In this month’s newsletter, we spoke with Diego Ortiz, environmental education program manager at The Nature Conservancy’s Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve. Referred to as “the last perfect place in California,” the preserve is one of the last places along the California coast that hasn’t been disrupted by commercial development. Now, The Nature Conservancy is … READ MORE
Students visiting the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve embark on a transformative journey as they experience one of the last places along the California coast that hasn’t been disrupted by commercial development. Along the way, they are greeted by the watchful eye of an osprey soaring overhead, a sentinel of this untouched wilderness. In 2017, … READ MORE
In this month’s newsletter, we spoke with Marie Bobias, director of environmental education at Walden West Outdoor School & Summer Camp in Santa Clara County. This renowned summer camp is on a mission to provide equitable access to the wonders of science and nature for emerging leaders of tomorrow. By fostering collaboration among peers, the … READ MORE
As we strive to bring environmental literacy to all of California’s public school students, we recognize that the key lies in equipping educators and administrators with the tools and understanding they need to graduate climate and environmentally literate students. Through CAELI’s network, advocates from across the state are connecting, collaborating, and pooling their expertise to … READ MORE
Change and transition are integral parts of growth and progress, offering initiatives an opportunity to welcome fresh ideas, perspectives, and innovation. For CAELI, change is a catalyst for renewed purpose and additional impact. In the wake of a recent executive committee retreat, the newly elected co-chair, Estrella Risinger (she/her), and current co-chair Juanita Chan-Roden (she/her), … READ MORE
Craig Strang, lifelong environmental educator and activist, is stepping down as CAELI’s co-chair after nearly eight years of service. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Craig for his exceptional leadership, visionary thinking, unwavering dedication, and remarkable contributions to CAELI. Although he will be stepping down as co-chair at the end of June 2023, Craig will … READ MORE
With over 100,000 schools in the U.S. occupying a total of 2 million acres of land, the education sector represents one of the largest public infrastructures in the U.S. However, for the young people who stand to inherit the mantle of the future, schools are under-equipped to protect and prepare them for our climate reality. … READ MORE
The California Green Ribbon Schools Award Program (CA-GRS) recognizes schools and districts making sustainability improvements and acts as a guide to drive meaningful actions to improve school districts’ environmental impact. In this article, California Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools program lead, George Garcia, along with educators—and CAELI members—from CA-GRS schools and districts, celebrate the … READ MORE
This winter and spring, California experienced record snowpack and rains, alleviating the most severe signs of drought in many parts of the state. However, even as California’s famed flower blooms return, the state’s reservoirs remain depleted, and water shortages are expected to continue. As California looks for better water management solutions, we see an opportunity … READ MORE
Photo by Peter Bennett, taken at Glendale Narrows With headwaters in the Simi Hills and Santa Susana Mountains, the Los Angeles River runs forty-eight miles to Long Beach, emptying into the Pacific Ocean. During the early years of Los Angeles, the river was the primary source of water that helped the nascent town become a … READ MORE
Earth Month is a good time to consider and celebrate how schools can contribute to creating a more sustainable future. One tangible example is through school gardens, which offer countless benefits for students and the environment. This month, we had the opportunity to speak with Doug Henderson, director of STEAM at Val Verde Unified School … READ MORE
Time and again, school gardens have proven to offer an abundance of benefits for students. Schools in the Val Verde Unified School District (VVUSD) have taken action in recent years to ensure their students have access to experiential learning in the garden with a focus on topics that go beyond nutrition and food systems and … READ MORE
Climate change is driving unprecedented heat, drought, wildfire, and flooding in California, affecting students’ health, education, and future prospects. In the 2018-2019 school year alone, over 1.25 million California students missed school due to wildfires or other extreme weather. Furthermore, climate change exacerbates inequality, as marginalized communities, including low-income families and people of color, are … READ MORE
February marks the beginning of Black History Month, giving us an opportunity to recommit to our efforts to address inequities in California’s public education system. In the United States, Black students have endured a long history of injustice due to policies that can still be felt today. Although we still have a long way to … READ MORE
With new leadership and a revised Blueprint for Change, we are rallying in the new year with a renewed focus on expanding environmental literacy to all of California’s 5.8 million public school students. To start, CAELI project director Andra Yeghoian reflects on her hopes for 2023 and how recent changes and initiatives from CAELI leadership … READ MORE
The first half of the 2022-2023 seasons has been inspiring as our CAELI community continues to grow with new members and with our success in advancing environmental literacy to school communities across the state. We look forward to returning in 2023 with a renewed sense of purpose in our mission and hope you take this … READ MORE
The recent convergence of multiple societal crises has highlighted stark inequities in our institutions. Social impact and equity are no longer on the sidelines of public discourse. This October, the CAELI District Innovation Hub saw the culmination and success of months of efforts from one of their working groups at the Green California Schools and … READ MORE
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