November 14, 2024 Newsletter
Welcome to the November CAELI newsletter! This month, we are deepening our focus on providing educators and community-based organizations with the tools they need to bring nature and sustainability into every classroom.
In this issue, we will spotlight the CAELI Partner Portal, a gateway linking California’s TK–12 classrooms with incredible community-based programs. We will also highlight an upcoming webinar series aimed at strengthening environmental literacy providers statewide. Don’t miss our recap from the recent CASE conference, where CAELI members led impactful sessions and continued advancing environmental literacy through workshops, meet-ups, and networking.
Dive in, explore the updates, and discover how you can get involved with CAELI’s mission to inspire and empower the next generation of environmentally literate Californians!
🍂 What to expect this month:
- Explore the CAELI Partner Portal
- Highlighting the Community-Based Partner Webinar Series
- CAELI Members Shine at the California Science Educators Conference
- ICYMI: CAELI Resources and Reminders
Explore the CAELI Partner Portal: Connecting Educators to Community-Based Partners
The CAELI Partner Portal makes transformative nature experiences possible for students across California by linking educators with hundreds of community-based partners offering environmental programs statewide. From outdoor education adventures to on-campus initiatives, the portal ensures equitable access to quality environmental literacy resources for all TK–12 students and educators.
Explore how this powerful tool is fostering collaboration, building capacity, and creating unforgettable learning experiences for students and educators across the state. Learn more and see how you can get involved!
Strengthening Environmental Literacy Together: Join the Community-Based Partner Webinar Series
The California Environmental Literacy Initiative’s Community-Based Partner Innovation Hub, in collaboration with the Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education, invites program leaders of organizations advancing environmental literacy to a dynamic webinar series. This series offers invaluable insights, practical tips, and growth strategies designed to help environmental education providers enhance their impact and thrive in California’s evolving educational landscape.
The November 20th session, Demonstrating Our Collective Impact: Digging into the Data of EE Providers in CA, will focus on data-driven approaches to showcasing the essential contributions of environmental education providers. Join us to connect, learn, and amplify our collective impact on California’s students and communities. Register here!
Stay Tuned: CAELI Shines at the California Science Educators Conference
November 7–10 was a busy time for the CAELI and Ten Strands members who participated in the California Science Educators conference, including pre-conference activities. The gatherings began with the pre-conference science leadership day, hosted by the Science Steering Team of the California Math, Science, and Computer Science (CAL-MSCS) grant. Given the large number of CAELI County Office of Education (COE) Innovation Hub members attending the event, the hub organized an informal meet-up on Thursday night before the main conference. It was a great opportunity to network and bring additional colleagues into the CAELI orbit.
CAELI and Ten Strands members also presented a number of workshops during the main conference, including one focused on the CAELI Peaks and Valleys Report, and another focused on the Data Initiative for Environmental and Climate Action in California’s TK–12 Schools. Stay tuned for our next newsletter, where we’ll dive deeper into conference highlights and share insights from these enriching events!
ICYMI: CAELI Resources and Reminders
- Now in its fourth year and growing, the CAELI COE Community of Practice brings together staff from a variety of roles in COEs across the state. Every month they meet for networking, professional learning, and focused discussions on self-selected topics. December 12, 2024 is focused on Community-Based Partner Networks. Register here!
- The AB 285 Toolkit is here to support educators and administrators in integrating environmental literacy across California classrooms. This essential resource offers practical strategies, lesson ideas, and policy guidance to help schools meet AB 285 goals and inspire environmental stewardship in students.
- For the seventh consecutive year, the California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA) K–12 Technical Council is awarding $200 mini-grants to California K–12 teachers. Teachers will be asked to explain how they will use $200 to advance their students’ understanding of recycling/waste reduction. Though the application is brief, note that this is a competitive grant process and teachers should submit their best ideas. The grant application is due November 29.
- Stipend Opportunity for Teachers: Through the Clean California initiative, Keep California Beautiful is offering a $150 stipend for up to 700 teachers that incorporate a litter reduction activity into their education plans e.g., litter-related lesson, cleanup, or data collection. A report is required separately from the mini-grant. Learn more about how to complete the incentive application.
