You can teach some aspect of environmental literacy, justice, and action in any subject to any age student.
—Climate Gen attendee
Every year, the Climate Generation Summer Institute holds a three-day summit with climate change education leaders from across the world who are dedicated to teaching climate change as an interdisciplinary issue. Last week, Dr. Amy Frame, Ten Strands’ director of client engagement services and research, hosted the California Cohort Day of the summit, featuring many climate activist speakers from across North America. In addition, Ten Strands’ chief innovation officer, Andra Yeghoian, was a plenary speaker for Monday’s session, and Dr. Roni Jones, director of curriculum, was a presenter on Wednesday’s CA Cohort Day session. It was a three-day summit full of collaboration and learning for all who attended.
Day One Recap: The first day of the summit started with a welcome gathering for leaders of color and included time for community building before the plenary panel. The plenary session was titled “Unveiling the Dynamic Role of Education in Creating Climate Change Solutions,” featuring Andra Yeghoian, Yvonne Mongare, Amelia Cook, and Teddy Lyman.Together, they opened the Summer Institute for Climate Change Education, setting the stage for a collaborative learning experience, and inspiring attendees to know that teachers and their students can really be catalysts for change towards environmental and climate action in schools and communities. You can watch a recording of the panel here. The first day concluded with concurrent sessions on the topics such as “Empowering Effective Climate Change Communicators,” “Climate Emotions in the Classroom,” and “Climate Justice 101.”
Day Two Recap: The second day of the summit started with a BIPOC affinity space, where people with similar identities could discuss topics of importance to them. This was followed by case study workshops, which were heavily requested based on feedback from previous years to provide more in-depth content. Many of the sessions featured youth climate leaders who encouraged older generations to understand the immense pressure younger folks feel to solve problems that they did not cause. They also emphasized the importance of creating collaborative structures to combat trauma, stress, and anxiety with hope, joy, and bold imagination. The passion and expertise of the conference attendees enabled rich, sometimes contentious, and much-needed intergenerational dialogue. The day concluded with concurrent sessions on the topics such as “Teaching Environmental Justice for All,” presented by Leena Bakshi McLean, and “Nurturing and Empowering Youth Advocates,” presented by Elissa Teles Munoz.
Day Three/CA Cohort Day Recap: The California Cohort Day, hosted by Ten Strands, was filled with learning across all content areas. There is a growing understanding that climate education cannot be shouldered purely by science teachers, as it is really a social issue as well as a scientific one at this point. This year Ten Strands was thrilled to collaborate with statewide professional organizations in four different core content areas. We heard from Jennifer Elemen and Mark Gomez, representing the California Council for Social Studies; Ma Bernadette Andres-Salgarino, representing the California Mathematics Council; Rudy Escobar, representing Computer Science for California; and Crystal Starr Howe, representing California Association of Science Educators. They each provided key resources and connections to their content frameworks, before providing their perspectives on Green Schoolyard America’s Tree Canopy Equity Study. It was captivating to hear from these presenters and discover how they are forging connections between their respective fields and climate change.
Additionally, Dr. Roni Jones, the project director of the Climate Change and Environmental Justice Program (CCEJP), provided an update on the curriculum set to release in the spring of 2025. Roni and the curriculum-writing teams also demonstrated the K–12 curriculum, allowing attendees to choose the grade level they resonated with the most. These materials are being developed as a result of California state legislation to promote greater local and global understanding of the issues and potential solutions. The lessons support California State Standards and frameworks within science, history/social science, and English language arts. Participants also had the opportunity to express their interest in participating in a field test of these lessons in the fall of 2024. Visit our landing page for more information on the field test.
Thanks for keeping developmental appropriateness and trauma-informed practices at the forefront! I hope the later grades really emphasize climate justice. —Cohort Day attendee
As a first-time attendee of the CA Cohort Day at the Summer Institute, I was impressed not only by the content and resources provided but also by the inclusive environment that encouraged everyone to contribute. Amy and her team had a packed agenda, yet they ensured ample time in the breakout rooms for members to chat and engage with the presenters.
The Summer Institute continues as the very best place to get specific, implementable information about what’s happening in climate education: legislation, what lessons are available and in development, and who is working passionately in your area on teaching climate to our students. —Climate Gen attendee
I highly recommend the Summer Institute for Climate Change Education to educators and anyone interested in bridging the gap between education, advocacy, and climate change. This event is especially beneficial for early career teachers, as it offers a platform where their opinions and suggestions are valued by a diverse group of participants. This year’s event, particularly the CA Cohort Day, highlighted the growing momentum in climate education, emphasizing the transition from debating its necessity to exploring effective teaching methodologies.
Dr. Amy Frame perfectly captured the essence of the event: “Hosting the California Cohort Day is always a highlight of my summer. This year was especially inspiring because I could really feel the momentum. There were so many participants who brought so much expertise to share. I think AB 285, which requires climate change education in science at every grade level, has really moved the needle from whether to teach about climate change to how to teach about it. At the institute, those who have been working on it for years were able to pass on what they’ve learned to folks just getting started, and educators within the formal system could connect with community-based partners around a common cause.”
The Summer Institute continues to be an essential space for all those committed to advancing climate change education and advocacy.
Ten Strands' mission is to strengthen the partnerships and strategies that will bring environmental literacy to all of California’s K–12 students. Our vision is a world where everyone understands and experiences the interrelatedness of people and place; where all students have access to high-quality education with an environmental component; and where all people have the knowledge, awareness, and ability to make decisions that promote health and wellbeing for themselves and their communities.
Ten Strands' mission is to strengthen the partnerships and strategies that will bring environmental literacy to all of California’s K–12 students. Our vision is a world where everyone understands and experiences the interrelatedness of people and place; where all students have access to high-quality education with an environmental component; and where all people have the knowledge, awareness, and ability to make decisions that promote health and wellbeing for themselves and their communities.
