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Growing Minds, Greener Futures: Integrating SEL and Environmental Literacy through Nature-Based Learning
Room: 214
Time: 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Join Laguna Beach Unified School District as they present their innovative approach to integrating Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) with environmental literacy through nature-based education. Discover how outdoor learning experiences are fostering resilience, optimism, and well-being in students while promoting environmental stewardship.
This session will explore practical strategies for merging SEL and environmental education, share real-world examples from Laguna Beach USD, and provide insights into the positive impact these programs have on student engagement and holistic development.
Attendees of this session will gain valuable insights into the powerful intersection of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and environmental literacy through nature-based education. With increasing emphasis on student well-being and environmental responsibility, this session will provide practical tools and strategies to enhance both in your school or district.
By learning from Laguna Beach USD’s program, participants will discover how nature-based SEL can foster resilience, optimism, and responsible decision-making in students, while also cultivating environmental stewardship. Whether you’re an educator, administrator, or advocate for student wellness and sustainability, this session offers actionable steps to create outdoor learning experiences that improve mental health and academic performance and foster a greener future.
Learning Objectives:
Understand the Connection Between SEL and Nature:
Participants will be able to articulate the relationship between social and emotional learning (SEL) and environmental literacy, and how nature-based learning supports both areas.
Implement Nature-Based SEL Activities:
Attendees will leave with practical strategies and activities to integrate nature into SEL instruction, enhancing student well-being, resilience, and responsible decision-making.
Develop Sustainable Outdoor Learning Programs:
Participants will learn how to design and implement sustainable, practices using outdoor spaces that align with environmental literacy and student wellness goals.
Measure the Impact of Nature-Based Learning:
Attendees will gain insights into evaluating the effectiveness of nature-based learning on student engagement, mental health, and academic performance, with examples from Laguna Beach USD’s programs.
Speakers:
Gloria Harwood, Coordinator, Environmental Literacy, Laguna Beach USD
Amelia Miscione, Student Support Specialist, Laguna Beach USD, Top of the World Elementary
Megan Humphreys, Student Support Specialist, Laguna Beach USD, Laguna Beach High School
Gloria Harwood is the Coordinator of Environmental Literacy for Laguna Beach Unified School District and co-chair of the CAELI District Innovation Hub. With a master’s in environmental studies from California State University, Fullerton, Gloria has led projects focused on air quality and access to green spaces. She plays a role in LBUSD’s sustainability task force, guiding instructional efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
Gloria directs all Green Teams across the district, providing students and staff with opportunities to engage in sustainability projects. She directs professional learning for educators, integrating environmental literacy into classroom practices, while also fostering community partnerships that connect learning with local environmental actions.
Her work expands to mental health and nature connections, place-based learning, and outdoor education, conducting living schoolyard assessments to create sustainable outdoor spaces. Gloria also leads the district’s Green Ribbon Award application, highlighting LBUSD’s environmental achievements. Through her leadership, she ensures that sustainability and environmental literacy are central to the district’s educational mission.
Amelia Miscione is a Student Support Specialist with Laguna Beach Unified School District who provides support to students and families with mental health and wellness.
Megan Humphreys, LCSW, PPSC is a skilled mental health professional with a decade of experience in the educational field. Her expertise in child and adolescent mental health, combined with her understanding of the educational landscape, empowers her to guide schools in creating nurturing and supportive learning environments. Megan’s passion for the intersection of mental health and nature has led her to specialize in implementing effective nature-based interventions, providing students with opportunities to connect with the natural world and improve their overall well-being.