Environmental Literacy





Goal: Support educators to connect the three pillars of environmental literacy programs -- 1) curriculum, 2) campus sustainability and 3) community culture & health -- and provide opportunities for students to take action on local environmental issues and increase their connection to nature.

CUSTOMIZED SUPPORT AVAILABLE BY REQUEST

Don’t see what you need listed below? Please contact Amity Sandage at to discuss your needs and request support.


Possible Topics:

  • Support for increasing use of outdoor spaces on campus for both social emotional learning and instructional support

  • Introduction to environmental literacy toolkits for teachers and professional learning providers

  • Consultation on identifying local field trip programs to support standards-based instruction

  • Introduction to using environmental literacy as a context for the Seal of Civic Engagement

"EVERY CLASSROOM A GREEN CLASSROOM" TEACHER LEADERSHIP INSITUTE FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Kick-off Jan 14 & 15, 2023 | 9:00am - 3:30pm (in person)

Follow-up Afterschool Sessions
Jan 31, 2023
| Feb 2, 2023 | March 14, 2023
3:45pm - 5:15pm
| Virtual

Final showcase April 15, 2023 (in person) | 9:00am - 3:30pm


The goal of this teacher leadership institute is to increase TK-12 teacher capacity for integrating environmental sustainability with classroom curriculum in any content area and connect students with sustainability efforts at school and in their communities. Teachers and their students who complete the program will receive recognition for taking part in the countywide "Every Classroom a Green Classroom" challenge.


Audience: TK-12 Teachers interested in connecting instruction in a content area of their choice to real-world issues and action

GREEN RIBBON SCHOOLS WORKING GROUP

THREE-PART SERIES :

Aug 23 | Sept 13 | Oct 25


This series is a follow up to the Green Schools Working Group that took place in Spring 2022. These three fall convenings will provide tools and support to gather information needed for applying to the November 2022 CDE Green Ribbon Schools Award program for either schools or districts. Teams attending will need to include representatives with access to school or district work in the pillars of Curriculum, Facilities, and Health and Wellness.


Audience: School or District Teams interested in applying to California Department of Education's Green Ribbon School Recognition Program in November

LEVERAGING OUTDOOR LEARNING FOR STEAM AND SEL

Available for school site or district instructional teams

90 minute to 3 hour sessions available by request


Introduction to using outdoor spaces on campus for student-centered investigations that emphasize NGSS science practices and student engagement. Highlight materials and routines that support successful outdoor teaching and content integration.


Audience: K-12 Teachers and Expanded Learning Staff

NATURE JOURNALING FOR SCIENCE, NATURE CONNECTION AND WELLNESS

Available for school site or district instructional teams 90 minute to 3 hour sessions available by request


This session uses the BEETLES Professional Learning module for an in-depth introduction to nature journaling techniques that emphasize social-emotional wellness and focus on science through developing questions, recognizing crosscutting concepts, and capturing student thinking using words, pictures and numbers.


Audience: K-12 Classroom Teachers and Expanded Learning Staff

NETWORKING IN NATURE

Monthly on 3rd Fridays beginning Sept 16 | 4:00pm - 5:30pm


Teachers and Environmental Educators will meet for an uplifting walk in nature and informal networking time to share ideas about your teaching practice and ways to increase environmental connections for students K-12. We Locations will vary. Join us for a joyful end the work week!


Audience: TK-12 Teachers and Environmental Educators

PROJECT LEARNING TREE TRAINING AND ACTIVITY GUIDE

Available for site teams, 6 hour outdoor session on your campus


Training and certification for Project Learning Tree along with interdisciplinary curriculum that integrates the CA Environmental Principles and Concepts and stewardship projects. PLT’s new flagship curriculum Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide includes 50 hands-on, multidisciplinary activities to connect children to nature and increase young people’s awareness and knowledge about their environment.


Activities include detailed step-by-step instructions, academic correlations, time and material requirements, and corresponding student worksheets with green career connections. This supplementary curriculum is designed to develop students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Participants can also apply for redwood forest field trip funding supported by Save The Redwoods Foundation.


Audience: K-8 Classroom Teachers and Expanded Learning Staff

REDWOODS TRANSPORTATION GRANTS

Grant funding is limited and is currently being disbursed on a first come, first served basis. Submisison of this form is not a guarantee of funding.


Use this form to submit a request for transportation funding for students to visit the redwoods. SUBMIT ONE FORM PER FIELD TRIP. Multiple field trips may be requested. If approved, Santa Cruz COE will reimburse districts for field trip transportation costs. An email will be sent within 2 weeks of submission to notify you of your application status. Funding is provided by Save the Redwoods League.


Audience: K-8 Classroom Teachers and Expanded Learning Staff

YOUTH FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION

Fall 2022 and Spring 2023.


Youth group focusing on student voice, engagement and leadership for a sustainable future. Teachers support by promoting the program to students, serving as mentors and chaperoning school teams to the Youth for Environmental Action Summit in Spring 2023.


Audience: HS Student Participants, Teacher Mentors