Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation (CELF)

CELF Summer Institutes: A professional development program designed to advance educational goals together with locally identified social, economic and environmental objectives. The Institute builds practical curriculum integration of stewardship perspectives, skills and action to the restoration, rebuilding, and reconnecting of human communities, environmental stewardship and civic life.

Professional development and TrainingThe concepts of sustainability are universal, but every district and school starts from a different place in implementing sustainability education. CELF customized professional development (PD) helps schools infuse curriculum and school culture with education for a sustainable future. PD services include: gap analyses of curriculum; on-site Education for Sustainability training and resources (specific to grade level and school or district needs and interests); and review of facilities "green" improvements to help infuse projects into curriculum. We provide a framework for integrating sustainability concepts into existing curricula, and review curriculum exemplars. Program Service Accomplishments: case studies on implementation of sustainability education at other schools.

Civic ScienceInquiry to Action is a semester- or year-long program that engages educators and students in project-based STEAM learning outside of the classroom. Tailored to each school and community location, we offer professional learning workshops for teachers paired with on-site support to implement a project-based learning module that connects students to real-world challenges in their own neighborhoods. The program combines the development of 21st century skills with the motivation and creativity generated by solving a problem in students' own communities. Participants in the program will: Participate in a series of professional learning workshops and implement a project-based STEAM learning unit. Program Service Accomplishments: paired with on-site educator support; support students to collect data using various tools such the Flow air quality monitoring device; focus on inquiry pathways including air quality, water quality, and biodiversity while learning pedagogical principles that apply to a range of civic science learning opportunities; engage with local concerns through student-led inquiry.