This newsletter we’re celebrating major progress for environmental literacy in California while sharing new research, resources, partnerships, and opportunities that help prepare students to lead a more sustainable future.
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There’s a well-respected model in child development called the ecological systems theory (Bronfenbrenner 1979). It posits that child development is best understood in the context of the entire ecosystem in which children grow up and the forces that shape it....
In May 2026, the California State Board of Education adopted its Portrait of a Learner, a statewide framework that connects curriculum, instruction, assessment, and student supports around a common purpose while emphasizing engaging, relevant learning opportunities. Importantly, the final framework...
Craig Strang’s latest Outdoor Learning article explores how outdoor experiences can help reduce screen time while supporting student well-being, connection, and resilience. The newsletter also highlights findings from a UC Berkeley student research partnership on climate risk and school preparedness,...
(This article is the fourth in a series featuring the formation and progress of the coalition carrying out the California Campaign for Outdoor Learning. It is also the first in a new series exploring the connection between outdoor learning and...
A major milestone for outdoor learning and environmental literacy in California schools just happened: AB 2158, The Outdoor Learning and Environmental Literacy Act of 2026, passed the California Assembly Floor on May 27, 2026, with a bipartisan vote of 61–0 and no...
This newsletter spotlights how the Santa Clara County Youth Climate Initiative became a self-sustaining model for advancing climate literacy through youth leadership and cross-sector collaboration, alongside updates on SB 1048, youth programs, statewide initiatives, and community stories from across California.
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The third annual Bay Area Climate Literacy Exchange took place on Monday, February 23, 2026, at Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland. In many ways the event looked like the teacher professional learning day it was designed to be....
If California is to meet its ambitious climate goals, education and youth engagement cannot be treated as afterthoughts. It must be a central strategy. The Santa Clara County Youth Climate Initiative is a promising, replicable model for developing a regional...
This legislative season, Ten Strands is a proud sponsor of the Outdoor Learning and Environmental Literacy Act of 2026 (AB 2158), legislation designed to help California schools expand safe, standards-aligned outdoor learning to support student mental and physical health, engagement,...
