literacy solution and positive outcomes for all K-12 students across the US.

Read the article here.

Watch the interview highlights below:

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.

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. 

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. 

SMCOE Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Initiative  – Explore Andra’s site for the San Mateo County Office of Education. You’ll find a seemingly endless amount of useful resources and information on the work SMCOE is doing. These paid fellowships build teacher and administrative capacity for driving sustainable and climate-resilient transformative change in their classroom and school communities.

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

National Environmental Education Week

Apr. 19-23, 2021 NEEF

National Environmental Education Week (EE Week) is the nation’s largest celebration of environmental education.

Live Panel for Students: Covering the Climate Crisis

Apr. 22, 2021 The New York Times

Join this Earth Day interactive panel as three journalists share how The Times helps readers understand the fascinating, complex and vitally important field of climate science.

Assessing Connecting to Nature

Apr. 29, 2021 AEOE

Join for a 2-hour workshop diving into the Practitioner’s Guide to Assessing Connection to Nature, a new guidebook for helping you measure this elusive concept with young children, teenagers, or adults.

Mangroves from space: 30 years of satellite images are helping us understand how climate change threatens these valuable forests

Mar. 18, 2021 The Conversation

Australia is home to around 2% of the world’s mangrove forests and is the fifth most mangrove-forested country on Earth. Mangroves play a crucial role in the ecosystem thanks to the dizzying array of plants, animals and birds they feed, house and protect…

Plastic Is Creating an Environmental Justice Crisis

Mar. 30, 2021 Gizmodo

There’s growing awareness that plastics are an environmental disaster for marine and terrestrial ecosystems alike. A new United Nations report published Tuesday shows they’re also a huge problem for human beings—and that they don’t affect us all equally.

Meet Clayton Anderson, Bay Nature’s 2021 Environmental Education Hero

Mar. 30, 2021 Bay Nature

Meet Clayon Anderson, this year’s Environmental Educator Local Hero, and learn about his work to teach students young and old about birds and the issues affecting them.

Prioritize environmental justice resilience bill

Apr. 06, 2021 CalMatters

AB 1087 charts a new course for climate resilience that makes investments in communities so they can be prepared for disasters.

As the Climate Crisis Grows, a Movement Gathers to Make ‘Ecocide’ an International Crime Against the Environment

Apr. 07, 2021 Inside Climate News

A growing number of world leaders advocate making ecocide a crime before the International Criminal Court, to serve as a “moral line” for the planet.

The emerging frontiers of climate activism

Apr. 08, 2021 Axios

The new(ish) group Law Students for Climate Accountability just launched a pressure campaign against the heavyweight law firm Gibson Dunn over its work for oil industry clients. Why does this matter?

Government of Canada invests $6 million in climate action and education for young Canadians

Apr. 09, 2021 Cision

Canadians want clean air and clean water for their children and grandchildren. When companies pollute our natural environment, they pay the price and the Government of Canada ensures that environmental good follows environmental harm by investing those fines in projects that benefit the environment.

This week, we wanted to take a look back at our previous interviews we have had with environmental education knowledge leaders and revisit the need for equitable access to environmental literacy tools. We spoke with Dr. Gerald Lieberman, Director of SEER, about the environmental literacy movement in California. We interviewed Craig Strang, Associate Director of the UC Berkeley Lawrence Hall of Science, about environmental justice and designing at the margins. Lastly, we spoke with Isha Clarke, youth activist with Youth vs. Apocalypse, about activism and environmental justice. The main topic we wanted to revisit is environmental literacy and equitable access for all students. In order for our community to have an impact on the environment around us, we need to start educating students on culturally and environmentally relevant topics, as well as on actionable tasks that can be taken beyond the classroom. One of the main challenges that educators face when implementing environmental literacy is equitable access to resources, programs, and relevant lessons. This issue is especially prevalent in low-income and underrepresented communities.

Read the article here.

Watch the interview highlights below:

“Environmental identity relates to how much a person feels they are part of the natural environment, not separate from it, and the strength of someone’s environmental identity is correlated to how likely they are to take care of the environment.”

Amity Sandage

Amity Sandage is the Environmental Literacy Coordinator for the Santa Cruz County Office of Education (Santa Cruz COE) where she leads a countywide effort to promote environmental literacy for K–12 students. Amity has been a leader in environmental education in Santa Cruz and the Greater Bay Area for over a decade in both the formal and non-formal sectors.

Green Guardians had the opportunity to speak with Amity last week about the work she’s doing to build capacity among educators to integrate environmental literacy into learning experiences for students. A key first-step of becoming environmentally literate and taking solution-oriented action is developing an “environmental identity.” Amity believes that before educators can successfully cultivate environmentally literate students they must go through this process themselves.

Read more about the capacity-building work Amity has spearheaded here. Listen to Amity give an example of collaboration and capacity building between the formal and non-formal sectors here.

Relevant Links 

Coastal Watershed Council 

The Coastal Watershed Council is a dynamic and growing non-profit based in Santa Cruz, CA, working to transform the lower San Lorenzo River into a community destination by inspiring people to explore, enhance and protect this critical natural resource. 

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary 

Designated in 1992, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) is a federally protected marine area offshore of California’s central coast. Stretching from Marin to Cambria, the sanctuary encompasses a shoreline length of 276 miles and 6,094 square statute miles (4,601 nmi2) of the ocean, extending an average distance of 30 miles from shore. The sanctuary contains extensive kelp forests and one of North America’s largest underwater canyons and closest-to-shore deep ocean environments. 

Santa Cruz Climate Action Network 

Santa Cruz Climate Action Network (SCCAN) seeks to address the current Climate Change Emergency, recognizing that failure to act quickly will have devastating effects on future generations of humans and other life forms. SCCAN’s Santa Cruz Climate Speakers specialize in Climate Change education curriculum tailored to fit the needs of a specific class, with the goal to provide information, inspire dialogue, and motivate solutions. Their aim is to have all local students graduate with literacy in Climate Change.   

Santa Cruz County Outdoor Science School 

At the Santa Cruz County Outdoor Science School, fifth and sixth-grade students experience a four- or five-day residential, hands-on science program. Students focus on investigating the rich coastal redwood forest ecosystem. Residential Outdoor Science School promotes care for self, others, and the natural world upon which our survival depends. We are committed to a safe and stimulating educational environment that nurtures an inquisitive mind. 

Santa Cruz County Teacher Leadership Institute 

The Teacher Leadership Institute for Science and Environmental Literacy is an innovative year-long program designed to support emerging teacher leaders by deepening knowledge, increasing confidence, and enhancing abilities to support the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards using the environment as a source of phenomena and connecting to the California Environmental Principles and Concepts. 

Santa Cruz COE TLI K-12 Lesson Sequences 

In 2020-21, Santa Cruz COE TLI launched the Relevant Environmental Action & Learning (REAL) Science Institute: Phase 2 of the Teacher Leadership Institute for Science and Environmental Literacy. They focused on reviewing and strengthening the lessons for teachers and students across 10 counties. 

Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History 

The Museum features educational, hands-on exhibits for children, families, and adults who are curious about the world they live in and the natural history of one of the most scenic locations on the California coast. Many locals know the Museum by the life-size gray whale statue, created in 1982, that rests near its entrance, between Tyrrell Park and Seabright State Beach. 

The Bird School Project 

The Bird School Project uses outdoor experiential learning to inspire and equip students and teachers to love, study, and steward their local environment. Limited school resources, transportation constraints, and a lack of time and support often prevent students from connecting directly with the environment. Bird School works to meet the need of utilizing outdoor locations such as schoolyards and backyards for learning and exploration opportunities. 

Tierra Pacifica Charter School 

Tierra Pacifica Charter School, formed in 1998, is a collaborative effort among parents, teachers, and community members committed to the development of the whole child. Through the establishment of a charter school, we believe we can work within the school system to create an innovative alternative model to traditional public elementary schools. Tierra Pacifica educates children from Kindergarten through 8th grade. The school is designed for families who want to take an active role in the education of their children, both in and out of the classroom. 

News and Events

Outdoor Learning Panel
Mar. 30, 2021 AEOE
Join for a 2-hour workshop exploring outdoor instruction. Geared towards classroom teachers, but applicable for folks in other settings as well. This panel discussion will include practical advice, equipment recommendations, and teaching tips.

Inside-Out Leadership Series
Mar. 30, 2021 The Children & Nature Network
The Inside-Out Leadership Series brings children and nature leaders together for virtual networking and workshops, plus special events and world-class conferences.

Youth Stewards
Apr. 07, 2021 Grassroot Ecology
The Youth Stewards program for high school and middle schoolers gives students the opportunity to safely connect with one another, learn about nature, and make a positive impact in their community.

6 Child Development Benefits Of Outdoor Learning
Feb. 14, 2021 moms
Outdoor learning helps children in their development by making children healthier, improved sensory skills, and so much more!

Faces of Environmental Justice
Mar. 01, 2021 San Francisco Bay View
The Black History Month 2021 Senate advancement of Biden appointee Michael S. Regan as EPA administrator sends a clear signal of commitment to environmental justice.

What Can Organic Solar Cells Bring To The Table?
Mar. 03, 2021 Ensia
OSCs expand the potential applications of solar technology, but there are still challenges to be overcome before large-scale deployment.

Climate Champions: Collaborative Learning for Climate Action
Mar. 08, 2021 Ten Strands
Tackling the climate crisis requires creating climate champions of all ages—people who are educated on climate science, passionate about addressing the climate crisis, and engaged in concrete efforts to “bend the curve” of global warming…

California school meals fall short on health and climate goals with meat-heavy menus
Mar. 10, 2021 Friends of the Earth
Pandemic spotlights school food as essential to health and climate resilience as new state and federal bills tackle racial, economic, and nutrition disparities.

Growing support for valuing ecosystems will help conserve the planet
Mar. 10, 2021 Nature
The idea that ecosystems have monetary value now has global support — and creates a route to protecting Earth’s endangered regions.

First-ever study of all Amazon greenhouse gases suggest the forest is worsening climate change
Mar. 12, 2021 National Geographic
The first broad look at all of the gases that affect how the Amazon works—not just CO2—reveals a system on the brink.

“It’s about being innovative and creative, and figuring out how can we still engage students even though we can’t be face to face.” 

Dean Reese

Over the past year, educators have been forced to discover new ways of connecting with their students. For environmental literacy educators, this has been particularly difficult as most lesson plans were intended for in-person learning.

This week we spoke with Dean Reese, the Science Coordinator of Outdoor Education and Environmental Literacy for San Joaquin County Office of Education. Dean has been working tirelessly to ensure that teachers in San Joaquin County and beyond have the resources and capacity to continue delivering high-quality instruction and learning experiences in environmental literacy despite the challenges COVID-19 and distance learning have presented.

In our interview, Dean talks about the resources he’s employed as well as how he’s built and managed support networks for teachers, students, and community-based partners.

Learn more here:

Relevant Links 

SJCOE STEM Programs 

The SJCOE STEM Program Mission is to provide innovative programs that empower students, educators, and regional communities to engage in learning experiences integrating science, technology, engineering, and math. 

SJCOE Environmental Literacy Networks 

The environmental literacy team is building networks to connect and support environmental education between community-based partners, educators, students, and school districts and sites. We will meet throughout the year to address challenges, support each other’s work, build capacity, foster collaboration, and further integrate our districts and schools into the real work to address local and global environmental challenges. 

SJCOE Outdoor Education | Science Camp, Jones Gulch 

San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE), Science Camp, Jones Gulch, informally known as “Science Camp”, is a week-long residential outdoor education program reaching approximately 4500 fifth and sixth graders and 600 high school cabin leaders each year since 1957. On the California coast, students spend five days and four nights exploring the natural world and learning about the spectacular redwood forest and coastal ecosystems. 

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. 

Jamboard 

Google’s interactive whiteboard system offers a collaborative experience for teams and classrooms. 

Flipgrid 

Flipgrid is a free and accessible video discussion experience for PreK to Ph.D. educators, learners, and families. 

HyperDoc 

HyperDocs.co is an online teacher academy and a resource-sharing hub. HyperDocs are digital lesson plans that are designed by teachers and given to students. They provide access for students to all the content and learning in one organized digital space. 

Google Classroom 

Classroom is a free service for schools, non-profits, and anyone with a personal Google account. Classroom makes it easy for learners and instructors to connect—inside and outside of schools. Classroom saves time and paper and makes it easy to create classes, distribute assignments, communicate, and stay organized. 

Current News and Events

Climate Action Academy: Scholarship Opportunity for Educators
Mar. 15, 2021 2811
The Climate Action Academy (CAA) is a virtual training program on climate change, action-oriented learning, and green solutions for K-12 and informal educators.

Teaching to Outcomes
Mar. 16, 2021 Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education
Maintain the wonder for students while articulating your teaching goals. Creating outcome-based lessons is a key to success as an EE practitioner and leader. Through discussion and activities, explore ways to increase your effectiveness, student engagement, and reach your goals.

Green Schools Conference (GSC)
Jun. 28-29, 2021 Center for Green Schools
This year the Green Schools Conference will convene virtually over two half-days of programming, featuring inspiring keynotes, interactive education sessions, and engaging peer group networking opportunities.

Brazil Has Weakened Dozens of Environmental Laws During the Pandemic
Feb. 24, 2021 E360
Since President Jair Bolsonaro took office in January 2019, Brazil has approved 57 pieces of legislation that weaken environmental laws…

The origins of environmental justice—and why it’s finally getting the attention it deserves
Feb. 25, 2021 National Geographic
Decades of research show that Black and brown communities are on the front lines of environmental harm. Can those longstanding injustices be remedied?

Climate change is the top concern for UK students, outranking inequality, healthcare and the economy
Feb. 26, 2021 inews
Global poll finds climate change outranks housing, healthcare, and the economy as the biggest issue for UK undergraduates.

Existing emissions pledges barely scratch climate targets, U.N. tally finds
Feb. 26, 2021 Reuters
Pledges made so far under the 2015 Paris accord would deliver less than a 1% reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 — a fraction of the 45% cut needed to avert catastrophic climate change…

On World Wildlife Day, a host of conservation success stories
Mar. 03, 2021 World Economic Forum
Amongst all the dire and depressing news surrounding climate change and biodiversity loss, here are some success stories that could point the way to further positive outcomes in the future.

A newly released report by UNDP confirms that education is key to addressing climate change
Mar. 05, 2021 Mirage
The largest-ever opinion survey on climate change was carried out by UN CC: Learn partner UNDP in 2020 and showed that 64% of 1.2 million respondents think that climate change is a global emergency…

How ‘Cutting Green Tape’ can make California more resilient
Mar. 08, 2021 CalMatters
Streamlined regulatory processes for ecosystem restoration in California will be critical to growing green jobs and meeting environmental goals.

“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.

Opinion: It’s Not Only About Paris: Will America Confront All The Environmental Treaties It Put In Limbo?

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.

“The education system is so fundamental to our cultural narrative, so if we want to make a paradigm shift happen, to move from the status quo to sustainable lifestyles, we have to make sure the education system is on board.” 

Andra Yeghoian

This week we spoke with Andra Yeghoian, the Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Coordinator at San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE). Andra has moved from serving 1,200 students at Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland, CA, to leading the environmental literacy initiatives for SMCOE.

Andra’s ability to scale and create impact from the classroom to the county level is a testament to her work as a Green Leader.

In our interview, Andra breaks down how she got her start in environmental education, and how the work she does now at the county level is creating pathways for future leaders in the space.

Hear more from Andra here:

Andra provides insight on how environmental education can expand from the classroom to influence our cultural experiences. Read more here.

Relevant Links 

Bishop O’Dowd Commitment to Sustainability  

Awarded the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School and a Bay Area Green Certified Business in 2016 under Andra’s leadership. Learn more about Bishop O’Dowd’s sustainable work on campus in energy, water, transportation, waste, food and dining, air quality, and construction and renovations. 

ELSI Environmental Justice Resources  

Developed by SMCOE Environmental Literacy Initiative, this repository contains environmental justice resources for teachers and students to customize and adapt to their classrooms. 

Institute for Humane Education

The Institute for Humane Education helps educators teach about human rights, environmental preservation, and animal protection to create a world where all can thrive.

National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative  

Hosted on the Green Schoolyards website, you’ll find the National COVID-19 Learning Initiative’s ever-growing body of work. SMCOE is one of the leaders driving this project. 

One Planet Living Framework  

Based on learning from the BedZED eco-village, Bioregional created the One Planet Living sustainability framework – comprising ten simple principles and detailed goals and guidance – and developed it together with WWF. 

SMCOE Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Initiative  

Explore Andra’s site for the San Mateo County Office of Education. You’ll find a seemingly endless amount of useful resources and information on the work SMCOE is doing. These paid fellowships build teacher and administrative capacity for driving sustainable and climate-resilient transformative change in their classroom and school communities.

Sustainable and Climate Resilient Schools Educator Fellowships 

These paid fellowships build teacher and administrative capacity for driving sustainable and climate resilient transformative change in their classroom and school communities.

Ten Strands 

Ten Strands is the leading field catalyst in the state of California and key partner of SMCOE Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Initiative.  

News and Events

7th Annual Environmental Education Symposium: Justice, Literacy, Wellness 
Feb. 25-28, 2021 Environmental Education Collaborative 

Attend a multi-day event filled with networking and skill-building as you interact with environmental educators throughout Riverside and San Bernardino. 

Conservation Education Conference on Virtual Learning
Mar. 2-4, 2021 NAAEE 

The public audience that we serve will continue to expect having online options for learning, and we can reach a broader audience in doing so. Learn about great tools and methodologies that your peers have implemented. 

Biomimicry Youth Design Challenge 
Deadline Mar. 1, 2021 Biomimicry Institute 

The Youth Design Challenge (YDC) is a free, hands-on, project-based learning experience that provides classroom and informal educators with a new framework to introduce biomimicry and an interdisciplinary approach to science and environmental literacy. 

5 Environmental Stories To Look Out For In 2021 
Feb. 3, 2021 EARTHDAY.ORG 

From policy, to plastic, this year holds a lot in store for Restoring our Earth. Here are five topics to keep a lookout for this year. 

We need action on environmental equity — not just words 
Feb. 11, 2021 The Hill 

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how important access to the outdoors is for our health and well-being. This is especially true for lower-income communities of color that have borne the brunt of the pandemic and often lack access to good parks… 

COVID-19 Was Preventable, Now We Must Tackle Future Challenges Systematically – Here’s How
Feb. 12, 2021 Forbes 

Experts warned of a pandemic decades ago. Why weren’t we ready? 

Reimagining Science Education with Climate Change 
Feb. 16, 2021 Ten Strands 

Educator Kelley Le writes about her journey from being a student growing up in the inner cities of Los Angeles, to becoming an advocate for climate science education, with a focus on social justice and environmental inequities, and now, soon to publish her book. 

Four Steps President Biden Can Take to Ease the Extinction Crisis 
Feb. 17, 2021 Sierra 

Conservationists want the administration to do more to tackle biodiversity loss… 

Pollution kills 160,000 in world’s most toxic cities 
Feb. 18, 2021 The Times 

Pollution was behind 160,000 early deaths in five of the world’s biggest cities last year, an environmental report has found, despite huge improvements in air quality as traffic congestion fell during lockdowns… 

Climate Change: How much did it cost US economy in 2020? 
Feb. 19, 2021 BBC News 

The year 2020 saw a record number of costly hurricanes, wildfires, and storms, resulting in billions of dollars in damages. Since records began in 1980, billion-dollar climate disasters have become much more frequent… 

“The field of environmental education is not challenged with a dearth of ideas; it’s challenged by a capacity to deliver.”

Judy Braus

This week we spoke with Judy Braus, Executive Director of North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) who has experience strengthening community-based partner networks and building support to advance environmental education and conservation. Judy has been a stalwart in the environmental education field having previously worked as Senior Vice President of Education and Centers at the National Audubon Society and led education programs at World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the U.S. Peace Corps, and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). 

Judy provides a glimpse into the environmental education ecosystem and the importance that community-based partner networks play by examining the work of NAAEE. Community-based partners and their networks provide a deeper understanding of local needs and can act as a catalyst for change within the communities they serve. Working with community-based partners allows educators to move beyond a focus on the individual needs of a classroom setting, to a broader look into the community and future goals of environmental education. The benefits of working with community-based partners are endless, as they provide expertise and resources that are helpful to the advancement of environmental literacy. 

Green Guardians asked Judy about the state of environmental education in the US today and her response was one of both alarm and optimism. At the core of the issues, Judy states that environmental education is not as supported as it should be, and is severely under-funded. She points to the lack of a comprehensive national plan and the decentralized nature of the US as being one of the key hindrances to progress in the field.  

Read more about the state of environmental literacy and the important role NAAEE plays here.

Relevant Links 

Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE)

The ACE Framework is a set of recommendations and tools to accelerate climate action and advance people-centered climate policies through increasing public awareness, building local capability, enhancing information sharing, encouraging innovation and beneficial behavioral norms, and promoting ongoing engagement. The objective of this framework is to guide the completion of a national strategic plan in time for delivery at the 26th UNFCCC Conference of the Parties in November 2021.

Disneynature

Disneynature has educational materials for curriculum, lesson plans and fun activities that continue the viewing experience for families and students grades 2-6 while inspiring a desire to protect the planet through connections to nature. 

Ee360

An initiative led by NAAEE through a cooperative agreement with U.S. EPA and seven partner organizations to support a nationwide effort to strengthen the field of environmental education and support professional development. 

Environmental Education in the Schools: Creating a Program that Works!

The 1993 publication by Judy Braus and David Wood from the U.S. Peace Corps on developing and implementing an environmental education program by helping practitioners identify goals and objectives for environmental education activities and curriculum and to develop formal and informal techniques to evaluate success. 

Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP)

GEEP’s mission is to create a vibrant and inclusive learning network designed to strengthen environmental education globally to create a more sustainable future for all. Its goal is a world where environmental and social responsibility drive individual, community, and institutional choices.

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

This site includes a list of resources, including resources developed by NAAEE, designed to help educators and learners of all ages center equity in their work in the field of environmental education.

National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI)

NNOCCI is a network of individuals and organizations in informal education, the social sciences, and climate sciences. We are currently working in 184 institutions in 38 states. 

Natural Start Alliance

The Natural Start Alliance is a network of people and organizations that believe that all young children need frequent opportunities to experience, learn from, and care for nature and the environment through high-quality education. The Alliance, a project of the North American Association for Environmental Education, serves as a backbone organization to focus and amplify the collective impact of the people and organizations that share this common vision.

Professional Development of Environmental Educators: Guidelines for Excellence

The National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education, initiated by NAAEE in 1994, has developed a series of guidelines that set the standards for high-quality environmental education. 

Project Learning Tree

Project Learning Tree is an award-winning environmental education program designed for teachers and other educators, parents, and community leaders working with youth from preschool through grade 12. 

News and Events

2021 Virtual North Bay Science Discovery Day
Mar. 13, 2021 North Bay Science Discovery Day Committee

Join virtually to spark, deepen, and sustain hands-on learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) with FREE events hosted by organizations, universities, museums, and research labs.

President’s Environmental Youth Award
Deadline Feb. 19, 2021 EPA

The President’s Environmental Youth Award (PEYA) recognizes outstanding environmental projects by K-12 youth. Applicants from all 50 states as well as U.S. territories are eligible to compete for a regional certificate of special recognition and a national Presidential award.

Understanding Climate Change in California
Feb. 18, 2021 & Feb. 27, 2021 California Department of Water Resources Climate team

Targeted towards educators in Grades 3-12, this workshop is focused on the science of climate change allows participants to join from home and learn at their own pace and take part in a collaborative virtual experience.

On U.S. Public Lands, Can Biden Undo What Trump Has Wrought?
Jan. 20, 2021 E360

President Joe Biden has an ambitious public lands agenda, vowing to ban new oil and gas drilling on federal territory and restore protections for key areas. But because of rule changes and a conservative makeover of the courts, reversing the Trump legacy will not be easy.

New education pilot program for New Jersey students will help foster essential climate literacy
Jan. 28, 2021 The Press of Atlantic City

In the face of the growing climate crisis, Atlantic City Electric, Exelon, the Drumthwacket Foundation, and Sustainable Jersey have announced the creation of the NJ Student Climate Challenge, a new pilot program to foster the growing role students and young people are playing in addressing the climate crisis.

Fossil fuel pollution causes one in five premature deaths globally: study
Feb. 9, 2021 Reuters

Stunning new research out of Harvard and three British universities places the global death toll from fossil fuel pollution much higher than previously estimated.

Despite 14 years of formal education, it fell to me to teach myself the basics of the climate crisis
Feb. 10, 2021 The Independent

18-year-old Joe Brindle writes about why topics like the principles of sustainability need to be woven like a golden thread throughout the curriculum.

Regulatory wins for green building in three U.S. states
Feb 11, 2021 USGBC+

California, Colorado and Virginia show how state-level policy changes can drive sustainability achievements.

Joe Biden wants 100% clean energy. Will California show that it’s possible?
Feb 11, 2021 Los Angeles Times

Key takeaway: Just because California has committed to 100% clean energy doesn’t mean it will be easy, or that officials are doing everything that needs to be done to make it happen.

“We should design at the margins to place environmental justice at the heart of environmental literacy.”

Craig Strang

This week, Craig Strang helps us look at environmental justice in the context of environmental literacy.

In Erin Brockovich, Julia Roberts portrays a real-life activist who fights a legal battle against a utility on groundwater contamination in Hinkley, in the Mojave Desert. The movie brings alive a classic environmental justice problem: a powerful company contaminates the eco-resources of an underprivileged community that has little capacity to fight back.

Craig Strang, Associate Director of the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California, Berkeley, is one of the leaders of the environmental literacy movement in California. Listen to his views on the most pressing environmental justice issues facing California and around the US.

Hear more from Craig here:

Craig wants to make sure that we place environmental justice at the heart of the emerging discipline of environmental literacy.

Read about how Craig envisions this can take place.

Relevant Links

California Environmental Literacy Initiative: Thinking through Environmental Justice in K-12 Education

A 2020 publication of the California History-Social Science Project, the California Global Education Project, the California Science Project, and the California Subject Matter Project that explores issues and opportunities to address environmental justice through professional learning for K-12 educators in California.

Racial Equity in Outdoor Science and Environmental Education

A note on practices to address racial equity in outdoor science and environmental education during the pandemic and beyond.

A Field at Risk: The Impact of COVID-19 on Environmental and Outdoor Science Education

In April 2020, the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California, Berkeley, conducted a survey to learn about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the environmental and outdoor science education field nationwide. This policy brief describes the findings of the survey and makes recommendations for mitigating the potentially devastating threats facing this field.

Examining equitable and inclusive work environments in environmental education: Perspectives from the field and implications for organizations

An examination of equitable and inclusive work environments in environmental education with perspectives from the field and analysis of implications for organizations.

Connecting Environmental Justice and Environmental Literacy to Education

A report by Ten Strands on a workshop held in 2020 on linking environmental justice and environmental literacy.

School’s Out(side): Can California teach an understanding of the natural world to every K-12 schoolkid in the state?

 A 2019 Bay Nature Magazine report on scaling environmental literacy to all K-12 students in California.

The Environmental Justice Movement

A 2016 overview by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) on the environmental justice movement in the United States.

Social Justice Resources for Sustainability-Minded Educators

A selection of social justice resources compiled by Green Schools National Network that educators can apply to their sustainability curriculum, as well as their teaching practice.

News and Events

Green School Conference: Summit for Educators
Feb. 12-13, 2021 Center for Green Schools

Connect with other classroom educators to share practical steps to integrating sustainability education into classroom content and daily practice, engaging students in learning and in making positive change in their communities.

Teaching About Climate and Energy with CLEAN
Feb. 16, 2021 CLEANet

This webinar introduces the Climate and Energy Literacy Principles and how they are integrated with the CLEAN collection of climate and energy resources.

Climate Video Challenge
Deadline Mar. 31, 2021 California Coastal Commission

The California Coastal Commission invites California middle and high school students to present a video response to the question: what does climate justice look like to me?

Life-saving drinking water disinfectants have a “dark side”
Jan. 15, 2021 Ensia

Disinfecting drinking water against pathogens is necessary, but by-products from the process are a ubiquitous — and likely growing — problem across the U.S. Solutions exist, though.

Push to make climate change education part of school curriculum
Jan. 23, 2021 BusinessTech

An international campaign to make climate change education compulsory in all schools – to support the growth of the green economy – is attracting backing from a growing range of organisations in more than 100 countries…

Biden has pledged to advance environmental justice – here’s how the EPA can start
Jan. 25, 2021 The Conversation

On his first day in office President Joe Biden started signing executive orders to reverse Trump administration policies…

Tens of Millions of Birds Pass Through Just Two Western U.S. Corridors
Jan. 27, 2021 Yale Environment 360

California’s Central Valley and the Colorado River Delta host more than 82 million birds every year during the spring migration, according to a new study published in the journal Ornithological Applications. The findings highlight the regions as critical corridors for conservation, with up to 80 percent of some species’ populations passing through the two areas…

Chemists are reimagining recycling to keep plastics out of landfills
Jan. 27, 2021 Science News

Too much of today’s plastic is impossible to recycle…

The U.S. commits to tripling its protected lands. Here’s how it could be done.
Jan. 27, 2021 National Geographic

In a new executive order, the president promised to protect 30 percent of U.S. land and 30 percent of U.S. oceans by 2030.

Biden to place environmental justice at center of sweeping climate plan
Jan. 28, 2021 The Washington Post

The president plans far-reaching actions to cut carbon emissions, aid polluted communities and shift the nation away from fossil fuels. The administration will treat climate change ‘as the emergency that it is,’ one top adviser says.

Environmental literacy is understanding the reality of environmental injustice and climate change.

Isha Clarke

This week’s newsletter looks at youth activism in California and strives to understand youth educational needs as they relate to the environmental literacy movement.

This week we speak with Isha Clarke, a founding member of Youth vs. Apocalypse, an environmental justice organization that was created to raise awareness and inspire change around the climate crisis. Isha was exposed to social justice issues early in life through her family and her community in West Oakland, but she got her start in powerful community action in 2016 at the age of 13. She and other youth activists targeted Phil Tagami, a real estate developer, and protested against the development of a coal terminal in West Oakland, a community already heavily impacted by chronic illnesses related to high levels of pollution. She rose to national and global prominence in early 2019 when a video went viral of her challenging Senator Dianne Feinstein to support the Green New Deal. Isha was involved in one of the largest climate strikes last year when she and Youth vs. Apocalypse organized tens of thousands of protesters equipped with a list of targets and demands throughout the Bay Area.

Listen to her take on the climate crisis and what environmental literacy means to her:

Hear more from Isha Clarke.

Youth activism is by no means a new phenomenon. Youth have led some of the greatest political uprisings and movements of the 20^th century such as the Lunch Counter Sit-ins, the Soweto Uprising, the Anti-war Protests, as well as the marches and democracy movement in Tiananmen Square. Nonetheless, it’s evident that we are now seeing an uptick in youth activism, as many activists take leadership roles in movements such as climate change, racial justice, and gender equality.

The question all educators should be asking themselves is…

Relevant Links

Youth vs Big Oil

Youth Vs. Big Oil is a California-based youth activist organization focused on shaping policy and political action around the fossil fuel industry. Their demands are to stop approval of new oil and gas permits, halt all existing oil and gas production, and establish safe distances between communities and fossil fuel sites.

Youth Vs. Apocalypse EP

In thier effort to lift the voices of youth, in particular youth of color, and fight for a livable climate and an equitable, sustainable, and just world, Youth Vs. Apocalypse released its first EP in December 2020. Listen to their musical tracks and spoken word on SoundCloud.

Isha Clarke, 2019 Brower Youth Awards

Every year the Brower Youth Awards recognizes 6 outstanding, emerging youth leaders, representing accomplishments across the full spectrum of the environmental movement in North America. Check out one of the 2019 award winners, Isha Clarke, and her story.

African American Male Achievement

The Office of African American Male Achievement was launched in 2010 and creates the systems, structures, and spaces that guarantee success for all African American male students in Oakland Unified School District.

KingMakers of Oakland

Independent non-profit committed to improving the educational and life outcomes of Black boys by working with school districts nationwide on professional development, curriculum adaptation, student leadership opportunities, community engagement, and an overall system change through district collaboration.

This Is The Time

A youth-led activist campaign calling on adults to take a pledge and do everything in their power to leave a livable and just society.

Reclaim Our Power

A youth-led activist campaign demanding changes to PG&E and California’s energy market. They are especially focused on assisting communities that have been impacted by dirty energy.

Big Picture Learning

A network of more than 65 schools nationwide and around the world committed to student-centered learning with a focus on community engagement and mentorship.

News and Events

Green School Conference: Summit for School Leaders
Feb. 4-5, 2021 Center for Green Schools

Join school and district leaders from around the globe to share strategies for leading toward greener, healthier, and inspiring schools that engage students in meaningful experiences that drive achievement across the board.

Strategies for Integrating Climate Science into the Elementary Classroom
Feb. 11, 2021 Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network

This webinar provides strategies for elementary teachers to integrate climate science into their classroom.

Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators
Deadline Feb. 19, 2021 EPA

The award recognizes outstanding kindergarten through grade 12 teachers who employ innovative approaches to environmental education and use the environment as a context for learning for their students. Nominations are now open!

New proposal could make climate change lessons compulsory in schools 
Jan. 20, 2021 Starts at 60

Climate change education, including lessons on how to protest, could soon be compulsory in schools around the world…

The Trump Administration Rolled Back More Than 100 Environmental Rules. Here’s the Full List.
Jan. 20, 2021 The New York Times

Over four years, the Trump administration dismantled major climate policies and rolled back many more rules governing clean air, water, wildlife and toxic chemicals…

Environmental activists pushing for compulsory climate change education worldwide as part of Paris Agreement
Jan. 20, 2021 FOXBusiness

As President Joe Biden prepared to rejoin the Paris Agreement to fight climate change Wednesday, a new campaign is underway by environmental activists to add compulsory environmental education to school curriculums worldwide…

Why the US rejoining the Paris climate accord matters at home and abroad — 5 scholars explain
Jan. 22, 2021 The Conversation

The United States helped bring the world into the Paris climate accord, the groundbreaking global agreement reached in 2015 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to slow climate change…

What changes to environmental stewardship will 2021 bring? Here’s what business leaders say
Jan. 24, 2021 World Economic Forum

With COVID-19 infections and deaths continuing to rise and the entire world feeling the economic impact of the pandemic, getting the coronavirus under control is an immediate priority…

Mission Paani: Young Environment Activist is Advocating Mandatory Climate Change Literacy in Schools
Jan. 24, 202 CNN

One of the world’s youngest climate change activists Licyprya Kangujam is taking charge on this gigantic issue of climate change.

Teen Scientist Finds a Low-Tech Way to Recycle Water
Jan. 28, 2021 Discover Magazine

Meet Shreya Ramachandran: This high school senior founded a nonprofit based in California that teaches people how to recycle water in their homes. She’s also shown that the water left after cleaning with soap nuts can be reused to irrigate crops.