The Importance of Teaching about Waste Management

According to the EPA, the US produced 292.4 million tons of waste in 2018. That’s 4.9 pounds of waste per person per day! Of this, only 32% was either recycled or composted. Where does all this waste go? What is the impact of all this waste building up? 

Environmental literacy is all about the relationship between humans and nature. It involves understanding environmental issues and how to “support ecologically sound, economically prosperous, and equitable communities for present and future generations” (A Blueprint for Environmental Literacy, 2015). Gaining a better understanding of how we manage all the waste we produce can help us develop more sustainable and equitable solutions. 

This week, we are excited to share information on waste management. We’re highlighting classroom materials, experiential learning programs, and other resources that will improve your understanding of waste management and help you and your students become more environmentally literate.  Waste management can be defined as the actions and process of managing waste from its creation to its disposal. It is important to teach students about waste management because it is a foundational aspect of our relationship with the environment. 

Why Should Students Learn About Waste Management? 

  • It makes them more aware of their surroundings 
    • They notice trash and recycling bins in their neighborhood 
    • They take note of all the trash in public parks/beaches 
    • They have greater respect for nature 
    • They see the immediate human impact on natural spaces 
  • They become more conscious consumers 
    • They can learn about ways to reduce their consumption by reusing items such as glass bottles or clothing items 
    • They start to think innovatively about ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle 
  • They become aware of our environmental crises 
    • They become aware of the world’s finite resources 
    • They learn about their responsibility towards effective waste management 
  • They become confident environmental stewards 
    • They are aware of recycling and waste processes that they can share with others 
    • They feel empowered to do their part in saving the environment 
    • They know practical applications for their consumption and waste management 

What are the Benefits of Teaching Waste Management? 

  • It can be both educational and fun! Projects can be made focusing on lessons about recycling featuring arts and crafts with recycled items, which is something they can take home and share with others.
  • It’s relatable and relevant for students since everyone produces waste of some sort.
  • It’s actionable because everyone can reasonably take steps to reduce the amount of waste they produce.
  • When students see the fruits of their learning in action, it inspires them to learn and act more! 

What are Environmental Education Programs Doing in Waste Management? 

UC Elkus Ranch has two kiosks that display ways to eliminate items that may have to go to the landfill, including a ‘Use this instead of this’ display. This shows items to replace plastics such as straws, plastic baggies, plastic water bottles, etc. [They] do a short talk with the students during their lunch break on recycling, composting, and trash. 

5 Gyres’ Trash Academy virtual lesson series introduces and engages students on the current plastic pollution crisis impacting our health and environment today. Through educational videos, students learn about the lifecycle of plastic, current-day waste management strategies, and the hazardous effects petrochemical products have on human health. The series also dives into the challenges and problems that recycling, landfilling, and incineration have on our environment. These lessons provide students with a basis for environmental toxicology, policy, and upstream solutions in order to bring awareness to the environmental issues plastic causes around the world. In response to being asked “Would you tell your friends to take this class to learn more about Plastic Pollution and why?” one student answered, “I would because people need to know about plastic pollution.”   

The City of Watsonville Green Schools program partners with Pajaro Valley School District schools, students, administration, custodial, and foodservice divisions to make a difference through waste reduction. Thirteen public schools in Watsonville repurpose whole foods for reuse, collect food scraps for industrial composting and recycle. Not only are we meeting state mandates to reduce climate emissions from landfills; students and staff are empowered to help their environment and community. Some model schools have cut waste in half at meal times in the cafeteria; even when 85% of meals are packaged through the free and reduced-cost meal program. Twenty staff from PVUSD from custodians to administrators received awards from the Watsonville Mayor in 2020 for their efforts. 

California Coastal Commission’s Schoolyard Cleanup program can be done as a simple service activity to clean up litter around campus, or it can be an opportunity for a full-fledged project that has students working through many of the Science and Engineering Practices as they use their own expert knowledge about their school community to plan and implement an investigation, analyze and communicate data, and evaluate and carry out solutions. Students of all ages can analyze the waste that’s produced and disposed of at their school, think through ways to reduce waste and litter, and implement their own solutions, which might range from moving a trash can, teaching other students about recycling and composting or even lobbying for less packaging in the lunches the school provides. 

Applicable Lesson Plans 

Applicable programs on the Hub 

Educational Resources 

PBS Grade K-2 Lesson: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle 

In this media-rich lesson featuring LOOP SCOOPS videos, students consider how the concept of “needs” vs. “wants” can help them think about ways to protect Earth’s natural resources by reducing, reusing, and recycling materials. 

LEGO Grades 1-5 Lesson: Sort to Recycle 

Students design a device that sorts objects using their physical properties, including shape and size. 

CELF Grade 2 Project: Composting 

Students are going to start a composting program in the school in partnership with a local community garden. Students will also create a presentation to share with the school to raise awareness on the issues of waste.

Green Education Foundation Pre K-K Lesson: Reduce Your Trash 

Students will learn the need to reduce the amount of trash they generate and describe ways in which they can make changes in their actions to support waste reduction. They will measure and compare the weight of common objects using non-standard units of measure. They collect, record, and interpret data using a variety of graphic representations and analyze collected data to draw logical conclusions. Students will use graphic representations to communicate their ideas and inform their audience about their actions to reduce waste. 

Pre K-2nd  and Homeschool Lesson: Growing Food from Scraps 

Want to introduce young learners to grow their own food from what would normally be considered “waste”? Then this simple science experiment is for you! In this lesson, your students will learn how to regrow a vegetable from a scrap, monitor its vertical growth, and discuss the ecological importance of reducing food waste. In order to make learning more accessible to all learners, both teacher and student versions have been written in both English and Spanish! 

Copyright © Green Guardians Inc.

Environmental Literacy and Waste Management

This week, we are excited to highlight classroom materials, experiential learning programs, and other resources surrounding the topic of waste management! Our goal is to advance environmental literacy by sharing tools that will improve student’s understanding of waste management. 

This week, we are excited to highlight classroom materials, experiential learning programs, and other resources surrounding the topic of waste management! Our goal is to advance environmental literacy by sharing tools that will improve student’s understanding of waste management. 

Waste management can be defined as the actions and process of managing waste from its creation to its disposal. It is important to teach students about waste management because:

  • It makes them more aware of their surroundings 
  • They become more conscious consumers 
  • They become aware of our environmental crises 
  • They become confident environmental stewards 

Learn more about waste management and see related lessons, projects, and additional resources on our blog: Green Guardians Blog

Relevant Links

CAELI Community-Based Partner Hub

Lesson Series | My Journey to Zero Waste 

Lesson Series | Bananas About Bananas

Hub Program | Bay Discovery – Save the Bay   

Hub Program | Elkus Ranch Educational Tours – Elkus Ranch    

Hub Program | Schoolyard Cleanup Program – California Coastal Commission   

Hub Program | Trash Academy/ La Academia De Basura – Season 1  

Hub Program | Virtual Learning – Recology Waste Zero    

Hub Program | Watsonville Green Schools Waste Reduction Assistance   

News and Events

Summer Institute for Climate Change Education: Atlanta, Houston, South Florida Cohort
Jul. 28–30, 2021 Climate Generation

Gain the skills, tools, and resources to teach climate change concepts and empower students in all subject areas, and receive ongoing support throughout the year.

California Water Institute for Teachers – Solano
Aug. 04–06, 2021 Water Education Foundation

The Solano Institute provides comprehensive multi-day teacher training for K-12 teachers, focused on Solano County water resources and open spaces. The training will highlight the region’s complex water resources, the importance of open spaces, and first-hand experiential learning opportunities.

Climate High-School Education Teacher Educator Retreat
Aug. 10–13, 2021 Kennebunkport Climate Initiative (KCI)

High school educators will learn how to incorporate climate change education into their curriculum and leave with a plan to put hands-on community-based lessons into action at your school.

A third of Wisconsin’s wolves killed after losing protections this year, study says
Jul. 09, 2021 National Geographic

A hunt killed more than 200 wolves, and poaching may have increased since Endangered Species Act protections ended in January.

Giant Pandas No Longer Endangered Thanks to Conservation Efforts, China Says
Jul. 09, 2021 EcoWatch

Officials announced Wednesday that successful conservation efforts had increased the iconic animals’ population to 1,800, CNN reported. They are now considered “vulnerable.”

OPINION: It’s time to reform India’s environmental education
Jul. 13, 2021 Thomson Reuters Foundation News

In a country heavily at risk from climate change impacts, teachers and students need to understand the threats – and opportunities – better.

Top 7 Smart Cities in the World
Jul. 13, 2021 Earth.org

Smart cities like Singapore, New York, and Seoul have made huge strides in their smart city initiatives and in adopting innovative smart technologies as a way to make their home cities more energy efficient and minimizing carbon emissions.  Here’s how seven cities are doing it.

We read the 495-page Energy Infrastructure Bill: it’s a kick in the gut to climate justice
Jul. 13, 2021 Friends of the Earth

The bill proposes spending 70 times as much on dirty and extractive energy than renewables.

Copyright © Green Guardians Inc.

Enhancing Lesson Plans with the Hub

This week, we are excited to share some of the programs related to our new environmental literacy lesson series: My Journey to Zero Waste! These programs are available for students and families through the California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI) Community-Based Partner Hub (the Hub). 

This week, we are excited to share some of the programs related to our new environmental literacy lesson series: My Journey to Zero Waste! These programs are available for students and families through the California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI) Community-Based Partner Hub (the Hub). 

My Journey to Zero Waste teaches environmental literacy for Kindergarten and First graders through 5 lessons where students explore their environmental impact through two birthday parties: a typical party and a zero-waste party. Throughout the 5 lessons, students learn how waste is generated, what happens to the waste we create, the benefits of the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycle), how to calculate waste, and gain an understanding of their own individual impact on sustainability and the environment. 

The Hub is a great tool for teachers to identify local environmental education programs that relate to lessons taught in the classroom. Today, we wanted to highlight a few programs that cover environmental literacy domains present within the My Journey to Zero Waste lesson series: Environmental Justice, Green Guardianship, Pollution, Resource Conservation, and Waste Management. 

Visit the Hub today and use the filters to find the right programs that relate to your lesson plans. Filter by program type, topic, grade level, cost, location, and more!

Here we have highlighted a few programs below that can help students expand on their learning in the My Journey to Zero Waste lesson series: 

Bay Discovery – Save the Bay  

Learn about the role our local wetlands and waterways play in waste management and how we can become better guardians of our environment.  

Elkus Ranch Educational Tours – Elkus Ranch   

Learn about sustainability and waste management on the ranch through one of Elkus Ranch’s guided tours.  

Schoolyard Cleanup Program – California Coastal Commission  

Organize and or participate in a Coastal Cleanup Day on a field trip to a beach or local waterway, become environmental stewards of your schoolyard, gain experience in real-world data collection and problem-solving.  

Trash Academy/ La Academia De Basura – Season 1 

Through a series of lessons, videos, surveys, and projects, students will learn how to identify different plastic, the life stages of plastics, and even apply course materials onto our Home Audit project, where students will categorize different plastics by resin ID code, identify its producer, brand and collaborate to identify the top plastic polluting brands entering their communities.  

Virtual Learning – Recology Waste Zero  

Recology currently offers a suite of online resources for students and families that is free and accessible online. Resources include virtual tours, videos, and worksheets, as well as opportunities to arrange live virtual field trips with a Recology educator.  

Watsonville Green Schools Waste Reduction Assistance  

Watsonville Green Schools: Waste Reduction Assistance Training and support for the food scrap collection system for your cafeteria. Advice to improve your school waste reduction: food recovery, food scarp collection, blue cart recyclables, and more. Classroom and cafeteria educational presentations are offered. 

Are you interested in teaching the My Journey to Zero Waste lesson series in your classroom? Sign up today to receive the full lesson series kit! 

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.

News and Events

Climate Education and Action to drive the SDGs
Jul. 15, 2021 Center For Sustainable Development, The Earth Institute, Columbia University

This HLPF 2021 side event will help to operationalize SDG 4.7 by developing a series of consensus-building sessions on various themes, such as classroom-based pedagogies, teacher Professional development, curriculum development, and aligning of lesson plans.

Urban Ecology Center Institute Summer 2021 Online Intensive
Jul. 15 – Aug. 12, 2021 Urban Ecology Center

This interactive online course will cover the intersecting themes of transforming kids, parks, cities, and the world.

iNaturalist Online Training
Jul. 21, 2021 Frankston City Council

Come along and learn how to use the world’s most popular nature app- iNaturalist and contribute to citizen science and conservation efforts.

Are Canadian schools raising climate-literate citizens?
Jul. 06, 2021 Corporate Knights

Without consistent K–12 climate change content, Canada faces a climate leadership gap.

Outdoor Environmental Education Grants Awarded for Watershed Studies
Jul. 06, 2021 The Southern Maryland Chronicle

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced $160,000 in awards for student and youth outdoor science and watershed education in the state.

Could dehydrating meat and vegetables help solve the global food waste problem?
Jul. 06, 2021 World Economic Forum

A food-tech company in Mumbai is converting farm food waste into preserved produce using dehydration technology. Solar-powered food preservation could prove vital in tackling global food waste, with 931 million tonnes going to landfill each year.

5 ways you can keep the planet clean this summer
Jul. 06, 2021 National Geographic

Suppose we clean up our messes and recycle what can be salvaged. Isn’t that how Mother Nature would want us to behave?

Greater investment and innovation in educating children about environmental issues needed to help future generations respond to the climate emergency, experts urge
Jul. 07, 2021 FE News

Environmental education provision needs greater investment and innovation if future generations are to be able to respond fully to the climate emergency, experts have said.

Climate change: The need to incorporate climate education into school curriculum
Jul. 07, 2021 Financial Express

Educating children about Sustainable Development means advancing the information, abilities, perspectives, and qualities important to conserve our planet.

‘Sometimes the Good Guys Win’: Company Cancels Plans for Oil Pipeline Through Black Neighborhoods in Memphis
Jul. 07, 2021 Gizmodo

Organizers in Tennessee are claiming victory over the widely maligned Byhalia Connection pipeline project.

Copyright © Green Guardians Inc.

Our 2nd Lesson Series: My Journey to Zero Waste

In response to teacher popular demand, we have developed a new lesson series on waste management and the 3 Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycle). The lesson series is titled My Journey to Zero Waste and it teaches environmental literacy for Kindergarten and Grade 1 through 5 lessons in which students explore their environmental impact through two birthday parties and the subsequent waste that is created or not created in each. 

In response to teacher popular demand, we have developed a new lesson series on waste management and the 3 Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycle). The lesson series is titled My Journey to Zero Waste and it teaches environmental literacy for Kindergarten and Grade 1 through 5 lessons in which students explore their environmental impact through two birthday parties and the subsequent waste that is created or not created in each. 

Throughout the 5 lessons, students will learn how waste is generated, what happens to the waste we create, the benefits of the 3Rs, how to calculate waste, and gain an understanding of their own individual impact on sustainability and the environment. Students will be exposed to new concepts and vocabulary through an array of games and activities culminating in an analysis of their own waste generation and a zero-waste action plan. 

My Journey to Zero Waste covers important California learning standards in science, English language arts, and math. The lesson series includes a family guide with after-school extensions for classrooms and students who want to take an even deeper dive into their zero waste journeys. 

Click here to access the My Journey to Zero Waste K-1 lesson series!

Relevant Links 

Bay Discovery – Save the Bay 

Learn about the role our local wetlands and waterways play in waste management and how we can become better guardians of our environment. 

Elkus Ranch Educational Tours – Elkus Ranch  

Learn about sustainability and waste management on the ranch through one of Elkus Ranch’s guided tours. 

Schoolyard Cleanup Program – California Coastal Commission 

Organize and or participate in a Coastal Cleanup Day on a field trip to a beach or local waterway, become environmental stewards of your schoolyard, gain experience in real-world data collection and problem solving. 

Virtual Learning – Recology Waste Zero 

Recology currently offers a suite of online resources for students and families that is free and accessible online. Resources include virtual tours, videos, and worksheets, as well as opportunities to arrange live virtual field trips with a Recology educator. 

Watsonville Green Schools Waste Reduction Assistance 

Watsonville Green Schools: Waste Reduction Assistance Training and support for the food scrap collection system for your cafeteria. Advice to improve your school waste reduction: food recovery, food scarp collection, blue cart recyclables, and more. Classroom and cafeteria educational presentations offered. 

News and Events

CELF Summer Institute 2021: Education for Sustainability
Jul. 06-08, 2021 CELF

This 3-day online institute will introduce how to apply education for sustainability as a lens for learning. Participants will explore CELF’s Big Ideas of Sustainability Framework to identify ways to reflect on personal values and implement the big ideas into current teaching practices.

eeWORKS: Demonstrating the Power of Environmental Education
Jul. 07, 2021 NAAEE

Whether you are an educator, EE provider, funder, or advocate, learn how to use the data from eeWORKS to back up the feel-good EE stories you hear about to support your work.

National Marine Educators Association Conference
Jul. 14-17, 2021 National Marine Educators Association

The conference theme is “Your Connection to Water,” focusing on our personal connection to water, as well as the virtual connection to which we have all become so familiar.

On climate change frontline, indigenous provide pointers to save planet
Jun. 25, 2021 UN News

Indigenous people living on the frontline of climate change could offer potentially ground-breaking insight into biodiversity protection and sustainability, but they urgently need help to withstand a growing number of threats to their way of life.

Why are we under-educating the greatest workers and innovators in the world?
Jun. 25, 2021 The Hill

Creating a climate literate population has not been a priority for the U.S., despite the obvious political, economic, and environmental risks and opportunities looming on the not-too-distant horizon.

How urban gardens can boost biodiversity and make cities more sustainable
Jun. 28, 2021 The Conversation

In building cities, we have created some of the harshest habitats on Earth — and then chosen to live in them. Temperatures in cities are typically 2 C to 3 C warmer than those of the surrounding landscape.

Biden EPA Appears to Side With Chemical Industry in Microplastics Health Conflict: Greenpeace Investigation
Jun. 29, 2021 EcoWatch

A Greenpeace investigation revealed Monday that the Biden administration appears sympathetic to oil and chemical industry giants — not the public, scientists, and public health advocates — regarding a push in Europe to curb the use of microplastics in everyday products.

These farmers show that agriculture in the Amazon doesn’t have to be destructive
Jun. 29, 2021 National Geographic

This part of Brazil’s Amazon rainforest is being used for agroforestry, areas where farmers are replanting the forest with local crops.

Podcast: Connecting kids and ourselves to nature
Jun. 30, 2021 Mongabay

Joined by Richard Louv, the podcast discusses the latest research showing how important it is to connect kids to nature and educate them about the environment.

Watch Out! There’s a New Ocean on the Block
Jun. 30, 2021 Discovery

A new ocean has been added to the list. The Southern Ocean becomes the fifth ocean to be officially recognized on the world map.

Copyright © Green Guardians Inc.

Summertime Fun with the Hub!

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)! 

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  

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.

Copyright © Green Guardians Inc.

Summer Programs on the Hub

Summer vacation is here and we are excited to provide you with a list of fun, educational programs students and families can get involved in through the California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI) Community-Based Partner Hub (the Hub)! 

The Hub is a great tool for teachers, parents or guardians, and students to identify local environmental education programs to participate in year-round. From summer camps to internships, the Hub has the information you need to engage with and learn about our diverse and abundant Californian environment this summer. 

Visit the Hub today and use the filters to find the right programs for you. Filter by program type, grade level, cost, location, and more! We have highlighted a few programs below that are available this summer for both students and families looking to get outside and learn more about the environment! 

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  

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 

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.

Copyright © Green Guardians Inc.