Feb. 9, 2023 Newsletter
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 go, we are proud to see environmental education progress in cultivating equitable access for all students, especially those most impacted by our changing climate. Our commitment to continuous improvement means continued learning as well. California leaders are paving the way for greener campuses that provide opportunities for educators to graduate environmentally literate and climate-ready students across California.
County Office of Education Innovation Hub Fellowship Graduates Its First Cohort
CAELI had the honor to celebrate sixteen fellows completing their plans in the County Office of Education (COE) Innovation Hub Fellowship, representing counties across the state. Each with their own visions and goals for their regions, the fellowship will help create strong climate leaders for the future.
In our first cohort of the COE Innovation Hub Fellowship, sixteen fellows representing twelve County Offices of Education completed plans for environmental literacy and sustainability initiatives in their region. The fellowship culminated in an in-depth capacity-building experience that kicked off with an in-person retreat which included monthly virtual workshops that focused on foundational knowledge and strategies for whole systems change regarding campus, curriculum, community, and culture.
Shared Leadership for Green Schools: A Systems Approach to Environmental Literacy Planning
Join the District Innovation Hub on February 16 for the next session in our webinar series! This webinar will highlight the Encinitas Union School District and other Green School National Network districts on strategies to engage in shared leadership toward becoming a Green Ribbon school district. The webinar will share a systems approach to change and give practical examples for leader and learner engagement for making sustainability and environmental literacy part of your culture.
Environmental Education Resource Fair
Join us and environmental educators for a FREE virtual professional learning opportunity that will provide you with free, cross-curricular K–12 lessons, websites, videos, and resources! Experts will address various topics, including biodiversity, climate, energy, oceans, and more. Register here.
Innovation Hub Spotlight
CAELI’s Innovation Hubs represent a growing community of people dedicated to environmental literacy and outdoor education for youth. This month we are highlighting an Innovation Hub member from our Green Career Education Innovation Hub who has recently helped launch the Green Career Roadmap project!
Opportunities, Events, and News
- Join a team of California-based National Geographic Explorers and National Geographic Certified Educators in an interdisciplinary environmental education and community science program! Students will develop the skills and knowledge of real National Geographic Explorers while working with other classes throughout California to create more socially just and sustainable local and global communities. Learn more here.
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In partnership with the California Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education, Ten Strands and CAELI are pleased to announce the 2023 Organization of the Year Award. This annual award recognizes an outstanding organization advancing the impact of environmental and outdoor education in California in a meaningful way by offering innovative programs, following research-based best practices and promoting equitable access to environmental learning. Nominate an outstanding organization today! Deadline: March 31, 2023. Learn more here.
- The California Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program is soliciting proposals for projects that build capacity for implementing county or district-wide K–12 climate literacy initiatives in classrooms. Proposals are due on February 23! Learn more here.
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The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAEE) is seeking input on their upcoming Guidelines for Excellence series that will provide guidance on how individuals and organizations can use education to work with communities to find climate solutions. Apply by March 15! Sign up here.
- Join Green Schoolyards America in their monthly Community of Practice meeting, where they will support and build a collegial “community of practice” for a national network of leaders seeking to create schoolyard forests for campuses across the state. Register here.
- Missed the previous Community of Practice? Catch up on what you missed, and check out the full recording here!
