Resources for Families
California’s Blueprint for Environmental Literacy makes the case that a healthy and safe California relies on residents making wise choices essential to our quality of life. Fostering environmental literacy nurtures the whole child to learn about and understand nature, and to inspire students to ask meaningful questions about the world around them and their role in it.
California’s Education & the Environment Initiative Curriculum is California’s free TK–12 model curriculum integrating environmental literacy into classroom instruction. There are 85 units, with materials available in Spanish.
The California Outdoor Schools Association is a statewide network of outdoor schools and faculty that are managed by local educational agencies.
California State PTA’s resource library makes it easy to find family-friendly resources related to environmental literacy, including local organizations with programs for kids, background on state learning expectations, and lots of activities to do at home. Use “environment” for a keyword search to narrow the list of resources. You can also search by category, age group, and more.
The Lawrence Hall of Science provides hands-on learning experiences through programs that engage across the learning continuum. BaySci is a coordinated effort to systematically enhance the quantity and quality of TK–12 science teaching and learning in districts and schools. BaySci works with California school districts to facilitate deepening partnerships between community organizations and districts developing comprehensive environmental literacy plans.
The Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) Toolkit helps district leadership, parents, students, educators, and community partners who seek to improve education and environmental literacy to participate in their local school district budget development process.
Youth Outside strives to ensure that the lived experience of all youth is honored as part of the outdoor experience to promote healthy lives and inspire future champions of the planet.
