The Youth Environmental Data Leadership Program is a statewide, co-curricular community science initiative that empowers high school students to assess environmental and climate action at their school sites. Through a guided, data-driven action research project, students build foundational skills in data literacy, environmental systems thinking, and civic leadership, while contributing meaningful site-level data to inform climate-ready school policy and practice across California.
The program is designed as a knowledge to action program, with students meeting twice monthly in virtual sessions facilitated by environmental education and data science practitioners. Between sessions, students complete field-based and analytical work at their school site. Each student ultimately produces a School Environmental & Climate Action Baseline Report and a case study presentation that communicates findings and recommendations to local leaders and to their statewide cohort.
The CA Youth Environmental Data Leadership program is organized into three phases that build knowledge, data skills, and communication capacity. Click on each of the collapsible boxes below to explore each phase.
Phase 1: Knowledge & Foundations (January - February)
Focus: Build shared understanding of why environmental and climate action in schools matters and introduce core data literacy skills
Key Topics
The environmental and climate emergency
Why TK–12 schools are key spaces for climate action and resilience
Whole-systems framework: campus, curriculum, community, culture
Introduction to data science and community (citizen) science ethics
Skill Development
Systems thinking
Basics of data science and field data structures
Public speaking and cohort collaboration
Deliverables
Pre-learning modules and reflection
Pre-assessment of school site context
Phase 2: Data Collection & Cleaning (March - April)
Focus: Apply field research methods to gather and prepare school-site data.
Key Topics
School walk audit methods and documentation
Survey and interview techniques
Data cleaning, standardization, and organization
Creating summary tables and initial visualizations
Skill Development
Field data collection
Spreadsheet organization and coding
Descriptive data visualization
Public speaking and cohort collaboration
Deliverables
Completed school site assessment dataset
Cleaned data spreadsheet
Initial summary visuals (charts, tables, maps)
Phase 3: Interpretation, Recommendations & Communication (May–June)
Focus: Turn data into insights, develop recommendations, and communicate findings.
Key Topics
Identifying patterns, gaps, and opportunities
Using the 4Cs whole-systems framework
Storytelling with data for different audiences
Skill Development
Evidence-based reasoning
Framing strategic recommendations
Visual and verbal communication
Deliverables
Final School Environmental & Climate Action Baseline Report
Case study and presentation shared at the virtual capstone showcase
Chief Innovation Officer
Ten Strands
Director of Client Engagement and Data Science Services
Ten Strands
Partnerships Programs Specialist
Ten Strands
Data Sustainability Intern
Ten Strands
Data Program Specialist
Ten Strands
Data Sustainability Intern
Ten Strands