As students and educators return to the classroom, they encounter a challenging new world fueled by a global pandemic and academic inequality. Outdoor learning is helping to reimagine the educational environment and inspire the next generation of change-makers. FIVE BENEFITS OF OUTDOOR LEARNING Increased Connection: School closures and distance learning deprived students of the interpersonal […]
Ten Strands CEO Karen Cowe, and Craig Strang, of the California Environmental Literacy Initiative Leadership Council, co-authored a piece in the Hechinger Report on the value of outdoor learning during the pandemic.
Public Education System Historical Context The K–12 public school system is where students are given an opportunity to gain knowledge and skills for a successful life. It’s important for children from all communities to receive a high-quality education to thrive as individuals and become contributing members of society. Beginning in the mid-1900s, in the US, […]
At the end of 2020, Karen Cowe, Ten Strands’ CEO, and Linda Livers, Ten Strands’ consultant, interviewed three staff members of the Park Day School in Oakland, California: Angela Taylor, head of school; Jennifer Cooper, facilities manager; and Josie Shapiro, director of admissions. This interview was originally published as a case study on the National […]
A few months ago, I was speaking to my friend Julian Agyeman from Tufts University. I mentioned to him that I was newly retired from my full-time job but that I was still active in numerous environmental literacy initiatives related to centering equity. Julian kindly stated that I was not retired but repurposed. Yes, indeed! […]
In a letter to Ten Strands’ community, CEO Karen Cowe reflects on the challenges and accomplishments of 2020 and expresses appreciation for all partners and supporters who have been part of this journey towards statewide K–12 environmental literacy.
This interview between California Association of Science Educators (CASE) and Karen Cowe, Ten Strands CEO and California Environmental Literacy Initiative project director, originally appeared on the CASE website and was republished with permission. Tell us about Ten Strands and the work of the California Environmental Literacy Initiative. Ten Strands was founded eight years ago by […]