In November, Ten Strands joined district leaders, California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI) members, and partners at the Green California Schools and Higher Education Summit in Pasadena, California. The gathering brought together a statewide community committed to ensuring that California’s TK–12 and higher education systems continue to lead on sustainability and environmental literacy.
Ten Strands and CAELI had a strong presence at this year’s summit. With eleven sessions presented across the conference, Ten Strands and our CAELI thought partners contributed a wide range of insights and expertise. Sessions highlighted topics such as youth leadership, systems thinking, and instructional innovation, showcasing the depth and diversity of our work. This representation underscored our ongoing commitment to supporting educators, advancing environmental literacy, and fostering sustainable, student-centered learning across California.
Our morning session, “Beyond the School Gates: The Role of County and Local Partnerships in Environmental and Climate Action in Schools” featured data and stories from the field regarding the growth of environmental and climate action in counties. Chief innovation officer Andra Yeghoian and director of client engagement services and data science Sarah Whiting opened the session by introducing key findings from the Data Initiative for Environmental and Climate Action in California’s TK–12 Schools. They were then joined by CAELI county partners Julie Hilborn (San Mateo County Office of Education), Tamara Basepayne (San Joaquin County Office of Education), and Amity Sandage (Santa Cruz County Office of Education), who illustrated these findings through county-level policies, investments, and demographic conditions that can accelerate or constrain a district’s sustainability progress. Using county profiles and regional examples, the presenters helped attendees identify where strong partnerships are emerging and where untapped opportunities remain.
Another presentation, led by Ten Strands’ partnerships program specialist Polina Goncharova and UndauntedK12’s program director Stephanie Seidmon, spotlighted the transformative role of youth leadership in environmental education. Their session—“Student Power in Action: Advancing Sustainability Through School Board Policy”—featured a panel of three youth leaders from the California Youth Climate Policy Leadership Program (CYCP): Jerry Yang, Kieran Beckham, and Jeannine Jauregui. The students shared candid stories about the climate and sustainability work they undertook as part of CYCP, including researching climate and sustainability issues in their districts, drafting school board policies, and building coalitions with peers and adult allies. Their reflections also highlighted the new leadership roles they have taken on since completing the program, underscoring the powerful role young people play in driving local climate policy—and the importance of creating environments where students can meaningfully participate in decision-making.
Later in the day, Andra Yeghoian and Amity Sandage co-led another session titled “From Complexity to Action: Using Systems Mapping to Spark Environmental and Climate Action in TK–12 Schools.” This session invited participants to step back and view environmental action through a systems-thinking lens. Using a hands-on mapping activity, attendees worked in small groups to identify relationships between facilities, operations, curriculum, and school culture. The activity revealed leverage points for collective action and offered a practical tool that participants could bring back to their own districts to spark collaboration and strategic planning.
Another major highlight was an introductory Seeds to Solutions workshop, which offered participants a deeper look at what the curriculum is and how it supports students in becoming environmentally literate and engaged community members. Led by SMCOE’s Julie Hilborn and Andra Yeghoian, the session modeled the pedagogical approach behind Seeds to Solutions, using an interactive format that invited attendees to experience a unit firsthand and engage with the instructional practices that anchor the program.
Participants explored the K–12 resources through the fifth-grade unit and saw how the curriculum weaves together place-based learning, real-world case studies, local data sets, and community voices. The session also introduced tools and supports for implementation, along with ways educators can get involved. Through discussion and reflection, attendees considered how these materials help students make sense of environmental challenges while uplifting local stories of resilience and innovation.
Although the summit officially began on Thursday, energy was already building the day before as CAELI members gathered for a pre-summit convening. The session included updates on Ten Strands’ Data Initiative and a hands-on activity led by CAELI co-chairs Estrella Risinger and Nate Ivy, during which members strategized on how to advance CAELI’s 10-year vision. Through this activity, members explored communications themes to create a more inclusive community, examined staff capacity at the local level, and reflected on the systemic investments needed at the state level. Overall, the gathering offered a rejuvenating opportunity for leaders—who traveled from across California—to connect in person.
A more detailed reflection on all the CAELI sessions will be recapped in the December 11 CAELI newsletter, including highlights from all members who presented throughout the summit. We also extend our congratulations to George Garcia, recipient of the Pioneer Award, and to Estrella Risinger on behalf of the Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education who was honored with the Environmental Literacy Award!
Across two days, the summit offered rich opportunities for learning, connection, and inspiration. Ten Strands was honored to contribute to this collective effort to advance environmental literacy and climate action across California’s schools.
