Month: June 2021

This week, we are excited to share some of the programs available for students and families through the California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI) Community-Based Partner Hub (the Hub)! 

With a wide array of programs offered throughout the summer, the Hub is a great place to start when looking for environmental summer camps or experiences! Our environmental education community-based partners have programs for students of all ages, and some partners have programs that cater to families as well.

Don’t wait to sign up for your 2021 summer program! Check our blog to see the list of available programs, and visit the Hub to learn more!

Relevant Links

Acterra You(th) Be the Change – Grades 6-8, After school, virtual, school-based, Free 

Durham ferry (SJCOE) Summer Day Camps – Grades 3-8, Day Camp, Fee 

Kern Environmental Education Program Camp KEEP – Grades 5-7, Residential Camp, Fee 

Living Classroom After School/Enrichment – Grades TK-8, Fee 

Marine Science Institute  

• Canoes in Sloughs – 6-12 Grades, Adults, Fee 
• Discovery Voyage – 4-12 Grades, Adults, Fee 
• Inland Voyage – All Grades, Fee 
• Shoreside – All Grades, Fee 
• Tidepool – 3-12 Grades & Adults, Fee 

MBARI Internship Program – Grades TK, 11, 12, Free 

MEarth Summer Camps – Grades 3-10, Day Camp, Fee 

The Marine Mammal Center Ocean Conservation Leaders – Grades 9-12, After School or Virtual, Fee 

Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District Let’s Go Outdoors – All Grades, Field Trip, Free 

San Francisco Zoo & Gardens Zoo Camp – Grades K-6, Day Camp, Fee 

Seymour Marine Discovery Center Ocean Explorers Summer Camp – Grade N/A, Day Camp, Fee 

News and Events

Climate Leader Series: Youth Climate Action with Manisha Rattu
Jun. 29, 2021 Bay Nature

Join us for a talk on how youth are changing the landscape of environmental justice, with Manisha Rattu of Pittsburg Youth Action!

GLOBE Environmental Science Workshops
Jul. 09-10, 2021 Elkhorn Slough Reserve

This 2-day Secondary Teacher environmental monitoring workshop trains teachers in the GLOBE Program’s hydrosphere, atmosphere, pedosphere (soils), and landcover protocols that may be used to develop inquiry-based lessons and conduct environmental monitoring with students in their local environment.

Climate Change Education Research Conference
Jul. 12, 2021 The Climate Change Education Research Network

This is a free event for all educators and researchers to share findings from the world of climate research and consider how to translate these into classroom practice.

Opinion: After bracing for the worst during pandemic schooling, we found hope and value in outdoor learning June. 21, 2021, The Hechinger Report

Karen Cowe of Ten Strands and Craig Strang of UC Berkeley Lawrence Hall of Science on the benefits outdoor learning provided during the pandemic and its potential as a permanent solution.

As Climate Warms, a Rearrangement of World’s Plant Life Looms
Jun. 17, 2021 e360

Previous periods of rapid warming millions of years ago drastically altered plants and forests on Earth. Now, scientists see the beginnings of a more sudden, disruptive rearrangement of the world’s flora — a trend that will intensify if greenhouse gas emissions are not reined in.

In Scotland, the rewilding movement looks to the past to plan its future
Jun. 21, 2021

Scotland, host of the COP26 climate summit this November, is the site of an ambitious rewilding project with a centuries-long timeline for restoring the forests that once blanketed the now-familiar landscape of barren moors.

New report shows why fighting climate change and nature loss must be interlinked
Jun. 21, 2021 World Economic Forum

A new report shows the importance of addressing nature loss as part of the fight against climate change. ‘Nature-based Solutions’ offer a way forward.

Coal Miners Go on Strike and Fox News Goes Silent
Jun. 22, 2021 Gizmodo

Fox’s failure to cover a coal miner strike shows they care about coal bosses, not coal workers.

‘Upcycling’ promises to turn food waste into your next meal
Jun. 22, 2021 The Conversation

How would you like to dig into a “recycled” snack? Or take a swig of juice with “reprocessed” ingredients made from other food byproducts.

What Do People Really Know and Want to Know About Plastic & Health?
Jun. 23, 2021 Earth.org

Plastic is the human health crisis no one is talking about. It causes long-lasting and irreversible harm at every step of its production.

Why ‘tiny forests’ are popping up in big cities
Jun. 23, 2021 National Geographic

Community forests the size of a basketball court can make an outsized difference, providing shade, attracting plants and animals, and even storing a bit of carbon.

Over the month of May, we piloted the Bananas About Bananas K-1 lesson series in 5 school districts across California and gathered feedback on the quality, accessibility, and relevancy for teachers and students. We’re excited to share some of the feedback we gathered from teachers.

Missed last week’s bulletin introducing the lesson series? Check it out here!

Some of our key takeaways from the pilot were:

• Teachers are excited about environmental literacy lessons
• Teachers prefer short lessons that can be broken up into smaller segments
• Teachers prefer to teach environmental literacy in-person
• Environmental literacy lessons need to be designed so they are accessible to students of all ages and backgrounds
• Teachers want content that is engaging and relevant to students

Learn more about the feedback we received through the initial Bananas About Bananas lesson series pilot in today’s article! Read the article here.

Let us know what lesson materials you value the most and what you’d like to see included in curriculum units and lesson series: Contact us today!

Relevant Links

Bananas About Bananas Lesson Series

For Kindergarten and Grade 1 students. Through readings, activities, and discussions, students trace the journey of a banana from farm to home and beyond, consider its environmental impact, and envision a greener journey.

Green Guardians Newsletter

Sign up to be notified when new lessons are released!

News and Events

Wild Wonder Nature Journaling Conference
Jun. 23-27, 2021 John Muir Laws

This is an annual event that gathers people who are passionate about nature, art, science, curiosity, and wonder to share ideas, learn from each other, support each other, inspire each other, and have fun together in nature’s beauty.

Green Schools Conference
Jun. 28-29, 2021 USGBC

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.

Volunteer for the Earth Workshop
Jun. 30, 2021 Earth.org

Join this workshop on citizen engagement to learn how you can make a difference in 2021.

Will 2021 be the year governments commit to quality climate education? A growing call for action ahead of the G-20
Jun. 02, 2021 Brookings

For nearly 30 years, many governments have acknowledged education as an important element in national and global efforts to combat climate change and for setting the stage for a sustainable future.

People’s odds of loneliness could fall by up to half if cities hit 30% green space targets
Jun. 09, 2021 The Conversation

One in four Australians feels lonely on three or more days a week. Our longitudinal study, just published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.

Here are some of the most exciting green Technology Pioneers of 2021
Jun. 15, 2021 World Economic Forum

From lab-grown fish to food coatings you can eat; from zero-emissions flying to satellite data to verify reforestation. Here is our pick of some of the most innovative and exciting green-tech pioneers.

6 ‘Green Nobel Prize’ Recipients Announced
Jun. 16, 2021 EcoWatch

Nicknamed the “Green Nobel Prize,” the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize recognizes grassroots activists from six continents who have moved the needle on environmental issues their communities face. This year’s recipients led the charge on.

Sea Turtles Lead Space Force Straight to the Cocaine
Jun. 16, 2021 Gizmodo

The Space Force joined the war on drugs last month, courtesy of nesting sea turtles.

5 places where ecosystems are being restored around the world
Jun. 17, 2021 World Resources Institute

Ecosystems are being damaged by the human impact on our planet. Global warming and plastic pollution have damaged habitats, putting those living within them at risk. Restoring these ecosystems is vital to restore biodiversity around the world, with added benefits to humans.

How L.A.’s urban tree canopy reveals hidden inequities
Jun. 17, 2021 National Geographic

A drive from north to south down Vermont Ave in Los Angeles, California, reveals how trees on the city’s streets change with the income level of each neighborhood.

This week, we are excited to introduce the first of our environmental literacy lesson series, Bananas About Bananas, complete with teacher guides, interactive quizzes, and board games for students to play!

Bananas About Bananas advances environmental literacy through a series of 3 lessons based on English language arts standards. Bananas About Bananas is a lesson best suited for Kindergarten and First-grade learners.

Through readings, games, and discussions, students trace the journey of a banana from the farm to the home and beyond! Students consider the environmental impact of the banana’s journey and envision a greener approach.

Click the link below to sign up and receive access to all three lessons in this series!

Relevant Links

All About Birds

In the All About Birds program, students will explore the wide variety of birds typically found in our local neighborhoods. Learn about the unique features of bird beaks, feet, and feathers that help these beautiful animals thrive.

CAELI Community-Based Partner Hub

The Hub promotes environmental literacy by building educator awareness of environmental education community-based partners and their products and services and fosters educator-partner relationships for increased student enrichment and engagement.

Farm Discovery at Live Earth

In the Farm Discovery fields, garden, and animal pens at Live Earth Farm, students from diverse backgrounds learn how to care for the health of those three interconnected systems. Through sustainable farming and hands-on nutrition education, Farm Discovery field trip participants learn how caring for themselves can also support healthy ecosystems, economies, and communities.

Life Lab – Garden Field Trips

Fall Farm to Fork Field Trips: For 1st grade through middle school students, this program helps students to make the important connection between farms and the food on their dinner table. Winter Feeling Fine with Fresh Food Field Spring Science Exploration Field Trips: For 1st through 4th graders, grade-specific themes align with NGSS: (1) Structure and Function/Plant Parts; (2) Pollination; (3) Life Cycles; (4) Structure and Function/Internal Plant Parts Sowing the Seeds of Wonder Field Trips: For PreK/K, this program gives young learners hands-on experiences with the source of their food

News and Events

Summer Training at Home 2021
Jun 14-25, 2021 Edible Schoolyard Project

The event is open to all and free of charge. Join this exciting series of workshops, webinars, and skill shares that will bring together edible educators from around the world.

The Children’s Environmental Health Series
Jun. 15 and 22, 2021 NEEF

This series engages medical and public health professionals in discussions that explore prominent issues affecting marginalized people and presents evidence-based methods for integrating best practices for broad implementation.

After Dark Online: Get Up, Stand Up: Organizing for Environmental Justice in Richmond
Jun. 17, 2021 Exploratorium

Hear from prominent Richmond environmental justice organizations about their work to connect with the land as a form of resistance—educating the public, empowering residents, shaping policy, and more.

Petrifying Climate Change
Jun. 03, 2021 Hakai Magazine

Researchers want to combat climate change by chemically converting carbon dioxide into rock on a grand scale.

California moves to disentangle its spending from global deforestation
Jun. 03, 2021 Friends of the Earth

Recent research from Friends of the Earth concluded that up to 25 percent of California’s public purchasing may be linked to deforestation in sensitive tropical and boreal forests.

How Returning Lands to Native Tribes Is Helping Protect Nature
Jun. 03, 2021 e360

From California to Maine, land is being given back to Native American tribes who are committing to managing it for conservation. Some tribes are using traditional knowledge, from how to support wildlife to the use of prescribed fires, to protect their ancestral grounds.

Don’t compromise science when protecting water quality in the nation’s rivers and streams: Derrick Z. Jackson
Jun. 03, 2021 EHN

Follow the science – which Obama used and Trump ditched – in developing a new definition of “waters of the US” under the Clean Water Act.

Bringing tech innovation to wildfires: 4 recommendations for smarter firefighting as megafires menace the US
Jun. 08, 2021 The Conversation

Record-breaking fires over the past decade suggest the western U.S. has entered a new era of megafires. They are fires that produce massive amounts of smoke that can kill thousands of people prematurely and contribute to climate change.

3 ways to work with nature to boost biodiversity
Jun. 09, 2021 World Economic Forum

Returning land to its natural state is essential to boost the quality and quantity of the ecosystems that support plant, bird, wildlife, and insect species.

COP26 launches environment education packs for UK schools and students
Jun. 10, 2021 Gov.uk

Schools across the UK are being encouraged to start a conversation on climate change with their students, ahead of the UK hosting global climate summit COP26 later this year.

“Environmental education partners in Santa Clara County are wanting to reach more teachers and schools through collaborative efforts and partnerships, and through [the Hub] they will have the ability to do so.”

Jennifer Mutch, Science Coordinator, Santa Clara County Office of Education

Green Guardians, Ten Strands, and the California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI) are excited to announce the launch of the CAELI Community-Based Partner Hub (the Hub) with generous initial funding support from The David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Morgan Family Foundation. 

The Hub promotes environmental literacy by building educator awareness of environmental education community-based partners and their products and services and fosters educator-partner relationships for increased student enrichment and engagement. Through the Hub, county offices of education and districts showcase and promote existing environmental education community-based partners in their communities to schools and teachers as well as discover new partners looking to align their offerings to the needs of the K–12 school system.

The Key Themes of the Hub: 

• Increase Equitable Access to Environmental Education Programs 
• Support Capacity Building for Administrators and Teachers 
• Create Connections Between the Formal and Nonformal Education Sectors 

Five California county offices of education will have a dedicated presence at the Hub — Monterey, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Joaquin, San Mateo — with more coming online later in the year. San Francisco Unified School District, a district and a county, will also have access to the Hub.   

Check out our video highlighting the features and goals of the Hub below: 

The the full press release here.

Relevant Links

CAELI Community-Based Partner Hub

The Hub promotes environmental literacy by building educator awareness of environmental education community-based partners and their products and services and fosters educator-partner relationships for increased student enrichment and engagement.

California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI)

The California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI), led by Ten Strands, works statewide with guidance from a leadership council to create systems change in support of environmental literacy with a focus on access, equity, and cultural relevance for all students.

Ten Strands

Ten Strands weaves stakeholders and strategies together into strong, focused education partnerships, with the goal of raising environmental literacy by providing high-quality environment-based learning and hands-on education to all California K–12 students. Ten Strands acts as an incubator and a catalyst to create collaborations, build capacity, and transform systems to increase their impact and sustainability.

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation works with partners around the world for social, cultural, and environmental change designed to improve the lives of children, families, and communities. Learn more about the Foundation.

Morgan Family Foundation

The Morgan Family Foundation is a private, family foundation that was established in 1993. The Foundation focuses its giving on youth, education, the environment, and stewardship. Its shared goal is to see a return on its investments measured by lives changed and communities transformed.

San Francisco Unified School District

San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) is the seventh-largest school district in California, educating over 57,000 students every year. San Francisco is both a city and a county; therefore, SFUSD administers both the school district and the San Francisco County Office of Education (COE). This makes SFUSD a “single district county.”

San Joaquin County Office of Education

The San Joaquin County Office of Education is a regional agency that provides educational leadership, resources, and customized services to assist school districts. The SJCOE promotes student achievement and accountability, serves San Joaquin County’s most at-risk students, and strives to create an environment in which every student, regardless of circumstances, has an opportunity for a quality education.

San Mateo County Office of Education

The San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) supports local school districts in San Mateo County by providing services that can be done more efficiently and economically at the county level. These include implementing new standards, staff development and training programs, and instructional procedures; designing business and personnel systems; and performing many other services to meet the changing needs of local school districts.

Santa Clara County Office of Education

Working collaboratively with school and community partners, the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) is a regional service agency that provides instructional, business, and technology services to the 31 school districts of Santa Clara County. The County Office of Education directly serves students through special education programs, alternative schools, Head Start and State Preschool programs, migrant education, and Opportunity Youth Academy. The SCCOE also provides academic and fiscal oversight and monitoring to districts in addition to the 21 Santa Clara County Board of Education authorized charter schools.​

Santa Cruz County Office of Education

The Santa Cruz County Office of Education provides student programs, supports school districts, and provides curricular and fiscal oversight to schools and students in Santa Cruz County.

News and Events

Birdathon

Mar. 24–May 31, 2021, Golden Gate Audubon Society

This year’s Birdathon offers innovative new programs from March through May that will keep everyone healthy while still reveling in Bay Area birds.

Advocacy and Water Protection in Native California Curriculum Educator’s Training

Mar. 26–Apr. 02, 2021, Save California Salmon

The curriculum is based on a 3-month speaker series and certification program developed during the summer of 2020, which featured dozens of leaders in science, art, law, environmental management, education, and Indigenous history.

Redlining and the Climate Crisis

Apr. 07, 2021, U.S. EPA Office of Environmental Justice

The co-authors of a recent study on the correlation of redlined areas and the location of urban heat islands will discuss their participatory research on the spatial distribution of climate impacts, involving communities in measuring heat in cities.

U.N. Human Rights Experts Say Environmental Racism In Louisiana’s Cancer Alley Must End

Mar. 02, 2021, Huffpost

The report from a body that normally investigates Russia, Myanmar and Afghanistan condemned disproportionate cancer rates in the badly polluted petrochemical corridor.

New EPA Administrator Michael Regan Champions Environmental Justice

Mar. 11, 2021, Mother Jones

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Michael Regan as the nation’s 16th Environmental Protection Agency administrator, tasking the former North Carolina regulator with rebuilding a rule-making body that saw scientists and staffers leave by the hundreds under the Trump administration…

First-of-Its-Kind Study Offers Blueprint for Ocean Protection

Mar. 18, 2021, EcoWatch

The study, published in Nature on Wednesday, endorsed protecting 30 percent of the world’s land and ocean by 2030 in order to protect biodiversity, restore fisheries and combat the climate crisis…

Time to make nature studies a compulsory school subject – before it’s too late

Mar. 20, 2021, The Conversation

The UK government is reported to be seriously considering making ‘nature studies’ a compulsory subject for all pupils…

Europe and US could reach ‘peak meat’ in 2025 – report

Mar. 23, 2021, The Guardian

Fast growth of plant-based alternatives means consumption of conventional meat will start to fall.

What if the world’s biggest customer went green? The U.S. government wants to find out.

Mar 24. 2021, National Geographic

The U.S. government can fight climate change by shifting the way it spends its multi-billion-dollar budget.

East Oakland students challenge the city to clean up trucking pollution

Mar. 24, 2021, The Oaklandside

Metal factories and big rigs on I-880 are local issues young environmentalists are learning about—and campaigning against.