Environmental literacy, community action
Our lesson series are designed to provide teachers with the confidence and resources to advance environmental literacy in their classrooms. This summer, we invite 3rd–5th grade teachers to pilot one or more of our lesson series.
The CAELI Community-Based Partner Hub is a portal that connects K–12 teachers and administrators to environmental education community-based partners and their programs. Find experiential learning opportunities for your students today!
 | Turtle Bay Exploration Park is a fun, non-profit 300-acre gathering place featuring the Sundial Bridge, a museum, forestry & wildlife center, arboretum, and botanical gardens. At the gateway to the Sacramento River Trails, Turtle Bay celebrates far Northern California as part of the world we share. The education department at Turtle Bay Exploration Park aims to provide the environment needed to explore the world through science, art, history, and more. They promote life-long learning through fun, hands-on interactions, and enjoyment. |
| Turtle Bay Educator-led Exploration Classes offer interactive, informational, and inspirational experiences. These classes provide opportunities to practice, build on, and connect with Next Generation Science and other standards. All classes are 45 – 60 minutes long and your group may stay and enjoy the rest of the Park before or after your class. These field trip classes are offered September 2, 2026 through April 30, 2027, on Wednesdays – Fridays; 9:15 am – 12:00 pm. Exploration classes available include Life Cycles, Science Investigations, Exploring Trees, Nature Sketching, Laws of Motion Show, Colorful Coding, Aqua Ecology, Wintu Ways, Engineering Design, and Earth Rocks. |  |
| Turtle Bay’s Animal Classes are very popular and available in-person and virtually! Virtual classes are live web programs for students to view in the classroom or at home. Each class is interactive, contains live animals, and is tailored to fit the State Content Standards for each grade listed. All classes are one hour long (40 min & 15 min Q&A) and your group may stay and enjoy the rest of the Park before or after your class. These classes are offered October 9, 2026 – February 12, 2027, on Fridays at 10:00 am. Animal classes offered include Nocturnal Animals, Forest Animals, Animals in Action, and Survival. |
 | Classes in the Gardens are another wonderful way to explore Turtle Bay. Students can explore the plants, trees, and other features of the Botanical Gardens with one of the horticulture specialists. Each class is tailored to support the State Content Standards. All classes are one hour long and your group may stay and enjoy the rest of the Park before or after your class. The Classes in the Gardens are offered September 2, 2026 – October 29, 2026 & February 3, 2027 – April 29, 2027, on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10:00 am. Classes in the Gardens offering include Plant Adaptations, All About Seeds, Plant Life Cycles, and Pollination. |
| The Museum Art Gallery Experience (MAGE) offers students an interactive arts and cultural learning opportunity. This year’s featured exhibition, the West Coast Biennial Juried Art Exhibition, will feature over 40 unique mixed-media artworks submitted by artists all along the west coast including Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California! After a tour and discussion of the exhibition, students will get to do a hands-on art activity that relates to one of the common themes in the gallery. Classes are one hour long and your group may stay and enjoy the rest of the Park before or after your class. Available January 29, 2027 – April 16, 2027, on Wednesdays – Fridays; 9:15 AM – 12:00 pm. Turtle Bay Exploration Park also offers Discovery Camps. These camps are an opportunity for 7-12-year-olds to participate in various science activities, crafts, games, and more! At Turtle Bay, they encourage interactive and hands-on learning that builds on prior knowledge. They encourage campers to try new and different activities and experiments. Sequential days will build off the previous day’s work as they explore science, arts, and the surrounding natural world. Throughout the week, campers will also have opportunities to attend Turtle Bay programs, visit the Parrot Playhouse, enjoy the playgrounds, and explore our exhibitions, gardens, and more. Camps available include Fall & Winter Camp in November and December, Summer Camp, and Extended Care. |
 | There is a program for the little explorers too. Little Explorers aims to provide an exemplary, developmentally appropriate early childhood program for children ages 5 and under and families. They work to create a learning environment that models best practices for high-quality early education experiences for young children and provide opportunities for parents and caregivers to observe and learn. The philosophy is based on constructive theories in which children construct their own knowledge through active learning. This play-based environment encourages children to explore, discover, investigate and create. The curriculum and materials are relevant, meaningful, current and purposeful to encourage children’s social, emotional, physical and cognitive skills. |
| Sensory Hour at Garden of Lights is an inclusive program for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other sensory processing needs to enjoy the Garden of Lights with their families. From 4pm – 5pm, registrants will get to experience over a million lights with limited capacity and decreased volume. All participants have the option to enjoy hot chocolate and s’mores before gates open to the public at 5pm and are welcome to stay until the Gardens close at 9pm. Each year Turtle Bay sees a variety of homeschools, alternative schools, and independent study groups from all over the northern California area. If you belong to one of these groups, take a look at the options available. Additional programs include Family 2nd Saturday, Science Saturday, and Art Lab Saturday. |
 | Turtle Bay’s Lending Library offers classroom kits from various curriculum sources including GEMS (Great Explorations in Math & Science), Project Learning Tree, Growing Up Wild, and more. Lending Library subscribers may check out kits that come fully stocked with materials for a classroom of up to 32 students to implement the lesson plans. Activities are perfect for the classroom, afterschool programs, or camps. Subscriptions are available for a yearly fee of $40. Subscribers may check out an unlimited number of kits. |
| Check out the Turtle Bay Exploration Park website for more detailed information about all these wonderful educational opportunities in Redding. |  |
  | Date: November 6-8, 2026 Location: Sacramento, CA Description: Registration is still open for the annual California Science Education Conference, the premier event for science educators across California! Hear motivational speakers and gain practical knowledge to be the best science educator, attend high–quality workshops and courses led by educators and experts, network with friends, educators, and supporters throughout California. There will be unique and engaging opportunities to share with and learn from other educators, get timely updates to help with curriculum materials, assessment, and testing, and have fun with the science community during socials and more! For more information and registration, click HERE. |
 | Dates: November 4 – December 2, 2026 Location: Online Course Description: Enroll now for these engaging and insightful online sessions which will unpack the essential elements of Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults. The sessions are facilitated by award-winning and best-selling Indigenous author, Monique Gray Smith, who adapted Robin Wall Kimmerer’s New York Times Best Selling book, Braiding Sweetgrass, for a new generation of readers. Monique will take us on a learning journey, exploring the six sections of the book and the chapters within each of them, including key content for classroom and school use. Monique will be joined by Robin Wall Kimmerer for the final session on December 2! Register HERE. |
 | Dates: November 10, 2026 Location: Virtual Description: Join this FREE virtual workshop that will offer clarity on what risky play is and is not, particularly when supervising other people’s children as a professional educator in group learning environments. Drs. Mariana Brussoni and Megan Zeni will offer guidance for creating conditions and building capacity for risky play in schools, which serves to support the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive growth of children. Bring your questions! Register HERE. |
  | Date: October 22, 2026 Location: Virtual Description: The CAELI County Office of Education Community of Practice brings together staff in a variety of roles from County Offices of Education (COEs) across the state. They meet every other month for networking, professional learning, and focused discussions on self-selected topics. Register HERE for the COE Community of Practice meeting. |
 | Date: November 18, 2026 Location: Virtual Description: Elections shift the advocacy landscape — and the weeks that follow are a critical window to build relationships with new decision-makers. Join the Children & Nature Network, NAAEE, OAK (Outdoors Alliance for Kids) and Nuestra Tierra for a post-election briefing built for the children and nature movement. We’ll cover a plain-language analysis of the election results, how and when to reach out to newly elected officials, emerging policy trends, and messaging strategies that resonate with your community. You’ll leave with practical tools and real examples — from outdoor education funding wins to state-level climate literacy policy — to carry your advocacy forward. Featured speakers: David Beard, Megan Fink, Laura Flores, and Julia Hurwit. Register HERE. |
 | Date: November 19 2026 Location: Virtual Description: These free, interactive online meetings feature engaging presentations from school district colleagues, invited guest speakers, and technical experts who share their work on schoolyard forests. We also include time for small group conversations to encourage networking, share best practices, ask questions, and build relationships among schoolyard forest practitioners. This month’s topic: Shade Trees for School Programs (Hawaii). Register HERE. |
 | Description: Across California, students are finding their voices, educators are bringing environmental learning to life, and school leaders are building more sustainable and resilient campuses. Each action may begin locally, but together, these ripples are creating lasting change. Ten Strands invites you to explore what we accomplished together in 2026. |
 | Description: Hopeful by Nature travels the world to find the educators, parents, organizers, and community leaders who are connecting young people to the natural world through outdoor learning in ways that build something real. Each episode is a conversation with someone who refused to wait for permission — and built something anyway. The podcast is hosted by Scott Shepherd, founder of Wildward Institute. Among the wonderful episodes, check out Episodes 17 and 18 with Karen Cowe and Craig Strang on Joyful Persistence and Less Screen Time, More Green Time and Episode 13 with Celeste Royer, Retired Twice: Still passionate about outdoor learning! |
 | Description: Over the last two years, Green Schoolyards America’s research team quantified the extent and distribution of tree canopy on California’s K-12 public school campuses. Their goals were to understand existing conditions, establish a baseline from which to measure change over time, and identify priorities for the California Schoolyard Forest System®. They hope the study’s findings will also provide tools for data-driven decision making to help California’s policymakers in their efforts to protect vulnerable children from extreme heat and impacts of climate change. This report outlines short and long-term policy recommendations for taking action to protect California’s children from extreme heat by increasing tree canopy in K-12 public schools. For additional information about the study, visit the Green Schoolyards America website. |
 | Description: All Seeds to Solutions units now include student worksheets, readings, and other materials in Spanish. After you download a unit, check individual lesson folders for the corresponding student materials in Spanish. Developed by professional educators and scientists, Audubon Adventures is designed to be integrated easily into any curriculum area: science, mathematics, language arts, social studies, and the creative arts. It has been used in classrooms, home-school settings, after-school programs, camp programs, ESL classes, and more. Since its inception in 1984, more than 7 million students have participated in the program. |
 | Description: C&NN contributing writer Susan Pagani talks with Dr. Cathy Jordan about how time outside can act as a natural buffer against toxic stress. Unstructured outdoor moments, like tummy time on uneven ground or playing in mud, lower stress hormones in children and caregivers at the same time, building neural pathways for lifelong emotional resilience. Find out what science has learned in the past few years. Lauren MacLean is a certified teacher and accomplished author, known for her children’s picture books. |
| The California Botanic Garden in Claremont, is the largest botanic garden dedicated to California native plants, promoting botany, conservation and horticulture to inspire, inform and educate the public and scientific community about California’s native flora. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Garden is a living museum with curated collections of more than 22,000 California native plants, some of which are rare or endangered. Spread across 86 acres, the Garden is located approximately 35 miles east of Los Angeles. The Garden displays about 1170 taxa of California plants and includes those native to the California Floristic Province. |  |
| The California Botanic Garden offers several educational programs for schools. Schools can choose a Self-Guided visit or a Guided School Visit, both available to all grade levels. The Guided School Visits are led by Volunteer Garden Guides who introduce, demonstrate, and reinforce ideas included in K-8 Common Core standards and Next Generation Science Standards. The primary grade (TK-2) tours are offered on Tuesdays. TK students learn about living things in It’s Alive! as they tour the garden, while Kindergarteners participate in The Big Green Machine: Plants and their Ecosystems and learn about energy and how plants support life on earth. First graders also study plants in Plantastic! What Makes a Plant, a Plant, while 2nd graders participate in Surviving and Thriving: Pollination and Seed Disposal to learn about plant reproduction from pollination, to setting fruit, and producing seeds. Teachers are provided an overview of the programs so they know exactly what the students will study and explore. |
 | Thursdays welcome 3rd to 6th grade students for guided programs. Third and fourth graders participate in Web of Life: The Study of Ecological Relationships and Diversity of Life. They study energy flow from the sun through an ecosystem. Fifth and sixth graders participate in Adaptation and Survival: A Quest for Success. They explore how plants and animals adapt to |
| survive in different habitats. Teacher preparation materials are provided. The Botanic Garden offers guided tours for middle and high school students upon request and based upon staff and volunteer availability. Additionally, home school, scouts, and day camps can also request tours. |  |
| The Children’s Woodland debuted this past spring 2026 and is a unique space within California Botanic Garden where children can explore native habitat, engage in imaginative play, and make a lifelong connection with nature. While the Woodland is not a playground in the traditional sense, the space currently features open space for creative play, balance logs and stumps, sticks and other items for building, rocks and rock fountains for climbing and water play, hammocks for relaxing, a stump circle for reading and gathering, a sensory plant circle for touching and smelling, and benches and picnic tables for resting and connection. Like other natural spaces, the Children’s Woodland will change with the seasons and the years, so watch for new installations in the future! |  |
| The California Botanic Garden supports learning at home and has created interactive worksheets for students and their families to enjoy. The worksheets are downloadable and offered in English and Spanish. Public programs for adults, seniors, youth groups, and college classes are also offered as A Walk in the Garden is always a New Adventure. Participants can discover new sights, sounds, and experiences with a guided tour. The Botanic Garden hosts events and classes throughout the year that celebrate, enrich, and explore our connections to California native plants and the larger natural world. Visit their event page to see what is coming up next. |
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 | Date: October 6-9, 2026 Location: Portland, Oregon Description: Registration is open for NAAEE’s Annual Conference and Research Symposium. Join more than 1,000 attendees as they imagine and advance solutions grounded in research and practice, inspired by place, and strengthened through collaboration. With themes from connecting with nature to advancing sustainable communities, this event invites everyone to consider what becomes possible when education drives connection, action, and positive change. For more information and registration, click HERE. |
  | Dates: October 9-11, 2026 Location: Santa Barbara Description: UC Environmental Stewards welcomes everyone to join an inclusive and safe setting to learn to be better stewards of our environment. The conference is open to all individuals with an interest in building a more equitable, resilient and sustainable future for California. There will be engaging presentations, hands-on workshops and field trips will highlight local natural history, culture and the environment, with a focus on climate change and climate resilience work in California and participatory science, equity, inclusion and justice in conservation efforts. Register HERE. |
 | Dates: October 12, 2026 Location: Virtual Description: California’s public lands hold stories of migration, labor, family, cultural tradition, recreation, and community identity. Latino communities have shaped and cared for the state’s parks, forests, deserts, waterways, and historic places for generations. Yet barriers to outdoor access, changing environmental protections, and fear surrounding immigration enforcement continue to affect how many families experience these shared spaces. During Latino Heritage Month, hear from inspiring Latino leaders who have broken barriers, overcome difficult circumstances, and lead with compassion. We will explore the strength of community and the work underway to create parks and public lands where everyone feels safe, represented, and welcome. Register HERE. |
  | Date: October 14-15, 2026 Location: Sacramento County Description: Presented by First Partner of California Jennifer Siebel Newsom, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Center for Ecoliteracy, Alice Waters Institute, National Farm to School Network, and Soil Born Farms. Connect with California’s farm to school community for a vibrant celebration of the people advancing the health of our children, our farms, and our future. Together, we will celebrate California’s leadership, strengthen connections across the state, and build momentum for the future of farm to school. Register HERE. |
| Date: October 22, 2026 Location: Virtual Description: The CAELI County Office of Education Community of Practice brings together staff in a variety of roles from County Offices of Education (COEs) across the state. They meet every other month for networking, professional learning, and focused discussions on self-selected topics. Register HERE for the COE Community of Practice meeting. |
 | Date: October 25, 2026 Location: Multiple locations Description: Join environmental and outdoor education professionals from across your region to explore a local site and meet colleagues working in a variety of settings. The event includes networking activities, snacks, and a tour of the site. Make new connections and learn more about a local program in your region! San Diego County: Mission Trails East Fortuna Field Station (San Diego) – Click here to register Los Angeles County: Audubon Center at Debs Park (Los Angeles) – Click here to register (Note that the meetup for this location runs 12-4pm) Greater Sacramento Capitol Region: Effie Yaw Nature Center (Charmichael) – Click here to register Shasta County: Whiskeytown Environmental School (Redding) – Click here to register Humboldt County: Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge (Loleta) – Click here to register SF Bay Area: Nature Learning Center (Fremont) – Click here to register |
 | Date: October 24-31, 2026 Location: International Description: Bat Week is an international, annual celebration designed to raise awareness about the need for bat conservation. Bats are amazing creatures that are vital to the health of our natural world and economy. Although we may not always see them, bats are hard at work all around the world each night – eating tons of insects, pollinating flowers, and spreading seeds that grow new plants and trees. The website has numerous activities, videos, handouts, and other resources to share with students. |
| Date: October 29, 2026 Location: Virtual Description: The CAELI District Community of Practice (COP) invites district-focused staff from a variety of roles across California to join a statewide network of leaders, educators, and support staff working to advance environmental literacy and sustainability in schools. Register HERE to register for District Community of Practice meetings |
 | Description: October is the month of all things spooky! Bats, jack-o-lanterns, and artificial spider webs set the stage for fall harvest parties and Halloween. In reality, spider webs adorn our porches, garages, and patios all year long, not just in the fall. However, autumn is the time of year when a few noticeable species like orb-weavers and giant house spiders find a mate and lay eggs before winter arrives. These types of spiders are much more active and visible in the fall, which may be one reason we associate spiders and their webs with the fall months. Project Learning Tree provides a variety of resources for educators to use to study spiders. Which will be your favorite? |
 | Description: The Invisible Mammal is a feature-length documentary film about bats, infectious disease, and women in science. In this intensely cinematic film, bats are rendered poetically visible: spectacularly streaming out of caves or bridges, or cradled in a gloved hand, wings extended. Wonder is the overriding emotion. Adventure is a key mood, along with mind-expanding discovery in the company of some of the most prominent human faces in bat conservation. Watch the trailer HERE. Check out the list of screenings coming up in California or book a screening yourself. |
| Description: Elementary students get moving, get outside, and get creative with these activities, all while practicing academic skills. Activities include: Leaf Scavenger Hunt Challenge, Mystery Sensory Harvest, Pumpkin Seed Guessitmation Challenge, Apple Taste Test Graphing, Autumn-themed Word Relay Race, Pumpkin Pie Baking Challenge, Leaf Composition Prediction, and Mini Pumpkin Catapult. These activities will make learning fun! |
 | Description: Autumn is time for fall bird migration. Audubon Adventures introduces young people to the world of nature and wildlife through colorful magazines, online features and interactive games and puzzles, plus activities, guidance, and resources for educators. Designed for classrooms and other educational settings as well as for enjoyment at home, Audubon Adventures opens children’s hearts and minds to the wonders of birds, other wildlife, and the fascinating and complex natural world that is Planet Earth. Developed by professional educators and scientists, Audubon Adventures is designed to be integrated easily into any curriculum area: science, mathematics, language arts, social studies, and the creative arts. It has been used in classrooms, home-school settings, after-school programs, camp programs, ESL classes, and more. Since its inception in 1984, more than 7 million students have participated in the program. |
 | Description: A conversation about the connections between education, nature, community, food, health, childhood, and the places that give us room to pay attention. Their conversation moves from childhood memories of staring at the night sky and sitting on a grandparents’ porch to the experiences being created for young people today. Along the way, they explore stillness and boredom, access to nature, environmental learning, community connection, and what it might mean to create more welcoming spaces where people can learn from the world around them. And an unexpected question emerges: Do we need to build more porches? |
 | Description: This handy resource book for primary and intermediate level educators includes 20 weeks’ worth of themed sit spot activities for students of all ages. It also includes additional downloadable resources – to explore outdoor learning with students all year-long and in all weather conditions. This handy field guide begins by introducing The Framework beneath sit spot pedagogy, grounding this work in the literature. It then builds on this foundation, blending theory with practice in a step-by-step Getting Started process to set up successful sit spot experiences with a wide-variety of learners. Lauren MacLean is a certified teacher and accomplished author, known for her children’s picture books. |
| The vision of YES, Nature to Neighborhoods is for Richmond youth, adults and families to lead healthy, connected lives; motivate change in their neighborhoods; and inspire a safe, thriving community. YES Nature to Neighborhoods was founded on the belief that positive experiences in nature are a catalyst for individual and community transformation. Their work focuses on cultivating leadership, increasing access and breaking down barriers for those excluded from the outdoors, reclaiming a connection to the earth, and creating brave spaces that foster cross-cultural relationships. Their organization values inclusion, intentionality, effective communication, integrity, a holistic approach, equity, and diversity. |  |
 | YES Nature to Neighborhoods offers programs for youth from childhood through young adulthood. The Explorers Program for 8-10 year olds, offers new experiences that nurture children’s leadership skills through hands-on learning in the natural environment. Through after-school workshops and weekend outings, Explorers grow their social- emotional skills and engage in environmental education and critical thinking. Explorers participate in outdoor experiences like learning center visits and one overnight camping trip. They can also participate in YES’s Summer, Family, and Winter camps. |
| The Rangers Program for youth ages 11-13, continues to build social-emotional and outdoor skills while learning about the natural environment, environmental stewardship, and responsibility to the community. Rangers participate in biweekly workshops and continue to develop a sense of belonging in and connection to the outdoors through adventures like hiking, fishing, kayaking, and camping. |  |
 | The Adventure Crew for youth ages 11-13, is a 10-month environmental program co-led with the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD). While exploring a variety of parks and outdoor landscapes across the region, the group emphasizes challenge-by-choice through a variety of outdoor experiences, culminating in a three-night, self-supported backpacking trip. The Adventure Crew meets every other Saturday, and members may also participate in the Rangers cohort. |
| The Youth Engagement Team (YET) is a program designed for youth ages 14-15. Teens grow from campers into community role models and advocates. YET members build leadership skills by mentoring younger participants, exploring health and wellness, and leading community improvement projects. YET leaders can also participate in outdoor excursions such as rock climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, and camping. Through these experiences, they develop and pursue personal goals, become more confident in their voice, learn about local issues, and gain skills to make community improvements. In the Coastal Conservation Corps, youth ages 16-18, continue to practice stewardship and civic action, learning about environmental justice, climate change, and conservation science, focusing on the health of local waterways. This is done through bi-weekly workshops, educational day and overnight trips, local advocacy, and access to recreation and leadership opportunities. Teens are supported to identify and pursue goals, graduate high school, and access scholarships, internships, and job opportunities to successfully navigate young adulthood and as empowered leaders. |
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| Additionally, YES Nature to Neighborhoods offers Family Camp which cultivates self-awareness, connection to nature, and strong bonds. At Family Camp, parents and caregivers and their children build cross-generational and peer-group relationships, become inspired to engage in their communities, and connect with the solace, joy, adventure, fun, and opportunities for growth that nature provides. Visit the YES Nature to Neighborhoods website to learn more about their amazing programs! |
| Date: September 2, 20026 Location: Online Description: We invite you to our next virtual statewide gathering which is a great opportunity to connect, share updates, and collaborate with environmental education leaders across California. Visit the CAELI website for more information. Register HERE. |
 | Dates: September 5-13, 20026 Location: Statewide Description: You can take part in California Biodiversity Day no matter where you are! Simply join the Find 30 Species for California Biodiversity Day project in iNaturalist and record 30 wild species between September 5–13. Every observation adds to a statewide picture of California’s amazing biodiversity, and the information we gather together helps inform the California 30×30 Initiative. Thanks to the Climate Science Alliance, there are some prizes in store for top participants in the project this year! |
 | Dates: September 8 – October 4, 2026 Location: Asynchronous weekly modules + live webinars Description: This 4-week course offered by the Cornell University Civic Ecology Lab helps educators and community practitioners turn climate concern into clear communication, meaningful learning, and local action. Hundreds of educators, NGO staff, community leaders, and students from around the world typically join our courses, and we would be glad to learn with you. Register HERE. |
 | Date: September 15, 2026 Locations: Online Description: A free virtual workshop for an overview of how educators and healthcare practitioners can better understand and support kids’ mental health through outdoor activities and to learn practical, low-pressure ways to support both student and teacher wellbeing through simple outdoor routines and experiences. This workshop will cover nature as co-therapist, benefits of sensory awareness activities, and how risk and challenge can be leveraged to reduce anxiety. With increasing demands, diverse learning needs, anxious students, and constant curriculum pressures, many teachers are looking for approaches that calm the classroom without adding more to their plate. Register HERE. |
 | Date: September 15-16, 2026 Location: Pasadena Description: This year marks the 20-year anniversary of Green Technology, a momentous milestone that celebrates two decades of advancing sustainability, innovation, and collaboration across California’s public sector. Over the past twenty years, Green Technology has brought together educators, facilities leaders, policymakers, and solution providers to accelerate progress toward healthier environments and more resilient communities. The education sessions will explore how sustainability can be integrated into the curriculum, how environmental literacy can bridge the gap between facilities and the classroom, and how schools can implement best practices both operationally and academically. Participants will also discover funding and grant opportunities available to support sustainability planning and project implementation for schools and higher education institutions. Register HERE |
 | Date: September 19, 2026 Location: Statewide Description: Join your friends and neighbors at California’s largest annual volunteer event to remove trash from across the entire state. Help protect people and wildlife by eliminating plastic pollution before it can cause any more harm. Sponsored by the California Coastal Commission, this marks the 42nd year of the event. To learn more and to participate, visit the CA Coastal Cleanup Day website. |
| Date: September 24, 2026 Location: Online Description: The CAELI District Community of Practice (COP) invites district-focused staff from a variety of roles across California to join a statewide network of leaders, educators, and support staff working to advance environmental literacy and sustainability in schools. Register HERE to register for District Community of Practice meetings. |
 | Date: September 26, 2026 Location: Nationwide Description: Coordinated by the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), National Public Lands Day is a collective act of care that strengthens our connection to the landscape and to each other. It is a day of service as well as an opportunity to give back, build community, and enjoy the public lands that support our health, environment, and well-being. Public lands include national parks, forests, monuments, wildlife refuges, grasslands, marine sanctuaries, lakes, and state, county, and city parks—spaces managed by public agencies or nonprofits and open to all. This years’ theme is Caring for Our Shared America. Visit the website to learn more. |
 | Description: The toolkit is designed with inclusive language to ensure clarity and accessibility for all and to support anyone advocating for educational policies that emphasize climate literacy and action; career readiness and STEM learning, skill development, and healthy and just learning environments. The toolkit objectives include ensuring equitable access and promoting justice; empower organizations and advocates; comprehensive database; and catalyzing impact. To view or download the toolkit, visit the NAAEE website at Climate Education Policy Toolkit. |
 | Description: This study aimed to clarify whether outdoor play in early childhood may offer “a low-cost, enjoyable, and developmentally appropriate strategy for reducing children’s risk of later mental health difficulties.” According to the researchers, this is the first study to demonstrate that outdoor play during the preschool years is related to how children’s mental health develops over time. Findings suggest that preschool children who play outdoors more frequently may have better mental health throughout middle childhood. Published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, June 2026. |
 | Description: Holly Steele, Director of Professional Learning and Community Building at Ten Strands, shares the experiences of 30 educators who participated in a 3-day summer institute immersed in the Seeds to Solutions 7th grade unit of groundwater. There were five key lessons that participants took away from their experience. Read the article HERE. |
 | Description: Secretary Wade Crowfoot’s Speaker Series recently featured panelists discussing extreme heat in California. Be sure to listen to Brad Rumble, Principal at Esperanza Elementary School in LAUSD, as he shares about the changes he helped make happen on school campuses near downtown Los Angeles. His segment airs beginning at minutes 23:00 to 34:00. View the webinar HERE on YouTube. |
 | Description: Organizations that offer climate change communication and education (CCEOs) include non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, zoos, museums, parks, libraries, and private companies. They use a wide range of modalities such as camps, workshops, campaigns, and afterschool programs to empower learners of all ages to take climate action. This study helped fill knowledge gaps about their services by mapping the types and foci of these CCEOs. Read the report to learn more. |
 | Description: Building on her commitment to ensuring California children have the best start in life, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom released a report, Planting the Seed: Farm to School Roadmap for Success, in February 2022. The report highlights policy goals to advance child well-being, economic growth, environmental resilience, and racial equity through farm to school systems that connect children to locally sourced, whole foods and produce in cafeterias, classrooms, and gardens. The report and its recommendations are the result of a collaboration — led by First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross — among a number of state agency leaders, education professionals, and farm to school experts and practitioners. |
| Since 1989, Web of Life Field (WOLF) School has been dedicated to providing engaging and impactful educational outdoor experiences for California’s K-12th grade students and families. They believe in the transformative power of outdoor experiences, and are committed to designing immersive programs that connect youth with nature, empower individuals, and strengthen communities. Through lessons and activities that make learning fun, WOLF School gives teachers the opportunity to enhance classroom curriculum, and gives students the chance to gain knowledge, awareness, and respect of their environment, their community, and themselves. Education is one of their key values and they believe knowledge is power, and that by becoming a life-long learner and continuously educating oneself each individual can make a positive difference for the betterment of themselves and their world. At Web of Life Field (WOLF) School, they believe that youth thrive outdoors! Their K-12th grade residential outdoor education and team building programs inspire California’s students to explore, discover, and learn through exciting field study activities, group building initiatives, fun songs, active games, and living together in a community. Programs are led by professionally-trained naturalists at stunning camps throughout California, are California State Standards-based, and support Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), giving students the opportunity to make hands-on connections between classroom learning and the world around them in a safe and positive outdoor environment. WOLF School is unique in their ability to offer any of their educational outdoor programs at multiple professionally-maintained camps in beautiful locations throughout California. From the central coast’s soaring redwood forests to the majestic reaches of the Sierras, with campuses as far north as Sonoma County and south to the San Bernardino Mountains, educators can choose the site that best suits their group, and get ready for a remarkable experience! Their four campuses include Camp Monte Toyon in the Santa Cruz area, Camp Arroyo in the East Bay, Camp Sea Lab in the Santa Cruz and Monterey area, and Camp Loma Mar in the Bay Area. |
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| During WOLF School’s Outdoor Science School program, educated naturalists lead students in scientific field studies where students can explore, discover, and learn about the natural world through fun activities on the trail and in remarkable outdoor environments. Their naturalists are experts at taking material taught in the classroom and creating supplemental curriculum for the outdoors, and field studies can be tailored to teachers’ particular subject interests or state standards for a specific grade. Let them know what your interests are and they will create an unforgettable California science camp experience for you and your students! |  |
 | The Camp Sea Lab programs fosters lifelong excitement, scientific understanding, and stewardship of our coasts and ocean by providing quality marine-oriented programs that promote science, education, and adventure for youth. Located in Monterey Bay, Camp SEA Lab offers high-quality outdoor school and summer camp programs to educate and inspire the next generation of ocean stewards. Camp SEA Lab is dedicated to helping children explore the wonders of the marine environment from the top of the watershed to the bottom of the deep sea as they gain a greater appreciation for what science can teach them about our world and the importance of being good stewards for the ocean. |
| WOLF School offers wonderful programs with a very dedicated staff. Visit their website to learn more or to make your school’s reservations for the coming school year. |
