Educator Resources

SEEC Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resources – https://www.ecoinclusive.org/, https://youthoutside.org/,https://www.nsta.org/nstas-official-positions/science-english-language-learners, https://www.diversegreen.org/,https://theavarnagroup.com/

Next Generation Science Standards & Common Core Resources – Most of the environmental and outdoor programs offered in Sonoma County are science-based. We link our programs to Next Generation Science Standards which were adopted by the California State Board of Education in 2013.

• Next Generation Science Standards
• NGSS for California Public Schools
• California Science Standards
• Common Core State Standards Initiative
• Science Content Standards for California Public Schools (1998)

Curriculum frameworks provide guidance for implementing the content standards adopted by the State Board of Education. Links to download the Essential Principles & Fundamental Concepts, Scope & Sequence, and Framework Guides:

• A Framework for K–12 Science Education
• California Science Curriculum Framework
• Ocean Literacy Framework
• Energy Literacy Framework

Environmental Literacy Resources – Environmental Literacy is the desired outcome of environmental education and is defined as “an individual’s understanding, skills and motivation to make responsible decisions that considers his or her relationships to natural systems, communities and future generations.”

• A Blueprint for Environmental Literacy – A report by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson’s Environmental Literacy Task Force.
• California Collaborative for Educational Excellence – Statewide agency designed to help deliver on California’s promise of a quality, equitable education for every student.
• California Education and the Environment Initiative (CA EEI) – Mission is to foster environmental literacy among all California students as part of a high-quality K-12 education.
• California Environmental Literacy Initiative – A public–private partnership led by the nonprofit Ten Strands that increases access to relevant, standards-based, environment-based learning for all of California’s K–12 students.
• California’s Environmental Principles & Concepts (EP&Cs) highlight the deep relationship between humans and the natural world. The EP&Cs are “big ideas” intended to inform standards-based instruction and fuel student inquiry.
• California Statewide Outdoor Learning (CalSol) – A campaign for statewide outdoor education so that all California school children can experience outdoor learning at every grade level, and that such opportunities are an integral part of California public education. You can become a member of the coalition by endorsing CalSOL as an individual and/or on behalf of your organization.
• NAAEE’s Environmental Literacy Framework

Community Science/Citizen Science Resources – A selection of projects, ideas, & data sets to get students involved in collecting, analyzing, & reporting environmental data. 

Grapevine Newsletter – Free monthly e-newsletter intended to help inform North Bay Area educators about science and environmental education resources, events, and opportunities. To receive the Grapevine, please send an email to mroa@sonic.net

Environmental, Experiential, & STEM Educator Networks

American Camp Association (ACA) – Resources for camps and other youth program providers interested in connecting children and families to nature.

Association for Experiential Education (AEE) – Strives to elevate and expand the global capacity of Experiential Education.

BEETLES Project – A collaborative, resource-sharing network of environmental educators and professional learning experts led by the Lawrence Hall of Science. BEETLES (Better Environmental Education, Teaching, Learning & Expertise Sharing) offers environmental education resources that serve both students and teachers.

California Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education (AEOE) – The California Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education has compiled a plethora of natural history and teaching resources for educators. Offers bi-annual educator workshops: state-wide (spring) and regional (fall).

California Association of Science Educators (CASE) – Non-profit membership organization representing educators statewide in every science discipline and grade level.

California Outdoor School Association (COSA) – Statewide group of outdoor school principals, directors, and county office personnel that assess the quality of an outdoor program and its facilities. COSA utilizes Residential Outdoor Science School (ROSS) certifications to ensure a high quality academic, safe, and appropriate learning environment for students served in California’s Outdoor Schools.

Center for Advancement of Informal Science Education (CAISE) – Community of STEM based professionals and researchers from across the informal science education field.

Children & Nature Network – Works to increase equitable access to nature by sharing evidence-based resources, scaling innovative solutions, and driving policy change.

Green Schoolyards America – 10 Outdoor Learning Working Groups explore key topics and develop strategies, ideas, and frameworks to assist school districts across the country.

MPA Collaborative Network – Statewide network of diverse coastal communities committed to action oriented, grassroots stewardship of California’s ocean resources.

National Association for Interpretation (NAI) – Organization dedicated to advancing the profession of heritage interpretation at parks, museums, nature centers, zoos, botanical gardens, aquariums, and historical/cultural sites.

National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) – Organization working to make the environment more accessible, relatable, relevant, and connected to people’s daily lives.

National Marine Educator Association (NMEA) – Network of marine and aquatic educators from around the world.

National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI) – Network of informal educators working in the social and climate sciences.

National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) – Largest organization of science teachers worldwide.

Natural Start Alliance – Promotes access to early childhood environmental education.

North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) – This organization vets best practices for environmental education and has a wealth of resources on grants, programs, and standards.

School Garden Network of Sonoma County – Provides local Sonoma County schools with garden-based education, grant dollars, and installation funding.

Superintendents’ Environmental Education Collaborative (SEEC) – National partnerships between superintendents and environmental organizations.

Talaterra Cowork – Network for independent environmental educators and their community partners.