H.E.A.L.(ing) the Watershed

In May, the Center’s Youth Education Program Manager, Peggy Harte, joined teachers from throughout northern California as they came together to celebrate and share their learnings as participants in the year-long professional development program, H.E.A.L. (Health, Environmental Awareness and Literacy). 

The H.E.A.L. training is part of a broader collaboration between the center and the UC Davis Sacramento Area Science Project (SASP). Peggy collaborates with SASP, offering training to educators throughout the region, focusing on Next Generation Science Standards, environmental literacy, and interdisciplinary approaches to community science.  

The H.E.A.L. training was a year-long collaborative offering between Oh Yeah (Yuba Environmental Advocates Here) and the California Science Project designed to support educators and TOSASs in exploring environmental literacy with students. The fall 2022 training focused on the teacher experience, highlighting ways in which engaging with the environment attends to both the social and emotional needs of students as well as educators.

During the winter training, Peggy worked with educators on building skill and capacity for engaging students in outdoor learning/monitoring activities by sharing the practice of scientific sketching.

In spring teachers shared a second outdoor experience where they had the opportunity to explore the beginnings of the Central Valley’s watershed up on Donner Pass as they reflected on their big take-aways from this year-long experience. 

As a Community of Practice, they offered examples of how they have incorporated environmental literacy and principles into their practice over the course of the program.

Find more about our educator trainings and resources here.