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.

Pilot Feedback Analysis | BAB Lesson Series

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.

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.

Copyright © Green Guardians Inc.

An Introduction to Our First Lesson Series!

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!

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.

Increasing Access and Creating Connections with the Hub

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. 

“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.

Going Out to Sea with Marine Science Institute

This week, we wanted to take the time to highlight Marine Science Institute, a partner on the California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI) Community-Based Partner Hub. 

“Marine Science Institute is a safe space for students to have hands-on access, get curious, and have their questions answered!”

Jodi Stewart, Land Program Manager, Marine Science Institute

This week, we wanted to take the time to highlight Marine Science Institute, a partner on the California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI) Community-Based Partner Hub

Marine Science Institute is a nonprofit that was started in 1970 in Redwood City, CA with the mission to get people outside and to have hands-on access to the San Francisco Bay. Their flagship program, The Discovery Voyage, takes students out to the water on their vessel, allowing them to come in contact with live animals, use science equipment, and ask questions!

We are excited to share the interview we had with Jodi Stewart, Land Program Manager at Marine Science Institute (MSI). She has over 10 years of experience working in Environmental Education and eight years with the Marine Science Institute.

Her current role involves overseeing all land-based and online programs. Land-based programs include field trips to MSI, field trips to the coast, and in-school visits. She is the collaborative representative for local community partnerships and is the lead for NGSS documentation. 

Check out the video below!

Support & Learn More About Marine Science Institute On Our Blog

Relevant Links 

CAELI Community Based Partner Hub | Marine Science Institute 

Check out the Marine Science Institute on the California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI) Community-Based Partner Hub hosted by Ten Strands and CAELI, and powered by Green Guardians. The Hub links the K–12 school system with environmental education community-based partners and promotes environmental literacy work across California.

Marine Science Institute 

The Marine Science Institute provides engaging and interactive hands-on adventures with San Francisco Bay Area marine life. Led by a team of expert marine science educators, these experiences impact students of all ages, inspiring respect, and stewardship for the marine environment.  

Academy @ Home for Pod Groups | Marine Science Institute 

Each session students will spend their time learning about Marine Science.   
This program is designed for learning pod groups and is brought to the home/site of that group. Students will observe live animals found in San Francisco Bay and Northern California Coastal habitats each day. Students will learn marine science concepts through hands-on activities that further their understanding of the Scientific Method. 

In Person Group Programs | Marine Science Institute 

The Marine Science Institute provides a scientific experience built on California standards-based activities and a memorable voyage into nature for students of all economic backgrounds. The Marine Science Institute puts students in physical contact with the SF Bay and coast environments to help cultivate their natural sense of curiosity, enrich their understanding of science, and foster a responsibility to protect the environment. 

Online Group Programs | Marine Science Institute 

Marine Science Institute is here to support teachers and parents by offering engaging, online group lessons that bring science to life! MSI Online Inland Voyages are interactive, inquiry-based programs taught by expert marine science educators, bringing the wonder of local marine habitats of the San Francisco Bay and Northern California Coasts directly to your students. Exploration is done completely remote, using footage from the MSI aquarium and in the field, Google Slides, Nearpod, and Zoom. Teachers may also select the virtual meeting platform if desired. 

In Person Classes | Marine Science Insitute 

Afternoon Ecology: This “afterschool” educational program is designed to foster the natural curiosity of young minds. Students learn about local habitats around San Francisco Bay while working in a team with their peers. This program has a variety of themes that can be taken either as a series or independently. Themes include Bay Area Habitats, Marine Science Exploration, and Bay vs. Ocean Animals. 

Online Classes | Marine Science Institute 

Drop In, Daily, or Once-A-Week classes available to engage and educate your Jr. marine biologist! 

Make a Donation | Marine Science Institute 

Your investment in Marine Science Institute helps educate more than 60,000 people of all ages each year in marine science and environment stewardship through our School Programs, Family Events, Marine Science Camps, and Coastal Clean-Up Days. 

Public Events | Marine Science Institute 

Find and register for upcoming events at the Marine Science Institute.

California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI) 

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. 

News and Events

Zoolab: Naturetown
Jun. 01, 2021 Brent Culture Service

Join ZooLab for a session to learn about how you can help your local environment.

Biodiversity and Climate Crisis Summit – On the road to COP26
Jun. 03, 2021 United Nations Association Climate and Oceans

Come and join us at this important event where we will have a local and global dialogue between the general public, Scientists, and representatives of different UK Government Agencies, such as the Environment Agency, Natural England, Sussex Inshore Fisheries, and Conservation Authority.

Take Action Against Invasive Species! webinar
Jun. 10, 2021 Nimbus Fish Hatchery

Find out what an invasive species is and how to fight back against their spread.

Outdoor Learning Case Study: Park Day School
May 18, 2021 Ten Strands

Karen Cowe, Ten Strands’ CEO, and Linda Livers, Ten Strands’ consultant, interviewed three staff members of the Park Day School in Oakland, California: Angela Taylor, head of school; Jennifer Cooper, facilities manager; and Josie Shapiro, director of admissions.

Combating carbon emissions with soil microbes
May 20, 2021 EHN

A new study highlights the relationship between seasonal climate variability and soil microbial communities.

SDGs: Greater urgency needed to meet environmental goals, improved data likely key
May 22, 2021 UN News

Countries are on track to miss the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) relating to environmental protection, two UN entities warn in a new report issued on Saturday to coincide with the International Day for Biological Diversity.

Pressure builds for schools to put climate change study on curriculum
May 26, 2021 Reuters

MIDDLE EAST – International bodies and pressure groups are calling for climate change studies to become a standard part of the school curriculum worldwide, saying the step is vital to reach targets on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

In California, extreme heat and ozone pollution hit poor communities hardest
May 26, 2021 National Geographic

A new study identifies places in the state where the climate-intensified health risks are linked.

In South Africa, a zero-waste food bus hopes to drive away hunger
May 27, 2021 World Economic Forum

When Sidney Beukes got his bus driver’s license, he never imagined himself behind the wheel of a 40-year-old school bus that has been turned into a mobile grocery store serving low-income residents of Johannesburg…

International Energy Agency Unveils Ambitious Roadmap to Net Zero Emissions By 2050
May 27, 2021 Earth.org

In a new report, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says that to achieve net-zero emissions, all new investments in fossil fuel projects must be ended. It calls for the rapid adoption of renewable energy and a research and development program to develop future technologies.

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Taking Action Through Environmental Literacy

We are continuing our Green Living series this week with Part 2: 15 Actions for Green Living Checklist! In case you missed last week’s bulletin, we discussed how individual actions of environmental literacy can play a major role in the fight against climate change. Read last week’s bulletin here.

We are continuing our Green Living series this week with Part 2: 15 Actions for Green Living Checklist!

In case you missed last week’s bulletin, we discussed how individual actions of environmental literacy can play a major role in the fight against climate change. Read last week’s bulletin here.

This week, we wanted to provide a green living checklist that can serve as a guide for your green journey! From creating a greener home, implementing lifestyle changes, or actively engaging with your community, our checklist is a great place to get started as you begin acting on your environmental literacy!

Read the full article to see some Green Guardians favorites here!

Looking for some inspiration? Watch the video below:

Relevant Links

Blueland

How Clean is Your Electric Vehicle? 

5 Climate Action Chores for Kids | The Climate Reality Project Blog  

Citizen’s Climate Lobby

Climate Action  

Climate Friendly Supermarkets

The Climate Reality Project  

Green Schoolyards America

Loop Store

The Natural Resources Defense Council: Guide to Talking With Kids of All Ages About Climate Change

Native Plants Finder

OhmConnect

One Green Planet Petitions

Terracycle  

Thrift Books

News and Events

EECP Info Session
May 20, 2021 AEOE

Are you interested in becoming certified as an environmental educator? Considering applying to California’s Environmental Educator Certification Program (EECP) and want to learn more? Join our info session to hear an overview of the program. Be sure to bring your questions!

Watershed Education in our Urban Ecosystem
May 20, 2021 The Watershed Project

Our Ecosystem, Our Community: Greening Urban Watersheds is a hands-on, flexible middle school curriculum. Teachers will gain lesson plans for 5 in-class (distance or in-person) lessons and 7 homework/asynchronous assignments, details on where to obtain lesson materials, and how to teach outdoor science and support students’ mental health even from home.

Climate Champions Virtual Summit
May 22, 2021 UC San Diego Social Sciences Climate Action Lab

The session is open to all who share an interest in and commitment to climate education, including high school and college students, teachers and administrators, and community educators.

Installing solar panels over California’s canals could yield water, land, air and climate payoffs
May 03, 2021 The Conversation

Climate change and water scarcities are front and center in the western U.S. The region’s climate is warming, a severe multi-year drought is underway and groundwater supplies are being overpumped in many locations.

New Jersey Adopts Climate Change As Part Of Core Curriculum In All Public Schools
May 07, 2021 WBUR

Last year, New Jersey became the first state in the nation to require all its public schools to adopt climate change education into its curriculum.

Biden Enlists Ranchers, Indigenous Communities to Conserve 30% of Land and Water
May 10, 2021 Earth.org

The Biden administration will this week unveil a plan to conserve 30% of US lands and waters by 2030. The plan offers a strategy to encourage indigenous tribes, farmers, and ranchers to voluntarily protect land, including by enrolling territory in existing federal conservation programs and the creation of new parks near urban areas.

How global trade can save lives and livelihoods – and help protect the planet
May 12, 2021 World Economic Forum

This was the view of the panelists at the World Economic Forum’s latest Agenda Dialogues session on the Global Trade Outlook.

Living Near Fracking Wells Is Linked to Higher Rate of Heart Attacks, Study Finds
May 12, 2021 Environmental Health News

Living among fracking wells is linked to higher rates of hospitalizations and deaths due to heart attacks, according to a new study. The study, published in the Journal of Environmental Research, compared heart attack rates in Pennsylvania counties with fracking to those without.

5 easy things you can do to take some pressure off the planet
May 13, 2021 National Geographic

Look for Earth-friendly actions to take at home, from installing a water-filtering rain garden to repairing rather than replacing broken items.

New York’s Public Power Bill Could Be a Model for the Rest of the Country
May 14, 2021 Gizmodo

Two years ago, New York enshrined the most ambitious statewide climate targets in the country. The legislation, called the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, requires the state to completely decarbonize its electric grid by 2040.

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Environmental Literacy in Action

This week, we wanted to take some time to highlight how individual actions of environmental literacy can play a major role in the fight against climate change.

This week, we wanted to take some time to highlight how individual actions of environmental literacy can play a major role in the fight against climate change.

There is a common misconception that fighting climate change is too big an issue to be solved by one person. This view can often provide hesitancy from teachers to discuss climate change as an important factor in their environmental education programs. As stated in A Blueprint for Environmental Literacy (2015),

“An environmentally literate person has the capacity to act individually and with others to support ecologically sound, economically prosperous, and equitable communities for present and future generations.” 

 – A Blueprint for Environmental Literacy (2015) 

Check out this week’s article to get started on your green living journey and start putting environmental literacy into action! Read the Article

Want to see Part 2 of this series: 15 Actions for Green Living Checklist? Be sure to sign up for our newsletter so you don’t miss it!

Relevant Links 

4AIR 

4AIR is an aviation sustainability company assisting stakeholders in private aviation implement meaningful sustainability programs that meet and exceed industry commitments. 4AIR assists with environmental regulatory compliance and sources independent review to assure compliance with voluntary and regulatory commitments.

5 Climate Action Chores for Kids | The Climate Reality Project Blog 

While many kids may not be fully equipped to truly tackle the science and stakes of the climate crisis until they’re a bit older, you can lay a strong foundation for future learning and action by engaging your child in some age-appropriate activities that will instill a sense of environmental responsibility that they will carry with them into adulthood.

Climate Action 

Established in 2007 and headquartered in London, UK, Climate Action establishes and builds partnerships between business, government, and public bodies to accelerate international sustainable development and advance the ‘green economy’. 

The Climate Reality Project 

The Climate Reality Project has the mission to create a global sense of urgency on climate change and catalyze a planet-wide shift to clean energy to solve it. Founded and chaired by Nobel Laureate and former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, they share the truth of climate disruption with communities around the world and empower people everywhere with the knowledge and tools to help create a sustainable future.

ENERGY STAR®  

ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations—including nearly 40% of the Fortune 500®—partner with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions that protect the climate while improving air quality and protecting public health. 

SunPower 

SunPower designs all-in-one residential and commercial solar and storage solutions backed by personal customer service and the industry’s most comprehensive warranty.

Terracycle 

TerraCycle is Eliminating the Idea of Waste®. They develop ways to make things that are typically non-recyclable nationally recyclable. In their research, they have found that few things are beyond recycling, and have found solutions for chewing gum, cigarette butts, and even dirty diapers. They integrate recycled materials into new products, such as working with some of the world’s biggest brands to turn ocean plastic into shampoo bottles. Or toothpaste tubes into playgrounds. They create platforms that move consumers from disposable, single-use packaging to durable, reusable packaging without sacrificing the economics and convenience that make disposable products desirable.

Terrapass 

Terrapass is dedicated to the fight against climate change. Their mission is to provide the resources necessary for companies and individuals to understand and take responsibility for their climate impact through offsetting carbon emissions.

Tesla 

Tesla’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy through increasingly affordable electric vehicles in addition to renewable energy generation and storage. To achieve a sustainable energy future, Tesla also created infinitely scalable energy products: Powerwall, Powerpack, and Solar Roof. As the world’s only vertically integrated energy company, Tesla continues to innovate, scale, and reduce the costs of commercial and grid-scale systems, with the goal of ultimately getting us to 100% renewable energy grids.

News and Events

AEOE Statewide Conference 2021
May 14 – 15, 2021, Online

The spring statewide conference is Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education’s (AEOE) signature event. The annual statewide conference brings together several hundred environmental and outdoor education professionals from across California to participate in professional learning workshops, breakout sessions, entertainment, and networking opportunities.

Children Thrive Outside
May 11, 2021, National Wildlife Federation

New America and the National Wildlife Federation are teaming up for a webinar on May 11 that will examine why investing in and supporting quality outdoor learning in early care and education should be a priority and explore how to make it a reality for all young children.

Making Environmental Education Authentic and Locally Relevant
May 15, 2021, Scientific Adventures for Girls

Learn how to set up a series of lessons where students take opposing roles and defend their position while debating the pros/cons of an environmental proposal.

Virtual Open House – Climate Change Essentials for All Educators
May 20, 2021, Presidio Graduate School

Climate Change Essentials for All Educators is a facilitated, nine-week virtual course from Presidio Graduate School designed to equip K-12 teachers with the tools to incorporate climate change education into their current curriculum—regardless of the subject area, grade level, or state standards.

Is Biden’s New Emissions Reduction Target Good Enough?
Apr. 27, 2021, Earth.org

The US aims to achieve an emissions reduction target of 50-52% from 2005 levels in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. This is the new national goal declared by President Joe Biden.

NOAA’s New Climate Normals Show the U.S. Has Never Been Hotter
May 04, 2021, Gizmodo

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration want us to know it’s not the 1980s anymore. On Tuesday, it announced new 30-year averages for temperature and precipitation. Unsurprisingly, the “new normal” is hotter.

RUSD earns eight of 18 Green Ribbon Awards from the California Department of Education
May 05, 2021, IECN

Three years running! Morris Elementary School earned California Green Ribbon Schools Gold Level recognition for the third straight year when the awards were announced on April 22, 2021.

How Rap Duo EARTHGANG Is Educating Kids On Land Conservation & Inner-City Gardens
May 05, 2021, Atmos

The environmentally-conscious Atlanta rap duo are expanding their sustainability efforts beyond music and giving back to the Southwest Atlanta community.

Climate Change: Everything You Need to Know
May 05, 2021, EcoWatch

Climate change is actually not a new phenomenon. Scientists have been studying the connection between human activity and the effect on the climate since the 1800s, although it took until the 1950s to find evidence suggesting a link.

Greening California Starts With Motor Vehicles
May 06, 2021, Sierra

No other state stood up to Donald Trump as much and as often as California. The nation’s wealthiest and most populous state sued Trump and his administration 110 times.

The government has pledged over $800m to fight natural disasters. It could be revolutionary — if done right
May 06, 2021, The Conversation

To help Australia adapt to climate change and manage the disasters that come with it, the federal government this week pledged A$600 million towards establishing the National Recovery and Resilience Agency and $210 million for the Australian Climate Service initiative.

Copyright © Green Guardians Inc.

Creating Conversations in Your Community

This week, we wanted to make environmental literacy activities accessible to all who wish to promote environmental education at home and throughout their communities!

This week, we wanted to make environmental literacy activities accessible to all who wish to promote environmental education at home and throughout their communities!

The easiest way to advance environmental literacy at home is by simply going outside! By exploring the outdoors and encouraging green practices at home, families can spark conversations that advance environmental literacy and help families better understand their connection to the natural world around them – one of the core goals of environmental literacy!

If you are looking to incorporate environmentally literate activities at home in your community, look no further! Read this week’s article to get started today!

Relevant Links

Calculate your Carbon Footprint with Global Footprint Network

Humans use as many ecological resources as if we lived on 1.6 Earths. The Ecological Footprint is the only metric that compares the resource demand of individuals, governments, and businesses against Earth’s capacity for biological regeneration. Calculate your Carbon Footprint today!

iNaturalist 

Every observation can contribute to biodiversity science, from the rarest butterfly to the most common backyard weed. iNaturalist shares your findings with scientific data repositories like the Global Biodiversity Information Facility to help scientists find and use your data. All you have to do is observe.

Online Activity Guides | National Parks Service 

With scavenger hunts, word games, matching pictures, and more, you can find Junior Ranger activities online. The National Park Service is building this page with more fun stuff, so check back often to see which parks add more activities to this page.

Monarch Waystations 

Monarch Waystations are places that provide resources necessary for monarchs to produce successive generations and sustain their migration. Without milkweeds throughout their spring and summer breeding areas in North America, monarchs would not be able to produce the successive generations that culminate in the migration each fall. 

Find a National Park in Your Community 

The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

California Park Directory 

California parks include California State Parks, National Parks, and local community-operated city and community parks. There’s lots of “parking” going on at these natural assets that locals need for healthy living and tourists come to see their amazing attractions such as the world’s tallest trees, the world’s oldest tree, the world’s biggest tree, and much more.

Terracycle 

TerraCycle® is a social enterprise Eliminating the Idea of Waste®. In 21 countries, they tackle the issue from many angles. They have found that nearly everything we touch can be recycled and collect typically non-recyclable items through national, first-of-their-kind recycling platforms.

News and Events

Environmental Education Webinars – Deepening Sense of Place: First People
May 12, 2021 Humboldt County Office of Education

This series of monthly PD webinars for teachers combine presentations from expert scientists conducting research in our own “backyards” with grade-level teaching resources to help students better understand WHERE they live — to Deepen their Sense of Place.

The Environmental Justice Exchange: Planning the Future of Little Village.
May 14, 2021 Chicago Sun-Times

Join us for an in-depth look at the planning and development of Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood on the Southwest Side following the recent one-year anniversary of the Crawford smokestack implosion debacle.

Annual Spring Statewide Conference 2021
May 14-15, 2021 AEOE

The spring statewide 2021 conference includes workshops on a wide variety of topics, keynote address, evening entertainment, plenary session, presentations by our Environmental Educator Certification Program participants, and an awards ceremony celebrating the Environmental Education Organization of the Year and the Howard Bell lifetime award.

The Recycling Industry in America Is Broken
Apr. 20, 2021 EcoWatch

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. According to The National Museum of American History, this popular slogan, with its iconic three arrows forming a triangle, embodied a national call to action to save the environment in the 1970s.

Environmental Racism Is Everybody’s Problem — Here Are 5 Ways to Fight It Right Now
Apr. 22, 2021 Apartment Therapy

Natural resources, such as water and even the very air we breathe in this country are a matter of inequality — and this has become a matter of life and death.

Brenda Mallory to take environmental policy in a new direction
Apr. 22, 2021 Roll Call

The former general counsel of the White House Council on Environmental Quality becomes the first African American to lead the agency.

For young climate activists, the pandemic is the defining moment for action
Apr. 23, 2021 National Geographic

Can the urgent global response to COVID-19 be repeated to address climate change? Youth activists think it can.

The Leaders’ Summit on Climate 2021: A Summary
Apr. 26, 2021 Earth.org

On April 22 and 23, US President Joe Biden brought together 40 world leaders in a virtual Leaders’ Summit on Climate to rally the world in tackling the climate crisis. The US announced that it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by the end of the decade.

Brazil’s President Bolsonaro Pledges to End Deforestation — Then Cuts Environmental Budget
Apr. 26, 2021 Green Matters

On Earth Day (April 22, 2021), President Joe Biden held a historical climate summit, where he vowed to cut the country’s emissions by at least 50 percent by 2030. This inspired a handful of leaders from other countries…

Two Cheers for California’s Fracking Ban
Apr. 28, 2021 Sierra

Last Friday, when California governor Gavin Newsom directed state regulators to begin a process of ending new permits for hydrofracturing in 2024, it seemed like a reason for environmentalists to celebrate.

Copyright © Green Guardians Inc.

Exploring New Horizons | AEOE Member Feature

This week kicks off the first of our California Association of Environmental & Outdoor Education (AEOE) Member features on our blog with Exploring New Horizons! AEOE’s mission is “to advance the impact of environmental and outdoor education in California.”

This week kicks off the first of our California Association of Environmental & Outdoor Education (AEOE) Member features on our blog with Exploring New Horizons! AEOE’s mission is “to advance the impact of environmental and outdoor education in California.”

Exploring New Horizons is an outdoor education program that was founded as a nonprofit in 1979. Its mission is to empower students, build environmental literacy, and strengthen school communities through residential and environmental education.

As an organizational member of AEOE, and a partner on the California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI) Community-Based Partner Hub, Exploring New Horizons has been a leader in providing environmental literacy and education programs to students throughout the Monterey Bay and San Francisco areas. Nonprofit organizations such as Exploring New Horizons rely on the support of their community to provide high-quality and affordable educational programs that meet NGSS and common core standards.

Read more about Exploring New Horizons here!

Watch the interview highlight with Jacob Sackin, Executive Director of Exploring New Horizon’s below:

If you are a teacher, parent, or guardian looking to get involved with an outdoor education program like Exploring New Horizons, visit the CAELI Community-Based Partner Hub and find partners and programs near you: CAELI Community Based Partner Hub

Philanthropic support is also a great way to get involved with nonprofits like ENH, so if you are an individual donor or a local foundation or corporation interested in funding opportunities, please visit: Support Exploring New Horizons!

Relevant Links

Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education | California AEOE

As the professional association for environmental and outdoor education in California, AEOE provides programs and practitioners with the tools, resources, and expertise to ensure that future generations are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and experiences necessary to develop lifelong connections to the natural world and the commitment to sustain it.

California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI)

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.

Environmental Education Equity | Exploring New Horizons

Exploring New Horizons seeks support to serve more lower-income schools, to continue providing affordable rates and scholarships to participating schools, and to provide professional learning for our staff on equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive pedagogy.

Loma Mar Program | Exploring New Horizons

Exploring New Horizons Outdoor Schools at Loma Mar takes a hands-on, experiential approach to science education, and focuses on adventure, self-discovery, and environmental stewardship. Located in the Pescadero Creek watershed near Memorial and Pescadero Creek County Parks, students learn about how they are connected to the natural world while exploring the Oak and Redwood Forest. Each evening activity finishes with songs and stories around the campfire.

Pigeon Point Program | Exploring New Horizons

Exploring New Horizons Outdoor Schools at Pigeon Point is based at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse State Historic Park with accommodations provided by Hostelling International. Pigeon Point is located on the Pacific Ocean, 50 miles south of San Francisco, and 20 miles north of Santa Cruz. The Pigeon Point program offers a unique opportunity for students to learn more about themselves as well as the natural world that surrounds them.

Sempervirens Program | Exploring New Horizons

Exploring New Horizons Outdoor Schools at Sempervirens takes a hands-on, experiential approach to science education, and focuses on adventure, self-discovery, and environmental stewardship. Students explore the coastal ecosystems, the Oak, Madrone, and Redwood Forest, and each evening activity finishes with songs and stories around the campfire.

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

CLIC Project-Climate Change & History
Apr. 28, 2021 SF Bay Area

Join to access resources for in-person and remote teaching and learning, network with grade-level teachers from in the Bay Area and earn a CEU for attendance at all 4 sessions. Free for educators.

Supporting Student Resilience by Using Outdoor Spaces for Learning and Play
Apr. 28, 2021 California Department of Education

In this two-part webinar series, the founding partners of the National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative will share resources and ideas related to the benefits of using the abundant fresh air and access to nature to reduce virus transmission and improve students’ physical and mental health and well-being, learning, and play during the pandemic and beyond.

Assessing Connecting to Nature
Apr. 29, 2021 AEOE

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

For girls, learning science outside linked to better grades, knowledge
Apr. 06, 2021 Science X

In a new study, North Carolina State University researchers found that an outdoor science program was linked to higher average science grades and an increase in a measure of science knowledge for a group of fifth grade girls in North Carolina.

Passing the Clean School Bus Act can help protect our children’s health and our planet
Apr. 16, 2021 The Hill

Every day, 26 million children ride on school buses. The central promise of our busing system is simple: Your children will have a free and safe ride to school. But that promise comes with a significant caveat.

Whatever Climate Change Does to the World, Cities Will Be Hit Hardest
Apr. 19, 2021 Bloomberg Green

More than half of humanity is crowded together in cities. That’s about 4 billion people living on top of one another, working, commuting, polluting, and figuring out how to survive. And that proportion will only rise…

It’s time to collaborate on climate and economic justice solutions
Apr. 19, 2021 GreenBiz

Air pollution has grave consequences — the World Health Organization estimates it kills 7 million people a year. Indeed, recent research suggests closer to 9 million people died from exposure to air pollution…

Humans haven’t always wrecked the environment
Apr. 19, 2021 Popular Science

It’s only been in the last few hundred years that we’ve started destroying land.

Why Schools Should Be the Center of a Green New Deal
Apr. 19, 2021 Gizmodo

One of the main things Terriq Thompson remembers about Benjamin Franklin High School, where he graduated in 2019, is that it was hot…

Earth Day 2021: Moms become climate activists as they worry about the Earth their kids will inherit
Apr. 20, 2021 GMA

Brooke Petry is a self-described introvert who says she never imagined herself on the front lines of tackling the global crisis of climate change.

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