January 2023

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Houston High School Students Get Outdoors and Experience Hands-on Environmental Stewardship

Students and teachers from Westbury High School in Houston joined CELF and community stakeholders for an exciting and educational afternoon at Willow Waterhole Greenway, a 300-plus-acre network of lakes, prairie, and marsh located in the heart of the Westbury neighborhood of Houston.

On January 13th, Westbury's Environmental Science students interacted with green professionals by participating in three activities:

Willow Waterhole Clean-up: Students collected refuse and reflected on sources and mitigation of pollution with representatives of Stopping Plastics and Litter Along Shorelines (SPLASh).
Native Plants and Species: Students used the iNaturalist app to identify wildlife around them, guided by their own curiosity and by a field expert from the Texas Wildlife Association.
Mammal Skulls: With guidance from a Texas Master Naturalist, students were amazed to hold mammal skulls in their own hands and discover the adaptations of local wildlife.

This event provided students with experiential learning opportunities in a local green space while enlightening students about career pathways in the green economy.

Are you an educator interested in partnering with CELF to bring environmental experiences and green career professionals to your school?

Are you a professional active in the green economy or sustainability who's interested in sharing your career experiences with young people?

Contact CELF about Green Experiences and Green Careers

Bright Spots in January

Elementary Inspiration

At Lantrip Elementary School in Houston, CELF facilitated student encounters with green career professionals from SPLASh and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. These introductions inspire students to think differently about their future career options.

Learn more about Green Careers

Unpacking Data

Gathering air quality data is exciting and fun for students. Interpreting and analyzing the collected data may seem challenging at times. CELF invited Plume Labs, the makers of the Flow air quality monitor, to offer tips on using data to identify trends and inform action.

Learn more about Civic Science

Hydroponic Seminar

Shadow Creek High School in Pearland, TX, hosted a student-run seminar: "The Future of Hydroponic Farming in Schools" with speakers from NASA and Moonflower Farms. CELF provided tech support and streamed the event live on YouTube.

Subscribe to CELF's YouTube Channel

Up and Coming (Registrations Required)

Tracking Wildlife

CELF welcomes educators from the NY region to join us at Teatown Lake Reservation in Ossining, NY, on Thursday, February 9th. We'll take a short hike in the winter woods and learn how to identify tracks and traces of local wildlife.

Exploring Watersheds

At Mill River Park in Stamford, CT on Thursday, February 23rd, educators can discover ways to integrate education for sustainability, history, and place with applications to bring back to your classroom.

Transformative Education

The UN's Sustainable Development Goals call for "inclusive and equitable quality education for all." Support education for sustainable development and learn more at SDSN's US Summit on Transformative Education.

Membership Spotlight

CELF hosted a hybrid professional development session with Glassell Park Elementary S.T.E.A.M. Magnet, a CELF Member School in Los Angeles. Teachers and administrators engaged and collaborated on ways to integrate sustainability into the curriculum through place-based and project-based learning across all K-5 grades. We look forward to continuing the sustainability journey with Glassell this year!

Might CELF Membership be the right approach for bringing Education for Sustainability to your school or district?

Learn More about CELF Membership

Good Reads!

Cultivating Love of Place and Planting Seeds for Lifelong Civic Engagement with California’s Young Learners

As part of the Climate Change and Environmental Justice Program (CCEJP) led by Ten Strands, CELF is leading development of learning content for K-2 learners. In this bilingual blog post written by CELF's Adriana Castro and Tara Stafford Ocansey, read how we're integrating cultural responsiveness and students' lived experiences into the design of K–2 resources.

Read the Blog Post

Are you an elementary school teacher with ideas or resources to contribute?

Contact CELF about K-2 Resources for California

Sustainability is All about Systems Thinking

In this article, the Golisano Institute for Sustainability at the Rochester Institute of Technology addresses the role of systems thinking in addressing complex challenges. "There is no single 'silver bullet' for slowing or adapting to climate change. Rather than solving the problem by relying on a single 'techno-fix,' lifestyle change, or broad policy package, they call for an all-hands-on-deck strategy that is multi-pronged and dynamic."

Read the Article

Your Generosity Means Everything

CELF is filled with immense optimism and gratitude for the support of all who contributed to our end-of-year fundraising campaign! We're so grateful for the commitment of our community and for your continous support of our mission to establish sustainability as an integral part of every child's K-12 learning experience.

If you missed the year-end campaign, please know your financial support is welcome year-round.

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