...promoting learning for a sustainable future.

The Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation (“CELF”) is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that collaborates with public school districts and individual teachers to raise awareness of sustainable development and to help incorporate related principles into K-12 curricula and programs.  

CELF was founded in response to an understanding that the world’s dynamics are moving faster than its educational curricula. Our call to action was the recognition that environmental literacy and education for sustainability are not mandated in the U.S. and public funding for new programs is limited.

OUR MISSION

The Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation’s mission is to bring about enduring institutional change to education by promoting sustainability as a core K-12 learning framework. Through early education we can equip students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will lead to a sustainable future for everyone.

Ultimately, we envision our children and future generations understanding the unique and complex systems that support the natural, as well as the human-built environments, and having the knowledge, the desire and the ability to save the integrity of those systems.

OUR ROLE

Research: CELF has conducted extensive research across the country and around the globe to identify and review leading programs and organizations with expertise in Sustainability Education K-12 curricula.

Connect: CELF acts as a bridge between these leading authorities and organizations in Sustainability Education and schools and individual teachers.We help identify and benchmark specific K-12 curricula development opportunities and coordinate workshops, symposia, and student EXPOs for best practices in SE.

Advocate: We serve as a resource and advocate for the continuous assessment, evaluation and advancement of environmental literacy and SE in K-12 education. CELF engages communities in learning about the benefits and importance of educating for sustainability through speaker symposia; our newsletter, “Balance”; community “friendraisers” and fundraisers; the “Students for a Sustainable Future” EXPO; as well as through our Teacher Advisory Board.