CELF, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation, was founded in 2003 to promote awareness of the importance of sustainability education and  to help schools and school districts make sustainability an ongoing part of education.

We do this by providing consulting services for schools and school districts, training for teachers and administrators and sustainability education programs for students. We work with all kinds of schools—urban, suburban and rural, public and private. Our professional development programs are led by some of the most highly regarded authorities in the field.

Why Education for Sustainability?

Today, because of the rapidly changing and interconnected world in which we live, our youth need a more holistic view of the world around them. This includes understanding the natural, physical environment as well as the social constructs of society, economics and governance. Education must help students develop styles of thinking, attitudes and skills to create a just and sustainable future for all.

Education for sustainability promotes systems thinking in order to help students recognize these interconnections. The goal is to develop a citizenry empowered to make decisions that will improve the state of ecosystems, the economy and the health and well-being of people on the planet.

Sustainability education involves every subject taught in school. Many schools have green initiatives like recycling, a school garden or environmental club, typically involving a limited number of people and a small fraction of school activities. In contrast, a truly sustainable school will, in time, weave environmental literacy throughout the fabric of the institution, making it part of the infrastructure and school culture.