In today’s newscast:
A bill encouraging outdoor education is advancing in Sacramento
AB 2158 aims to build outdoor education into the K-12 curriculum. It would also create a pilot program to evaluate how the addition affects student learning.
Katie Reneker, executive director of Carmel-based MEarth, which offers students outdoor and experiential opportunities, says the impacts are clear.
“Kids learning in an outdoor setting where they're using their hands and connecting with nature and just experiencing learning with their whole body solidifies the learning that they would be getting in a more profound way than just sitting in a classroom looking at a board or a screen," she said.
Reneker says she’s hopeful the attention from state leaders will bring this type of learning to more California students.
“ By having it be recognized at a state level, it's really making sure that people, number one, learn about the benefits of it, and number two, make sure that they're asking their educational institutions to incorporate experiential and outdoor learning into the learning that their kids are doing,” she said.
The benefits she sees include supporting students’ mental health and their ability to retain knowledge.
The bill passed the assembly unanimously last month. The senate is expected to take it up this week.
Cal OES is prepared for the World Cup
With FIFA World Cup matches set to begin this week in Los Angeles and Santa Clara, the California Office of Emergency Services says it's ready.
As our partner CapRadio has reported, CAL OES Director Caroline Thomas Jacobs says hundreds of hours have gone into planning exercises and drills in preparation for the month-long international soccer tournament.
“As we move closer to kickoff, Californians and visitors should feel confident that California is prepared,” she said last week. “Prepared to coordinate, prepared to respond, and prepared to help ensure the FIFA World Cup is safe, secure, and memorable for everyone.”
Around 100 Cal OES personnel will be activated to run a joint information and coordination hub. Three hundred and fifty CHP officers will be dedicated to the 14 matches, with specialized response teams to handle crowd management and any civil unrest.
