We are excited to share a fun opportunity for educators and students! The EcoHero Earth Day Livestream Concert is a high-energy, interactive event that has already engaged over 1.2 million students across thousands of elementary schools worldwide. This Earth Day, April 22nd, your students can be part of this global movement—learning about sustainability through music, rap, and fun, all while contributing to real-world change!
At the recent Green Schools National Conference in Orlando, Florida, we had the privilege to visit Arbor Ridge Elementary School. Arbor Ridge has received first place in the green schools recognition program, the Florida Green Apple award by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Green Ribbons Schools award by the US Department of Education.
We toured the school and the campus and a team of faculty members attended our afternoon workshop on vertical articulation of Education for Sustainability. Among many hey have composting in the cafeteria, a living garden.
Under the close supervision of professors from the University of Illinois, middle schoolers were trained how to safely collect and grow bacteria. One youth identified a bacterium that might create new cancer treatments and antibiotics.
They were part of a 14-week educational outreach program to promote scientific careers with hands-on experience.
Our friends and colleagues at Green Ninja put together some useful resources to help New York State teachers prepare their students for the Science Tests.
Watch the full webinar recording featuring expert Matt d'Alessio or review key highlights and takeaways from the presentation.
Jaimie will be leading two workshops at the Woodward’s Summit for Transformative Learning (STLinATL) hosted by Woodward Academy on March 10 and 11, 2025!
The Summit will explore the theme “Embracing the Future of Education” as a beacon lighting the path ahead for deeper learning.
Jaimie’s workshops will focus on:
Educating for Sustainability with the Brain in Mind
Effective Practices for Aligning and Integrating Education for Sustainability (EfS) into Core Curriculum
The Cloud Institute Turns 30! 🎉
2025 marks 30 years of The Cloud Institute inspiring and equipping educators to shape a sustainable future! We’re celebrating with new professional learning experiences, game-changing curriculum collaborations, and the release of my book, Response-able. The work is expanding at an incredible pace - more schools, more communities, and more young people are stepping up to lead the shift toward sustainability. I’m grateful for our brilliant team, our trusted partners, and the momentum we’ve built together. Here’s to the next 30 years!
If you are an International Baccalaureate (IB) teacher with an IB Exchange account, check out the new Commons microlearning modules co-developed with the Cloud Institute.
These microlearning modules are available to educators who want to understand more about the Commons and those who want to undertake the micro-credential Recognizing and Protecting the Commons.
We are excited to announce that The Cloud Institute’s annual Curriculum Design Studio will take place from August 11–15, 2025, at Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York. As always, participants will also have the option to join virtually. Stay tuned for more details!
We are excited to share this new podcast with Jaimie Cloud! Empathy to Impact is a podcast designed for educators dedicated to global citizenship education.
In this episode, Jaimie and Scott explore the following guiding question: How can we bring sustainability into everyday teaching?
The annual Green Schools Conference (GSC) brings together everyone involved in creating and advocating for green schools, with a focus on those leading their schools and school systems toward whole-school sustainability.
The Cloud Institute will be hosting a hands-on workshop at the Green Schools post-conference on March 5, 2025. The experience will begin with a guided tour of the award-winning Arbor Ridge K-8 School, showcasing innovative approaches to fostering a schoolwide culture of sustainability.
Need help with Education for Sustainability action submissions? Join our professional development workshop on March 7, 2025, to gain the knowledge and tools to integrate sustainability into your teaching and strengthen your Sustainable Jersey action submissions.
This 7-week course is designed for (formal and non-formal) educators and program leaders who want to integrate sustainability education and systems thinking into their teaching practice. It would also be of value to curriculum leaders and principals interested in understanding what the practical application of sustainability education looks like.
The Supreme Court in Montana agreed with the young activists who asserted the state was not living up to its constitution by not considering climate change when approving fossil fuel projects.
Melissa Hornbein, a senior attorney with the Western Environmental Law Center, which served as co-counsel for the plaintiffs along with Our Children’s Trust, said the decision would force Montana state agencies to assess the greenhouse gas emissions and climate impacts of all future fossil fuel projects when deciding whether to approve or renew them.
Think about the most memorable journey you’ve been on. Was it an adventure to a new place, growing in your profession, the journey of parenthood, or overcoming an illness? Each journey shapes us and teaches valuable lessons.
At Mundo Verde, we embrace the concept of a journey to guide our students’ learning. Just as your personal journeys have transformed you, our educational journey transforms our students. The word “travesía” in Spanish signifies a voyage or crossing, evoking a sense of adventure, discovery, and transformation. This is the sentiment we want to evoke for our students at Mundo Verde because learning, like life, is about the journey, the “travesía.”
Jaimie Cloud is the lead author of the Oxford International Curriculum for Sustainability, published by Oxford University Press. The Press is the winner of a prestigious 2024 GESS Education Award!
The curriculum provides a comprehensive, interdisciplinary framework that empowers students to address the challenges of sustainable living while fostering stronger connections to their communities and the natural world. The learning series spans from 1st to 9th year (K-8 in the U.S.), and reflects a growing commitment to embedding sustainability in education.
The GESS Education Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in education, recognizing outstanding educational products, resources, services, and individuals. The awards also honor top educational institutions and the most committed members of the teaching profession.
We are thrilled to announce a brand-new collaboration with the International Baccalaureate (IB) to develop 4 Micro-credentials and 10 Micro-learning Modules focused on educating for sustainability! The first three Micro-credentials are already live and ready to access!
Learn how to design opportunities for students to teach others about the importance of recognizing and protecting the commons (the places and things we share, that we all depend on, and are responsible for) locally and globally.
We are very proud to announce that our friend and colleague Mathis Wackernagel, co-founder of the Global Footprint Network, was recently honoured by the Nobel Sustainability Trust for his groundbreaking contributions to sustainability. Mathis is known for co-creating the Ecological Footprint, which has significantly influenced global conversations around sustainable resource use. This award recognizes his lifelong commitment to advancing sustainability science and policy and underscores the importance of integrating ecological limits into economic planning to ensure a livable planet for future generations.
We are excited to announce that Ana Celia Aguirre Villarreal, Co-founder and Director of Human Development at Universidad Carolina, has joined The Cloud Institute's Board of Directors. With extensive experience in human flourishing, social-emotional learning, and community development, Ana Celia has been a driving force in creating educational programs that foster collaboration and trust, such as Aulas Alebrijes and the Leadership for Childhood Seminar.
This professional learning opportunity equips educators with mapping tools, exemplars, and guidance to seamlessly integrate EfS into curriculum, instruction, and assessment at your school. Bring your bright ideas and almost finished lesson plans for review and discussion with curriculum professionals and other educators.
We are proud to announce that the print book series of the Oxford International Sustainability is now available! Developed in collaboration with The Cloud Institute, this comprehensive series includes 9 Project Books, 9 Teacher’s Guides, and professional development support for primary and secondary education. Designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills to navigate the challenges and opportunities of sustainable living, this series empowers the next generation to lead the shift toward a sustainable future.
The Burke's Fall 2024 magazine highlights how the school is implementing Education for Sustainability (EfS) through projects and events aligned with it’s strategic plan. Partnering with the Cloud Institute, Burke's integrates EfS into its curriculum and instruction, fostering critical thinking and sustainable practices. The magazine showcases how these initiatives benefit both students and teachers, promoting sustainability within and beyond the school community.
Our Popular Introduction to Education for Sustainability (EfS) One Day Workshop and full week of Curriculum Design and Coaching takes place next month and there's still time to register. Access expertise, resources, and tools required to design elegant curricula for use in the classroom, protocols for professional development, or action plans designed to implement EfS change initiatives in schools and communities. See the agenda for the week.
We were invited to participate in the Shanghai International Workshop on Climate Change Education on April 26th. The workshop focused on the intersection of Education for Sustainability and Climate Education.
Jaimie’s presentation centered on inspiring people to be hopeful about contributing to the shift toward a sustainable future through education. We thought it was worth sharing. Enjoy!
Emeritus Professor Stephen Sterling is a pioneer in the field of sustainability education. His most recent book addresses the key issue of "how learning and education can make a decisive difference in securing the future in an increasingly uncertain and threatened world" (p. 2). As a collection of essays, the book combines new material with some of what Sterling considers his strongest work. Throughout each chapter, Sterling elaborates on an ecological paradigm and explores its implications for education. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in sustainability and education.
School districts interested in pursuing $10-$20 million grants for building improvements from the EPA Community Change Grant program now have access to dedicated support to help with their grant applications. The Center for Green Schools, The Collaborative for High Performance Schools, The Association of School Business Officials, and the National Rural Education Association are working together to provide grant writing tools, training, and direct coaching for school district applicants.
Darcy Hitchcock is a long time Sustainability Consultant and friend and supporter of the Cloud Institute. She posts interesting news, articles, thoughts and opinion pieces regularly. I think this is one that all our schools State by State can use to stimulate a discussion about renewable energy, our present and our future.
We are in the swing of our first year working with the Burke’s School in San Francisco, CA, an Independent K-8 School for Girls that has taken on Educating for Sustainability for the first time this year. It is wonderful to be working with Alice Moore again (currently Director of the Lower School and formerly at Marin Country Day School where we worked together with Robert Greene for seven years integrating EfS with DEI) and joyful working with Fran Yang, Director of Curriculum and Innovation for the first time.
At the Katherine Delmar Burke School, (commonly known as Burke's--an independent K-8 girls' school located in the Sea Cliff neighborhood of San Francisco, California), I have been working with the first-grade teachers of Art, Science, Library and Maker Space to build an interdisciplinary curriculum around the study of the ocean and the plants and animals that live there. This is a video of Yara Herman (the Art teacher) and her team’s contribution to the interdisciplinary study called “Ocean Emotion”. Love, Art, Artists, Impermanence, Mindfulness and a Strong Sense of Place.
Jaimie recently attended the Oxford International Curriculum Schools Conference as keynote speaker and panel discussion participant.
Here is some of the feedback from teachers and school leaders: “What resonated most with me was the webinar's holistic view of education for sustainable impact. It wasn't just about teaching environmental science or sustainability concepts - it was about cultivating learners who are empowered to be ethical leaders, systems thinkers, and passionate advocates for a more equitable and regenerative future.”
Cloud Institute partner Darcy Hitchcock recently shared how solar panels may be coming sooner than we think. ”Right now, the solar paint is about eight percent efficient in converting sunlight to energy. Experts think that solar paint just needs to reach 10 percent to be a viable product, so they’re pretty close!” This is an excellent example of biomimicry!