Crossword | Friday, June 18th, 2021
Do you have what it takes to be a Green Guardian? Test your knowledge with our environmental literacy crossword!
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.
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.
Bananas About Bananas Pilot Feedback
Check out the feedback we collected from our recently piloted Bananas About Bananas K-1 lesson series!
The pilot was completed by 8 teachers from kindergarten and 1st-grade classrooms in 7 different schools across 5 districts stretching from the schools in the San Francisco Bay Area to schools in So Cal. Teachers in the pilot program had access to:
- Teacher guides
- Family guides in both English and Spanish
- 3 Lessons including:
- Lesson Storybooks
- Teacher PowerPoint Slides
- Interactive Quizzes
- Lesson boardgames for students
Below are some of the key takeaways from the feedback we collected from the pilot teachers.
Teachers are Excited about Environmental Literacy Lessons
We received a positive response from teachers upon completion of the pilot lessons series, with 100% of teachers surveyed saying they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the Bananas About Bananas lesson series.
Teachers Prefer Lessons of Less than 1 Hour
When asked to best describe the amount of time it took to deliver each lesson in the Bananas About Bananas lesson series, 87.5% of teachers responded that the timing for each lesson was “just right,” at an hour or less. With our easy-to-follow teacher guides, we aim to provide lessons for teachers that can introduce environmental literacy to students while being implemented across multiple subjects. Teachers rated the lesson material quality favorably, rating the storybooks, interactive quizzes, and teacher PowerPoints all above a 4-star rating. Teacher PowerPoints had the highest rating, which is indicative of teachers valuing the ready-to-use teaching materials for each lesson.
Teachers Prefer to Teach Environmental Literacy In-Person
Probably not a big surprise. Environment-based education is often most effective when it’s hands-on and exploratory which suits in-person instruction. While teachers piloted the lesson series in person, in a distance-learning setting, as well as in a hybrid setting, most teachers preferred in-person instruction and rated it the best form of delivery for Bananas About Bananas.
Environmental Literacy Needs to Be Accessible
The main goal of the Bananas About Bananas lesson series is to teach valuable content skills in Science and English language arts by integrating important and engaging environmental issues into materials. However, sometimes these environmental issues can be complex and it’s imperative to provide sufficient vocabulary and concept support so that students don’t get bogged down. Teachers also expressed a need for lessons to be covered across multiple days to allow students more time to learn new concepts.
It’s important to note that 75% of teachers who participated in the pilot had over 11 years of teaching experience, with 5 teachers teaching primarily Kindergarten students and 3 teachers teaching 1st grade. Although 2 of the respondents had 5 or fewer years of teaching, we acknowledge the need to ensure that our lessons are suitable for teachers of all experience levels.
Teachers Want Content Relevant to Students
When asked about an additional lesson series teachers would be most interested to teach, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (a project-based lesson series on waste management), and Protecting Animal Habitats (a lesson series on biodiversity and ecology), tied for the most requested!
We are passionate about providing high-quality and accessible lesson materials for teachers across the US, and the data gathered in this pilot will allow us to improve future lesson series in ways that can best benefit the teacher and their students.
In our effort to provide teachers with the content they are asking for, we have already begun production on My Zero Waste Journey, a lesson series on the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) that will be released in the upcoming weeks!
Are you a teacher and interested in being a part of the next Green Guardians pilot? Contact us today and become a part of an exciting environmental literacy movement!
Are you looking to gather lesson materials for the upcoming school year? Sign up to receive the Bananas About Bananas lesson series today at no cost!
Let us know what lesson materials you value the most and what you’d like to see included in curriculum units and lesson series: Reach out today!
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
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.
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.
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.
Crossword | Friday, June 11th, 2021
Do you have what it takes to be a Green Guardian? Test your knowledge with our environmental literacy crossword!
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 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.
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
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.
California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI) Community-Based Partner 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.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Brian Heger
312-203-3677
Oakland, CA — June 4th, 2021 — 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. 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.
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
The goals of The Hub are to increase the visibility and access to environmental education partners and providers and be a reliable central repository for districts, schools, and teachers to identify programs that align with their local needs and meet educational standards.
“The Hub will help with equity efforts by making it apparent which districts/schools/grade levels are receiving services from the CBPs within the county and where access needs to be expanded.”
Dean Reese, Science Coordinator, Outdoor Education, and Environmental Literacy, San Joaquin County Office of Education
County offices of education can enroll in The Hub and create their own county-specific portal. Through their portal, they can provide links to resources, promote services, and most importantly direct users to vetted environmental education providers.
Community-based partners (CBPs) can sign-up directly through the central CAELI site and promote their organization and programs. CBPs will have the opportunity to highlight how their offerings meet K–12 school system needs by connecting them to environmental topics and identifying key links to California’s standards and Environmental Principles & Concepts (EP&Cs).
Districts, schools, and educators can clearly identify providers that offer standards and EP&Cs aligned locally relevant and culturally responsive programs for their students. Utilizing filters such as grades, subjects, topics, standards, and availability, teachers connect with providers and programs that best suit the needs of their students.
About CAELI, Ten Strands, and Green Guardians:
CAELI, a project of Ten Strands, is a public-private partnership that 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 is a field catalyst for the K–12 school system in California focused on advancing the environmental literacy of students. It partners with state government, local education agencies, providers of environmental education, community members, and funders to make environmental literacy a reality for all California’s K–12 students.
Green Guardians is a new California-based education technology company dedicated to advancing environmental literacy as an activity-based and standards-linked paradigm in K–12 education across the United States and the world.
Contact Green Guardians today to become part of The Hub: info@greenguardians.com
Visit www.caeli.greenguardians.com and watch the video below to learn more!
CAELI Community-Based Partner Hub Partner Resource
Are you an environmental education community-based partner? Register for the Hub and increase access to the K-12 school system!
Crossword | Friday, May 28th,2021
Do you have what it takes to be a Green Guardian? Test your knowledge with our environmental literacy crossword!
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.
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.