About This Toolkit Series

This toolkit series was created to help educators integrate environmental literacy, outdoor learning, and student-led action into their teaching through engaging, project-based learning experiences. Each toolkit provides practical lessons, planning tools, and resources that help students build environmental knowledge, strengthen their connection to nature, and take meaningful action in their schools and communities.

Together, the six toolkits create a pathway from environmental identity and leadership to hands-on environmental action:

• Green Team Dream Team: Environmental Identity Toolkit

• Scrap the Waste: Food Waste & Climate Change Toolkit

• Wear and Share: Clothing Swap Toolkit

• Green the Concrete: Campus Gardens & Biodiversity Toolkit

• Ripple Effect: Water Protectors Toolkit

• Beat the Heat: Civic Action & Climate Justice Toolkit

Inspired by Teacher Leaders

These toolkits were inspired by the outstanding work of teachers in the Teacher Leadership Institute for Sustainability (TLIS), who generously shared their classroom experiences, lessons, and tools while mentoring new cohorts of educators. Our hope is that these resources will make it easier for teachers to bring environmental literacy and meaningful student action into their own classrooms.

This toolkit series was co-developed by:

• Amity Sandage – Santa Cruz County Office of Education

• Erin Petersen Lindberg – Branciforte Middle School, Santa Cruz City Schools

• Jade Giotta – Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary, Soquel Union Elementary School District

• Jennifer Gill – Watsonville Charter School of the Arts, Pajaro Valley Unified School District

• Jennifer Poodry – Bradley Elementary School, Pajaro Valley Unified School District

• Kelly Liebenthal – Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary, Soquel Union Elementary School District

• Satina Ciandro – Watsonville High School, Pajaro Valley Unified School District

• Stu Branoff – Bay View Elementary School, Santa Cruz City Schools

A heartfelt thank you to these incredible teacher leaders for sharing their expertise, creativity, and passion. Their collaboration has made this toolkit series possible and will continue to inspire educators and students for years to come.