Ten Strands joined environmental education leaders from across the country at the 2026 North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) Conference in Portland, Oregon, October 6–9. Chief innovation officer Andra Yeghoian and director of professional learning and community building Holly Steele participated in national conversations, shared lessons from California, and learned from others working to advance environmental and climate literacy.
Across three presentations, Ten Strands contributed insights spanning policy, research, curriculum, and implementation. Andra joined a national panel that explored how states are scaling climate change education, and she presented research with Dr. Carine Verschueren of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign examining environmental education policies across California school districts. Their findings showed that more than half of California districts have adopted environmental education policies and offered insights into how shared policy frameworks can support systems change.
Holly co-presented with Julie Hilborn of the San Mateo County Office of Education in a session showcasing the Seeds to Solutions® curriculum, demonstrating how educators can help students move from climate anxiety to understanding, agency, and meaningful action through real-world learning.
Beyond the presentations, Ten Strands participated in the conference Share Fair and connected with educators, researchers, and organizational leaders from across the country. These conversations offered valuable opportunities to exchange ideas, learn from promising approaches in other states, and explore opportunities for continued collaboration.
The conference was a powerful reminder that advancing environmental and climate literacy requires collective effort. We’re grateful for the opportunity to contribute California’s experiences to the national conversation, learn from others doing innovative work, and strengthen the relationships that help move this work forward.
