As April turns the world’s focus to climate, we are reminded how climate change is tied to climate justice. STEM4Real is taking a leadership role by revolutionizing STEM education and bridging the equity gap in environmental learning. Leena Bakshi and Tashanda Giles-Jones share their journey, emphasizing the importance of representation, challenges in diversity, equity, and … READ MORE

As we transition from winter to spring we know that many folks across the state have been impacted by extremely wet and snowy weather, and many viruses and sicknesses. Despite all these challenges, our CAELI community has been busy with activities and making progress on a variety of projects and initiatives! In our March update, … READ MORE

Looking back now, it’s hard to believe that CAELI’s focus on equity was not always inevitable. In 2015, the Blueprint for Environmental Literacy Task Force recognized the need to understand how best to integrate equity. The resulting Theory of Action emphasized inclusivity and fairness in scaling up environmental literacy for all students and led to … READ MORE

What was a formative memory of nature when you were a child? A camping road trip to Bodie, California with her great aunt and uncle was all it took for Mackenzie Wieser, CEO of Sacramento Splash, to know the transformative power of nature. She now leads an organization that works to bring those formative experiences … READ MORE

If you can believe it, we are already halfway through the school year. Teachers and administrators will soon have a much-needed winter break. We hope everyone has a nourishing holiday! The holidays are usually a time of reflection and we have much to take stock of. CAELI has been hard at work in the first … READ MORE

The good news? A growing number of school districts across California are developing environmental literacy plans to ensure that every student has access. Even better news! Leaders in many districts are moving toward a whole systems approach by including a wider range of partners and perspectives in the transformation process. This month, we share reflections … READ MORE

Nestled in the southernmost region of California, Imperial County holds a place of honor in the history of environmental justice as the site where legendary leader Cesar Chavez rallied the local community against injustice, leaving an indelible mark on the region’s social fabric. Yet today, Imperial County continues to be a center of adversity as … READ MORE

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

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