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!
| Inside the Outdoors is a unique and hands-on environmental education program serving over 120,000 participants per school year. Its mission is to empower students, teachers, parents and the community to explore natural areas and expand their knowledge, understanding, and stewardship of the environment through their Field Trips, Traveling Scientist, and Community programs. |  |
| The curriculum created for their programs supports current California academic standards and allows students to interact with these concepts in a real world setting. Inside the Outdoors has been a leader in hands-on science and social science programs since 1974, is administered by the Orange County Department of Education, and is a self-supporting program. |
| Inside the Outdoors offers programs for students of all ages that Nurture a Natural Curiosity. Their Preschool/TK programs provide a hands-on opportunity for students in preschool to develop an awareness and appreciation of the sciences through the exploration of the animal kingdom. In addition, the program fosters a commitment to the protection and understanding of the environment and community. |  |
 | The Traveling Scientist programs are designed for each grade level, Kindergarten through high school. For example, students in the 2nd grade study habitats while students in the 5th grade study food webs. Middle school students may study sensory structures in animals, investigate microorganisms in wastewater, or the impacts of human land uses on watersheds. High school students may study renewable energy or sea level rise |
| Inside the Outdoors also offers Traveling Scientist programs for the Expanded Learning Opportunity Program such as Amazing Animals, Renewable Energy, and Rethink Resources. In addition to the Traveling Scientist Program, students may also participate in Field Trips at various locations around Orange County including Shipley Nature Center, Wild Wetlands, Crystal Cove, or Irvine Regional Park. All of their programs are designed to be hands-on and provide an opportunity to engage with the natural world. |
| With the school year coming to a close, Inside the Outdoors is preparing for Summer Day Camp 2026 at Shipley Nature Center. Children experience unique activities that incorporate science, fun, learning, and being outdoors. Summer Day Camp is geared toward campers age 6 to 12 years old, with leadership and camp opportunities for campers age 13-17. Each week of summer camp will have themed daily activities that are science/nature based that also include a daily nature journal prompt and a take-home craft. |  |
 | Inside the Outdoors also designed some Community Programs and Virtual Programs to meet the wide range of needs of the community. For more information about Inside the Outdoors programs, call 714-708-3885 or email insidetheoutdoors@ocde.us. |
 | Dates: June 3, 2026 Location: Virtual 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. |
 | Date: June 9, 2026 Location: Virtual Description: Join this FREE virtual inspiring and practical workshop to discuss how ‘Renewal’ can guide K–12 educators in bringing Indigenous voices and the philosophy, principles, and practices of Indigenous land-based education into their teaching and community. Workshop attendees will learn how to respectfully renew their own relationships with land directly, engage students with the land – no matter where they are located and guide students in learning through observation, listening, and discussion. Through critical engagement with diverse written and visual works created by Indigenous leaders, land defenders, scholars, and Knowledge Keepers, experienced educators Christine M’Lot and Katya Adamov Ferguson will guide readers in connecting with Indigenous perspectives on land and water. Click HERE for more information or to register. Offered by The Outdoor Learning School & Store and Partners. |
 | Dates: June 10-14, 2026 Location: Events across the state Description: The fifth annual California State Parks Week is presented by CA State Parks, CA State Parks Foundation, Parks CA, and Save the Redwoods League. There are numerous free events happening across the state. From outdoor adventures to cultural celebrations and hands-on activities, there are many ways to connect with your parks. Plus, calling all TK–12 student artists! They are again holding the California State Parks Week poster contest, now expanded to include transitional kindergarten. To learn more and submit your artwork, visit the website. |
  | Date: June 14-July 25, 2026 Locations: El Dorado, Tuolumne, Humboldt, and Shasta Counties Description: FIT offers immersive in-woods professional learning experiences designed for both formal and non formal educators. At each week-long session FIT’s team of credentialed instructors and local experts weave environmental education with unique forestry field experiences to explore California’s forest resources and expand your teaching practice! Registration is all-inclusive, covering on-site accommodations, meals and resources; you just have to get there! Whether you’re looking to broaden your content knowledge, explore new environmental education strategies, or connect with like-minded educators, FIT provides the perfect setting — outdoors, in the forest, with other inquiring minds! FIT welcomes all active California educators. For more information and registration, click HERE. |
 | Date: June 16, 2026 Location: Los Angeles, CA Description: The Healing Power of Nature is a professional development conference where educators can learn healing pathways for themselves and their students using Southern California’s remarkable natural and cultural landscapes. Hosted by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, this unique gathering centers teachers as the learners as they explore the interconnections between science, art, mindfulness, and social-emotional learning. Through hands-on workshops, outdoor experiences, and interdisciplinary sessions, educators will discuss natural disaster recovery and social competency issues while developing supportive relationships with their peers across institutions and disciplines. For more information, click HERE |
 | Date: June 24-26, 2026 Location: San Antonio, TX and online Description: The 2026 Natural Start Alliance Nature-Based Early Learning Conference, held in San Antonio and online, brings together educators, researchers, and leaders to explore innovative, equitable approaches to nature-based education. Centered on the theme Imagine If, the event features in-person and online sessions focused on sustainability, justice, advocacy, and expanding nature-based learning for all children. Click HERE for more information or to register. |
 | Date: July 9-10, 2026 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Description: Learn to use a garden to breathe life into standards-based lessons, promote ecological literacy, encourage a love of nourishing foods, and support students’ social development. Using Life Lab’s The Growing Classroom activity guide for grades K-6, participants in this hands-on workshop experience tried-and-true garden-based lessons linked to Common Core Language Arts and Math and Next Generation Science Standards; practice basic gardening techniques; and develop management strategies for a school garden program. Graduate education units available. Click HERE to register and to learn more. |
 | Description: National Geographic Explorer Bertie Gregory explores the extraordinary lives of bees, which are among the planet’s most important animals. Over three years, special cameras opened a rare window into a single hive, revealing its hidden world. With more than 20,000 bee species pollinating one-third of the world’s food, this series uncovers their astonishing architecture and intelligence, unlocking their secrets. Click HERE to watch some fascinating footage in these two episodes. |
 | Description: Nature as Healer is a strategy for advancing children’s access to nature’s benefits, centering the ways in which time in nature supports mental health, recovery from trauma and overall well-being for children, families and communities. With children’s mental health in crisis, nature’s role in supporting young people’s well-being is more important than ever. Nature as Healer is our answer to this crisis. Click HERE to view some additional resources provided by the Children & Nature Network. |
 | Description: How can electric vehicles be used most effectively to combat climate change? How can we improve the impact of agriculture on people and our planet? Can we restore native ecosystems while mitigating the impacts of the climate crisis? Strategic Energy Innovation’s (SEI) new Climate Solutions Toolkit engages students in asking questions like these as they wrestle with how best to solve one of our planet’s most pressing problems: the threat of changing weather patterns across the globe. While many resources teach students why climate change is happening and its consequences, few encourage them to think critically about the many ways we have to solve this problem, providing both lively engagement and necessary inspiration to take action. This toolkit includes an educator guide, detailed case studies, a curated list of additional climate solutions, and a glossary for educators. Together, these resources provide an inquiry-based framework for facilitating students’ evaluation of a variety of climate solutions and key examples of how educators can use this framework to facilitate discussions about regenerative agriculture, ecosystem restoration, electric vehicles, and more. Request the toolkit HERE. |
 | Description: Many schools and districts plan to or already use outdoor learning spaces when the weather is warm. As temperatures rise it is important to ensure that students and teachers are comfortable and protected from direct sun and excess heat. Hydration is key, along with avoiding surfaces that intensify heat, finding shade and breezes, and being sure everyone has the right clothing and gear for the weather. Check out these helpful tips and many more resources on the National Outdoor Learning Library. |
 | Description: When we were young, it was easy to think that we’d have to wait until we’re older to make a difference since most of our role models were adults. As young environmental activist Ta’Kaiya Blaney said, “I always wanted to make a difference, but it was always along the lines of…when I grow up. It’s sad that it has to be this way but I realize I don’t have time to grow up before I want to make a change.” It’s true – young students don’t need to wait until they’re older to make a difference. They can make real change now. Sometimes they just need to know it’s possible. Project Learning Tree shares 13 inspiring stories that show what’s possible when young environmentalists take action. Get inspired HERE. |
 | Description: This article, published in the Sierra Club magazine, was written by Jackie Ostfeld, Director of the Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All campaign. She talks about the influence of addictive digital technologies on children and how they are taking a toll on youth mental health. Jackie shares Sierra Club’s efforts to make sure kids can safely access nature wherever they live. Click HERE to read the article. |
| The mission of the San Francisco Zoo & Gardens is to connect people with wildlife, inspire caring for nature and advance conservation action. The San Francisco Zoo is designed with the underlying belief that nature-focused interaction leads to conservation action. Learning about animals here inspires visitors to care for all wildlife. |  |
| Nestled against the Pacific Ocean, the San Francisco Zoo is an urban oasis. It is home to over 2,000 exotic, endangered and rescued animals representing more than 250 species and lovely peaceful gardens full of native and foreign plants and is open 365 days a year |
| The majestic Leanne Roberts African Region and the Valentine Family Savanna offer a multi-species landscape with giraffes, zebras, kudu, ostriches, storks, and more. At Hearst Grizzly Gulch, visitors can get nose-to-nose with rescued grizzly sisters Kachina and Kiona. Lemurs leap through the Lipman Family Lemur Forest, the largest outdoor lemur habitat in the country. Penguin Island is home to the largest colony of Magellanic penguins outside of the wild. The Zoo’s troop of gorillas lives in the lush Jones Family Gorilla Preserve. Farm animals for feeding and petting can be found in the popular Fisher Family Children’s Zoo. The historic 1921 Dentzel Carousel and the 1904 miniature Little Puffer steam train are treasured by generations of visitors. And the reimagined Elinor Friend Playground offers accessible playtime for all ages. The SF Zoo offers an engaging experience for its guests, including fun rides, educational programs and exciting events throughout the year. The SF Zoo is proud to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). |  |
| The evolution of the San Francisco Zoo into what we know today has been one of steady progress towards a primary mission of conservation. The San Francisco Zoological Society’s highest priorities are providing quality animal care, advancing wildlife conservation, and educating visitors about nature by connecting them with animals. They hope to inspire their guests to connect with wildlife by creating naturalistic new habitats, renovating older exhibits, providing animals with a vast array of stimuli and behavioral enrichment opportunities, and presenting unique opportunities through which to experience nature. |
 | SF Zoo offers a variety of educational programs for different age groups and levels. School field trips are offered between the months of September through May, with classroom teachers and chaperones in attendance. SFUSD school field trips are free and with discounted rates available for non-SFUSD schools. The Zoo website has fun, science-based activities that can be used as pre-visit lessons to build student excitement prior to the field trip. |
| With programs like Little Learners and Zoo Camp, there’s so much for your little one to learn! Zoo Camp is a week-long program (M-F) that focuses on conservation, animal activism and hands-on art and science. Camp families can sign up for 1 or 2 weeks of animal/habitat exploration and wildlife fun with the team at SF Zoo and Gardens! |  |
| Teacher Resources: Whether you need to prepare your students for a Zoo field trip or need an activity for your homeschooler, they have you covered. Designed to enhance lessons in biology, zoology, and ecology, these resources will help connect your learners to wildlife. The Zoo has prepared Exhibit Exploration Guides to offer suggestions on how to interpret various life science topics while viewing the exhibit. Find out how you can talk about habitats, adaptations, and animal behavior while enjoying the sights and sounds of animals in the exhibits. They also offer Zoo Vocabulary, Zoo Field Trip FAQs, and supplemental resources such as books and websites to explore. |
| The San Francisco Zoo also offers many volunteer opportunities for youth and adults. The Animal Rescue & Conservation Center (ARC) is a training ground for future ecologists, conservationists, biologists, zoologists, and animal care staff through its teen volunteer programs. The animal ambassadors play a key role in connecting their guests with wildlife. Youth ages 12-14 can become a Nature Trail Volunteer helping educate visitors. Youth ages 15-17 can become ARC Junior Zoologists and assist with animal husbandry or become Leadership Fellows helping with Zoo Camp and teaching younger children. |
 | Adults can volunteer to become Docents. Docents support the Zoo’s mission by engaging guests in conservation education through informative talks, biofact presentations, and sharing the Zoo’s conservation initiatives while out at our exhibits. Speaking about the animals and their wild counterparts inspires their guests to celebrate their animal ambassadors, protect wildlife in their natural habitats, and engage in independent conservation action. Adult animal care volunteers offer support in the ARC, Children’s Zoo, or the Insect Zoo. The opportunities to get involved are numerous. |
| If you haven’t visited the San Francisco Zoo lately, or perhaps you’ve never visited, then you might consider an upcoming trip. Enjoy all the wonders the zoo offers! |
 | Dates: May 7, 2026 Location: Virtual Description: This lecture series, hosted by Green Schoolyards America, discusses emerging topics and provides guidance for creating and stewarding high-quality green schoolyards and schoolyard forests. Sessions feature presentations by subject-area experts including Green Schoolyards America’s staff, along with time for audience Q&A. This month, the presentation is Healthy Soils for Healthy School Trees. Register HERE. |
 | Date: May 8, 2026 Location: Virtual Description: CAELI invites district office staff from across California to join the District Environmental Literacy CoP—a statewide network for leaders, educators, and support staff working to advance environmental literacy and sustainability in schools.The CoP brings together professionals committed to integrating sustainability principles into district operations, instruction, and culture. Through collaboration, shared learning, and resource exchange, members work toward districtwide innovation and systems-level change. Register HERE. |
 | Dates: May 15, 2026 deadline to apply Location: San Francisco Bay and San Diego Description: Now enrolling for Fall 2026 — San Diego and San Francisco Bay Area Cohorts. The Schoolyard Forest Regional Leadership Institute is a two-year program that empowers school districts and County Offices of Education to move beyond piecemeal greening projects and address the systemic barriers that too often hamper these efforts. They help teams build the systems, policies, and plans necessary to scale green schoolyards with schoolyard forests across entire districts—equitably and sustainably.They encourage interested school district leadership teams to complete the interest form below by May 15, 2026 if they would like to be considered for a participation stipend. Click HERE to learn more. |
 | Date: April 14, 2026 Location: Virtual Description: Explore how school gardens can blossom into joyful, accessible learning spaces that nurture literacy, numeracy, science, well-being, and environmental stewardship from Kindergarten through the elementary years. You’ll walk away with adaptable strategies for a wide range of climates and school contexts, plus renewed confidence, fresh inspiration, and ready-to-use ideas to bring your school garden to life. Register HERE (scroll down to bottom of page). |
| Date: May 19, 2026 Location: Virtual Description: The Community-Based Partner (CBP) virtual Community of Practice brings together program leaders and staff from environmental education organizations to engage in collaborative learning and build capacity. Join colleagues from across the state to share resources, explore best practices, and strengthen connections that enhance our organizations and increase our collective impact. This session will focus on Climate Education. Register HERE. |
 | Date: May 31, 2026 deadline to apply Location: Virtual Description: The California Youth Climate Policy (CYCP) Leadership Program is open to students entering 9th through 12th grade in the 2026–27 school year who are ready to grow as leaders, build community, and take meaningful action on climate issues in their schools and beyond. CYCP is grounded in equity-driven values, and we strongly encourage applications from youth whose identities and perspectives have been historically underrepresented in environmental and climate spaces. CYCP is supported by program partners Ten Strands, Undaunted K12, and the Sierra Club San Francisco Bay Chapter. Students: Click HERE to apply for Cohort 4 starting this summer. |
 | Date: May 31, 2026 deadline to apply Location: Virtual Description: The Taiwan Ocean Conservation Administration and GEEP invite young people (15–30 years old) from around the world to propose an innovative solution to tackle marine issues, provide healthy habitats for marine life, protect human health, and support people of all ages to be engaged stewards to support marine environments. They are looking for solutions that are informed by research, feasible and measurable, innovative, and address one of this year’s key topics using environmental education. Read more about the challenge and tips for submitting your proposal HERE. |
| Date: June 14-July 25, 2026 Locations: El Dorado, Tuolumne, Humboldt, and Shasta Counties Description: FIT offers immersive in-woods professional learning experiences designed for both formal and non formal educators. At each week-long session FIT’s team of credentialed instructors and local experts weave environmental education with unique forestry field experiences to explore California’s forest resources and expand your teaching practice! Registration is all-inclusive, covering on-site accommodations, meals and resources; you just have to get there! Whether you’re looking to broaden your content knowledge, explore new environmental education strategies, or connect with like-minded educators, FIT provides the perfect setting — outdoors, in the forest, with other inquiring minds! FIT welcomes all active California educators. For more information and registration, click HERE. |
 | Description: The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) strives to help Californians of all ages learn about water, including where it comes from, how we use it, and how to conserve it. They provide a variety of resources to K-12 teachers, parents, scout leaders, and other non-formal educators, to encourage water education in and out of the classroom. Their free supplementary materials can be used to help develop lessons about California’s diverse water resources. |
 | Description: Why is the Central Valley sinking, and what can we do about it? Students investigate the sinking of California’s Central Valley, a phenomenon otherwise known as land subsidence. Using the phenomenon as an anchoring point, students explore California’s water crisis and its intersection with historical colonialism, groundwater mechanics, and environmental justice through an engaging, character-driven narrative. Students explore the Central Valley’s transformation from a water-rich ecosystem under Indigenous stewardship to its current state, shaped by colonization, industrial agriculture, and irrigation networks. Students investigate how aquifers work, how excessive pumping and climate change deplete groundwater, and how this impacts ecosystems and frontline communities. Students also examine solutions, such as managed aquifer recharge, water conservation, and climate action. To review this unit, click HERE. |
 | Description: California Project WET is a program of the Water Education Foundation that works with partners throughout the state to organize professional development workshops for formal and non-formal K-12 educators. Project WET’s educator guides feature field-tested activities for TK-12 students. Educators’ guides are perfect for TK-12 teachers, community educators, government agencies, NGOs, museum, aquarium, zoo, and National Park Service staff, and university professors teaching future preK-12 teachers. Project WET’s series of student activity booklets includes more than 60 titles. Written and illustrated for children ages 8-12, the colorful booklets engage students in hands-on learning about water science through creative investigations, demonstrations, experiments, educational games and stories. Browse their guides HERE. Project WET also offers virtual training and downloadable products. |
 | Description: PORTS stands for Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students. The PORTS program brings California State Parks into your classroom, digitally. From over 55 parks in all corners of the state, they have free resources for you! Nature, Science, History, Culture. PORTS offers numerous programs that have a water emphasis, from Eelgrass Habitat in the San Diego Bay, to Hydroelectricity at the Folsom House, and Salmon in the Trees. There are many programs to choose from serving multiple grades. Click HERE to explore their resources. |
 | Description: Educators: have you been wanting to brush up on your knowledge of California’s coast and ocean and the impacts of a changing climate? The California’s 2026 Coast and Ocean Assessment uses science to explore 14 key indicators of California’s coast and ocean. Developed through a public process and guided by more than 120 scientists, these indicators reveal both the threats facing our coast and ocean and the actions needed to protect people and ecosystems. This Report tells a story of both pressure and progress: while climate impacts are threatening wildlife, livelihoods, and coastal access, investments in sustainable solutions are improving the health and resilience of coastal and marine ecosystems and the people who rely on them. |
 | Description: The Water Science School likes to make life easier for teachers. They offer teacher guides with lesson plans and students worksheets complete with answers that can aid teachers in helping their students learn about water. The teacher guide for Our Water, Our Lives: California (5th grade) includes background information, lesson plans, and examples of student answers for four lessons about water resources in California. |
| Joshua Tree National Park was elevated to national park status in 1994 as a part of the Desert Protection Bill, having been designated the Joshua Tree National Monument since 1936. The bill added 234,000 acres which now stands at 792,623 acres, of which 591,624 is designated wilderness. Joshua Tree NP protects the unique assembly of natural resources brought together by the junction of three of California’s ecosystems: the Colorado Desert, the Mojave Desert, and the Little San Bernardino Mountains. The plant and animal diversity are unique along with some very interesting geologic features. Joshua Tree NP provides the perfect outdoor setting to enhance classroom-based learning. You can visit on your own or have a ranger join you for an outdoor education program. All ranger-led education programs are curriculum-based (California State Education Standards, NGSS) and free of charge. |
| Field Trips: The Preschool and Kindergarten program is Who Lives in a National Park and explores the plants and animals who make the desert home. Early Elementary programs include Junior GeoKids and Exploring a Desert Habitat while the Upper Elementary programs include Geokids and Keys to the Past. Programs are also available for Middle and High School students and include Tune In to Tracking, Joshua Tree Monitoring, and Issues in Park Management. This brief video gives students tips on How to Prepare for Your Field Trip. |  |
 | Virtual Field Trips: Educators anywhere can schedule a virtual field trip lasting 30-45 minutes. Teachers can choose from Plants and Animals, Draw JT, Geology of JT – Rocks and Minerals or Weathering and Erosion. These are offered free of charge and must be requested in advance. Virtual field trips support NGSS and are offered for all grades Preschool and Kindergarten through high school. |
| Guest Speakers: A ranger can visit your classroom to lead students activities relating their study of the sciences to Joshua Tree National Park! There are topics for all grade levels. Teachers should coordinate with each other to serve at least three classrooms during the ranger’s visit. |  |
 | Joshua Tree NP provides curriculum resources and a number of lesson plans and activities for educators to use. The Joshua Tree NP staff also offers professional development workshops for teachers through the Desert Institute, the educational branch of the Joshua Tree NP Association. They offer a variety of field courses in natural science, cultural history, recreation, and the arts. Programs are taught by experienced instructors. Please see the Desert Institute’s website for their current schedule of classes. |
| The Joshua Tree NP offers children the opportunity to become a Junior Ranger. “Explore, Learn, Protect!” The Junior Ranger motto is recited by children around the country—each taking an oath of their own to protect parks, continue to learn about parks, and share their own ranger story with friends and family. Take a few minutes to learn more about the Joshua Tree National Park and all the services and experiences it offers. Spring is an amazing time to visit the desert! |  |
 | Dates: April 22, 2026 with celebrations all month long. Location: Regional festivals throughout California Description: This Earth Day, people of all backgrounds and generations are called to stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of the only home we share. Join us on Saturday, April 18, Earth Day on April 22, and throughout 2026 to lift your voice, take action, and show your love for Planet Earth. When we stand together, our planet has a future. Visit the CalRecycle website for a listing of events and activities taking place in April across California to celebrate Earth Day. |
 | Dates: April 2, 2026 Location: Virtual Description: This lecture series, hosted by Green Schoolyards America, discusses emerging topics and provides guidance for creating and stewarding high-quality green schoolyards and schoolyard forests. Sessions feature presentations by subject-area experts including Green Schoolyards America’s staff, along with time for audience Q&A. This month, the presentation is on Schoolyard Cost Model: Comparing Traditional and Green Schoolyard Options. Register HERE. |
 | Dates: April 10, 2026 deadline for proposals Location: Portland, OR, October 6-9, 2026 Description: Call for Presentations Is Open! Get your creative juices flowing and submit your proposal for NAAEE 2026. We’re looking for compelling sessions that help us look beyond current constraints and explore what can be. Read the details in the Call for Presentations for the Annual Conference or Research Symposium. Proposals are due April 10, 2026. |
 | Date: April 14, 2026 Location: Virtual Description: Explore how school gardens can blossom into joyful, accessible learning spaces that nurture literacy, numeracy, science, well-being, and environmental stewardship from Kindergarten through the elementary years. You’ll walk away with adaptable strategies for a wide range of climates and school contexts, plus renewed confidence, fresh inspiration, and ready-to-use ideas to bring your school garden to life. Register HERE (scroll down to bottom of page). |
 | Dates: April 15-18, 2026 Location: Anaheim Description: NSTA brings together science and STEM educators for four days of meaningful learning, collaboration, and growth. Whether you’re sparking curiosity in the classroom, leading professional development, shaping curriculum, or driving innovation across your district, you’ll leave with practical strategies, fresh perspectives, and lasting connections to support your professional journey. Join a vibrant community of educators as we grow together — because lifelong learning begins with collective insight. Visit the NSTA website for more information and registration. |
| Dates: April 15 – June 15, 2026 Location: Virtual Description: This rigorous online course is designed for communicators, educators, and community leaders who want to deepen their understanding of the science behind climate change and evidence-based, equitable solutions needed to address it. Participants will explore how climate systems function, how human actions influence climate, and how climate influences people and other parts of the Earth system. The course combines scientific readings, engaging videos, interactive simulations, systems thinking activities, and data visualizations to support a rich learning experience. While it does not focus on teaching strategies, it provides a strong scientific foundation to support confident, informed engagement with climate education materials. In addition to global climate science, the course incorporates California-based resources and data to ground concepts in real-world examples; while these materials are locally focused, they serve as valuable case studies that offer insights and applications relevant to participants from any region. Click HERE for more information and registration. |
| Date: April 30, 2026 Location: Virtual Description: The CAELI County Office of Education Community of Practice provides a space for COE staff to connect with each other to share best practices and resources for advancing environmental literacy and sustainability in their county region. This month the topic is Success Stories and Preparing for 2026-2027. Register HERE. |
 | Date: May 1-3, 2026 Location: SCICON, Springville, CA Description: Join AEOE for a weekend of learning, networking, and fun at SCICON Outdoor School in Tulare County, the gateway to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks! The conference is held Friday afternoon through Sunday lunch and includes 40+ workshops, an awards ceremony, resource fair, live and silent auction, EE Certification Program presentations, evening entertainment, and more. The featured keynote speaker is Laura Rodriguez, Founder and CEO of Restoring C.A.R.E. Lodging and meals are offered onsite starting with dinner on Friday and going through lunch on Sunday. Both camping and cabin dorm accommodations are available for Friday and Saturday night. Register HERE. |
  | Description: What’s an eeCourse? eeCOURSES are top-quality, competency-based courses on specific topics across the breadth of environmental education. eeCOURSES are developed by NAAEE Affiliates and endorsed by NAAEE. Study on your own time with engaging asynchronous lessons (Some courses include synchronous elements) Complete courses in 10-15 hours Receive useful feedback from professional moderators Enroll with any participating Affiliate What’s an eeCredential? eeCOURSES can be combined to earn eeCREDENTIALS that demonstrate your mastery of key skills and content in specific areas within the field of environmental education. eeCREDENTIALS are awarded by NAAEE Affiliates. Complete a series of 3-5 related eeCourses plus a culminating project to earn an eeCredential Choose from standard credentials or work with your Affiliate to design your own Earn the equivalent of one hour of graduate credit Currently, offerings are limited, but the program is growing Visit the NAAEE website for more information. |
 | Description: A Latine Outdoors Experience: Remembering, Resisting, and Reimagining provides a much-needed narrative at a time when the absence of such a narrative is both glaring and in demand. Contributing to literature that has laid the groundwork for re-examining the relationships between communities of color and the environment, this book further illustrates how the outdoor and nature experiences of people of color in the US, specifically the Latine community, may be different than those predominantly represented in the environmental field. Olivia Aguilar collects and shares cuentos (stories) from members of the national organization, Latino Outdoors, while weaving her own narrative throughout, to provide a rich description of what being a Latine outdoors means in their own words. From spending time with familia to enjoying public spaces and creating outdoor oriented communities on social media, the memories and stories collected here show a thread of resistance and resilience throughout. Through remembering, Aguilar and the contributors in her book reclaim their narrative and reimagine the outdoor experience from the Latine perspective, ultimately charting a course towards a more inclusive environmental field. Available through Texas A&M University Press. |
 | Description: Semillitas Outdoors is a week-long celebration of children in the outdoors, sponsored by Latino Outdoors beginning April 25 through May 3, 2026. Check out their resources. Check out this coloring book. Coloring is a simple, fun, and beneficial activity. It can help kids improve fine motor skills while supporting the brain to focus. Somos Semillitas y Crecemos Outdoors celebrates the rich and diverse Latinx identity, various ways of connecting to nature, and regenerative engagement with the natural environment. We hope you love this unique coloring book as much as we do! |
 | Description: Students explore the interactions between humans and the environment. The unit begins with students observing and exploring their school surroundings, asking questions about what they see, hear, and feel. Students are introduced to key concepts through literature, exploration, and collaborative activities. Stories such as Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer, The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle and Come On, Rain! by Karen Hesse guide students in making connections between the weather, plants, and human actions. Lessons also emphasize social-emotional learning, encouraging students to reflect on how exploring their environment makes them feel and how changes in their surroundings can impact their emotions. The unit culminates in an action project where students create and share a plan to improve their school environment for both people and nature. This project empowers students to see themselves as problem-solvers and stewards of their environment. Download the Unit HERE. |
 | Description: Explore the wide range of educational resources available to teachers and families. Resources include How to Take a Nature Walk, Classifying Insects, Humans & Bats, Nature Search, virtual and in-person field trip options, lesson plans, and more! NHMLA also offers educator workshops to build connections between your classroom curriculum and the museum’s collections and exhibitions. Visit the NHMLA website for these resources and more. |
 | Description: Spring migration is here and there are millions of birds on the move. Saving birds and their habitats are at the core of the work of Audubon California. They invite people from all of California to join them on this journey. There are numerous Audubon Community Building projects across the state where your students can learn about birds and ways to protect them. Visit the Audubon California website to learn about these community projects, obtain bird lists, and more. |
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife offers a variety of educational and outreach programs for all ages and audiences in classrooms, at their hatcheries and visitor centers, on their lands, and online. Their programs cover topics such as coastal and marine education, climate change, environmental sustainability, land ecosystems, and watershed education. |
The Classroom Aquarium Education Program (CAEP) is a hands-on, science-based education initiative for grades K-12. CAEP will improve teacher and student understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of fish populations and their ecosystems, while creating an awareness of the needs of the aquatic environment through the use of classroom aquaria. With the support of regionally based community organizations, students throughout California have the unique opportunity to hatch and raise Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, rainbow trout and and other salmonids in their classrooms, then release fry into nearby approved water bodies. CDFW, along with community partners, works to enhance classroom educational experiences through the hatching and raising of salmon, steelhead, and rainbow from the egg to the fry stage.  |
 | The CAEP website hosts a variety of teacher resources including webinars, videos, curriculum guides, field trip guides, posters, handouts and worksheets, and tank setup and care. The curriculum and program resources listed are recommended to assist CAEP teachers with concepts such as life cycles, aquatic habitats and watersheds, fish survival needs, climate change and human impacts. In addition to classroom resources, they encourage teachers to take their classes on visits to watersheds, rivers, streams, fish hatcheries, fish ladders, or habitat restoration projects to observe the concepts and practices learned through CAEP in action. |
| Join California Department of Fish and Wildlife interpreters and scientists for a deep dive into aquatic ecosystems and fish during this fun webinar series designed for early elementary school aged students. Teachers and students are encouraged to come prepared with questions to ask the scientists during the Q&A portion of this live program. |  |
