Sometimes we all need to take a step back from the day-to-day, to re-connect with what has inspired us as educators and leaders, and to celebrate progress we've achieved and can still achieve.

At CELF, we recognize that the disruption of the last two years – lost classroom hours, new demands on teachers, student frustration and grief – weighs heavily on educators of all types. When we ask “What does sustainability mean NOW?,” we look outward to environmental regeneration, and inward to restoring self-worth and motivation. We look both in and around us to better understand our roles in advancing social equity and public health.

This summer, CELF is offering FOUR summer institutes for educators: in-person in the Houston region, in the New York tri-state region, and in Buffalo, NY; AND a Virtual Civic Science institute accessible from everywhere. Find the right summer professional learning experience to invigorate and inspire you year-round.

On March 11, 2022, CELF hosted its 4th Annual Student Symposium, the culminating event for the CELF Civic Science: Inquiry-to-Action Program. Over 200 people attended while young civic scientists shared their research projects, data, and solutions for pollution remediation and environmental stewardship with community members, field experts, policymakers and peers from schools across the country.

The 2022 Virtual Student Symposium Recap highlights five student research projects spanning from beach erosion to water quality.

Jefferson Elementary School (New Rochelle, NY) embraces sustainability as a lens to connect garden education. The K-5 faculty and administrators participated in virtual and in-person workshops to support and align their garden projects into existing curriculum.

Glassell Park Elementary STEAM Magnet (Los Angeles, CA) shapes its mission & vision to focus on education for sustainability as the "center of gravity" where all the disciplines come together to support EfS. CELF provided a virtual workshop to engage all K-5 faculty in reflecting and revising their mission and vision statements.

Blanson CTE High School (Houston, TX) hosts Green Careers event for youth Civic Scientists as they shared their Walkable Cities project with Ken Williams, founder of Green Opportunities Houston. Williams informed 82 students, over half of which are graduating this spring, of career pathways open to them today.

Hilltop Hanover Farm (Yorktown Heights, NY) consults with CELF to support and strengthen education practices through place/problem/project based learning utilizing HHF and grounds. CELF co-faciliated with Hilltop Education director a training workshop for the farm staff modeling the newly revised programs.

Have you been to the farm? Join us for the STANYS STEAM Conference featuring CELF at Hilltop Hanover Farm on Saturday, April 30th 10am-12pm. Register here