Over the past three months, Skyline High School students have been actively participating in the California EPA’s Climate Literacy Curriculum (CLIC) Project, funded by CalEPA’s Environmental Justice Action Grant. Through weekly workshops, field events, and community-focused initiatives, these students are gaining essential skills and knowledge to become climate leaders in their school and broader community.
Skyline students kicked off their involvement with the CLIC project in September by participating in Coastal Cleanup Day at the Berkeley Marina, where they conducted On-Land Visual Trash Assessments (OVTAs) and contributed to reducing marine pollution. This event set the tone for their year-long engagement, emphasizing the critical connection between watershed health and climate resilience.
In the classroom, students began by exploring Earth Team’s policies and the CLIC project’s objectives, including their role in advancing climate literacy. These foundational sessions helped students understand the scope of their work and its potential impact on their community.
Throughout the first half of the year, students deepened their understanding of watershed health and climate change through four weekly workshops and a weekend restoration event. Highlights included:
- Watershed Introduction and Climate Policy Review: Students learned about Sausal Creek’s ecosystem and examined the Oakland Unified School District’s Climate Education Policy to understand local initiatives.
- Creek Restoration Projects: During a weekend event at Sausal Creek in Dimond Park, students removed invasive plant species and distributed community surveys, directly contributing to flood mitigation and ecosystem restoration.
- Campus Litter Assessment: Students conducted a detailed study of on-campus plastic litter and its environmental impact, tying their findings to air quality monitoring and CO₂ emissions.
- Water Quality Testing: At Dimond Park, students tested water and soil, integrating STEM skills into their watershed studies.
The Skyline High School Climate Literacy Committee is off to a great start, demonstrating dedication and creativity in addressing climate literacy and local environmental challenges. As they continue developing climate literacy curricula and sharing their findings, these students will continue to make a lasting impact in their school and community.
Earth Team is proud to partner with CalEPA’s Environmental Justice Action Grant to empower youth as leaders in climate education and action. Stay tuned as Skyline students continue to take bold steps toward a more sustainable future!
