This week we are so excited to share the latest news and events taking place in the environmental education sector.

From upcoming workshops to updates to the CAELI Community-Based Partner Hub, we have rounded up some helpful articles and resources that can help advance environmental literacy in your community.

Exploring Biodiversity with K-2 Students

Professional Learning Workshop

This virtual professional learning workshop focuses on building teacher capacity for integrating environmental literacy instruction and science instruction in K–2. This workshop and the corresponding pilots are designed to provide teachers with the confidence and instructional materials to advance environmental literacy in their classrooms.

Important Dates:

November 17th: Workshop 4:30-6:30 PM Pacific Time 

November 17th – February 18th: Pilots, surveys, and challenge submissions (optional) 

February 25th: Class engagement challenge winners announced 

Register by Nov 12th!

COP 26 News and Updates

Collective Elevation Resources for K-12 Educators

The Uk is hosting the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow from 31 October – 12 November 2021. COP26 is a conference that unites the world under the common goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Here are a few of the goals COP26 leaders hope to achieve:

1. Secure global net-zero by mid-century and keep 1.5 degrees within reach

2. Adapt to protect communities and natural habitats

3. Mobilise finance

4. Work together to deliver

New Partners on the Hub!

In the month of October, we had 8 new community-based partners join the CAELI Community-Based Partner Hub!

Let’s give a warm welcome to:

• Friends of the Dunes
• Friends of Fitzgerald Marine Reserve
• Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation
• Escondido Creek Conservancy
• Metropolitan Transportation Commission | Spare the Air Youth
• Sea Hugger
• Utility Exploration Center
• San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy

News and Events

Best Practices of Outdoor Learning: What Does It Mean to Move from an Indoor Educator to an Outdoor Educator?
Nov. 10, 2021 National Wildlife Federation

In this second workshop of the Schoolyard Habitats® Webinar Series, we will hear from a panel of experienced teachers who regularly use their schoolyard habitats and communities as outdoor classrooms.

Explore Climate Solutions with free En-ROADS Climate Simulator
Nov. 10, 2021 Tenafly Library Friends

Susan Golden for an hour-long interactive workshop to see which of our actions have the biggest impacts on mitigating climate change. We will also look at the equity concerns and co-benefits of our actions.

Exploring Biodiversity with K-2 Students: PD Workshop
Nov. 17, 2021 Green Guardians

This virtual professional learning workshop and the corresponding pilots are designed to provide teachers with the confidence and instructional materials to advance environmental literacy in their classrooms.

Africa’s first continent-wide survey of climate change literacy finds education is key
Oct. 29, 2021 The Conversation

Researchers from the University of Cape Town, South Africa and the University of Connecticut published work in Nature Climate Change studying the magnitude of this challenge by looking at rate of climate change literacy in Africa.

Photos show a climate change crisis unfolding—and hope for the future
Oct. 29, 2021 National Geographic

Melting ice, wildfires, heat waves, floods: These images show life in a warming world, and solutions to address it.

Opinion: Make environmental literacy required learning
Nov. 01, 2021 Montreal Gazette

Canada – The study of climate science and sustainability should become as basic as math, biology and language.

How do the U.N. forest declarations compare?
Nov. 04, 2021 Mongabay

On November 2, 2021 at the 26th U.N. Climate Change Conference (#COP26), 127 countries signed the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use which commits them to eliminate forest loss by 2030 as part of their collective efforts to combat climate change…

COP26: Everything to know about the climate change summit on 4 November
Nov. 04, 2021 World Economic Forum

This round-up brings you everything you need to know about the COP26 climate summit, climate change and greenhouse gas emissions targets.

To sensitize students about climate change, overhaul environment education in Indian schools
Nov. 04, 2021 Firstpost

Developing self-reliance through environmental education in students requires an active engagement with local communities that have adopted sustainable practices over generation.

Nadhim Zahawi: Climate change to be at the heart of education
Nov. 05, 2021 Public Sector Executive

Speaking at COP26, the Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has announced a range of new measures to centre climate change as a key part of education.

This week, we are excited to share some of the programs available this fall for K-12 students through the California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI) Community-Based Partner Hub (the Hub)! 

With a wide array of programs offered throughout the fall season, the Hub is a great place to start when looking for environmental education-focused field trips, camps, competitions, and more! Our environmental education community-based partners have programs for students of all ages with a variety of free and fee-based opportunities.

Don’t wait to sign up for your 2021 fall program! See the list of available programs below, and visit the Hub to learn more!

Fall Programs

Bird School Project Life Science Unit Field Trips – Grades 5-12, Half & Full Days, Fee

Bird School Virtual Class Visits Virtual – Grade 7, Fee

City of Santa Cruz Resource Recovery Tour Field Trip – Grades 3-12 & Adults, Free

Classroom Aquarium Education Program (aka Trout in the Classroom) Field Trip, Virtual, School-based, Workshop – All Grades, Fee

Coastal Art & Poetry Contest Competition – Grades K-12, Free

Coastal Institute Field Trip, Residential Camp – Grades K-12, Half & Full Days, Fee

Distance Learning: Cal Academy of Sciences Virtual – Grades K-8, Free

Emerald Bay Overnight Science Camp Residential Camp – Grades 5-12, Fee

Energize Schools Competition, Educational Event, School-Based, Virtual, Professional Development – All Grades, Free

Enhanced Whale Watching Cruise (1st-6th) Field Trip, After-School, Camp – Grades K-6, Full & Half Day Field Trip, Residential & Day Camp

Fall: Trees as Habitat After-School, Homeschool, Professional Development, Virtual – Grades K-3, Fee

Farm Discovery at Live Earth Field Trips Field Trip – All Grades, Half & Full Days, Fee

Forestry Challenge Competition, Educational Event – Grades 9-12, Fee

Heal the Bay Aquarium Field Trips Field Trip, Virtual – All Grades, Fee

Living Classroom After School/Enrichment After-School, Educational Event, School-Based, Virtual – Grades K-8, Fee

Marine Protected Area Science Cruises (7th-12th grade) Field Trip – Grades 6-12, Full Day, Fee

Marine Science Institute  

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

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

Rock! Pattern! Systems!  Field trip, School-Based – Grade 4, Full Day, Free

School & Group Environmental Science in Yosemite National Park Residential Camp – Grades 4-12, Fee

Spaces & Species Field Trip Field Trip, School-Based, Virtual – Grades 3-5, Full Day, Free

Ocean Conservation Leaders – Grades 9-12, After School or Virtual, Fee

Waterwise Community Center Instructor-Led Field Trips Field Trip, Homeschool, School-based – Grades K-12, Free

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