Welcome Service Providers

Project Overview

Our goal is to demonstrate the collective impact of providers of environmental learning experiences in our state. We will: (1) conduct a comprehensive study of the environmental education already happening on the ground, and (2) map the landscape of K-12 environmental education providers, green schools, climate risks, and equity across the state, resulting in a layered “Climate, Equity, & EE” map and an interactive dashboard of field trends and project findings. These resources will be open to the public and shared with community leaders and stakeholders to inform and advance K-12 environmental education, green schools, and climate justice. This effort is led by AEOE and is part of a joint data initiative in partnership with the California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI) and Ten Strands, that focuses on data relevant to Community-Based Partners that operate and provide environmental education programs in California.

Expected Outcomes

This project will allow us to identify gaps and barriers to access that prevent successful implementation in some areas of the state. The findings will have the potential to increase funding opportunities for EE providers and influence advocacy efforts and policy change statewide as well as provide direct opportunities for EE providers to deepen their practice, increase cultural relevancy, and strengthen their approach in partnering with local schools and districts. Ultimately, we hope this effort will lead to the development of a set of recommendations and next steps for increasing and strengthening environmental literacy efforts in California.

Next Steps

Submit your organizational and program data to contribute to this collective impact effort! Who should be involved? Any service providers in California that offer programs or resources for youth and K-12 schools focused on environmental education, climate resilience, environmental justice, green schools, outdoor learning, food and nutrition, health and wellness, conservation, green jobs, and related topics. Such programs could be classroom-based or off-campus, formal and informal, and can include broader beneficiaries, such as district administrators, Pre-K children, and families. The data will be collected through spring of 2023 and analyzed over the summer. We anticipate launching the “Climate, Equity, & EE” map and an interactive dashboard of field trends and project findings in late summer 2023. Additionally, data will be shared with the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) to develop a national dashboard that can be used to create a state of the state report in collaboration with NAAEE Affiliates and Gen:Thrive.