The National Schoolyard Forest System℠ was founded in 2022 to increase tree canopy on public school grounds across the country, to shade and protect PK-12 students from extreme heat and rising temperatures due to climate change. Green Schoolyards America is embarking on this decades-long initiative to create Schoolyard Forest Systems℠ in every state, collaboratively established with state agencies and local partner organizations.

In June 2022, the California Schoolyard Forest System℠ became the first state in the National Schoolyard Forest System! Green Schoolyards America’s founding partners in California are the California Department of Education (CDE), the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), and Ten Strands. We will be working closely with school districts, county offices of education, and other organizations/agencies as the initiative grows.

Founding Partners in California

Spotlights

“Why schoolyards are a critical space for teaching about—and fighting–xtreme heat and climate change”
Mindshift, KQED, September 12, 2023
(article + audio)

Journalist Nimah Gobir explores how school grounds can be “3D textbooks” that enrich the curricula while helping students take an active role in reducing extreme heat outside their classroom door. The story joins two elementary school classes as they go outside to measure surface temperatures using Green Schoolyards America’s How Cool is Your Schoolyard?™ activity.

“How Greening California Schoolyards Protects Kids and the Climate”
KQED, June 29, 2023 (article + audio)

Journalist Laura Klivans explores the problem of extreme heat on California’s school grounds, and highlights the work that the California Schoolyard Forest System℠ and others are doing to help protect children and make schools more climate-resilient.

“Reimagining Schoolyards to Improve Health and Learning”
Governing, February 22, 2023

In this article, journalist Carl Smith explores the ways that hardscaped schoolyards present health risks as the climate warms, and the potential for schoolyard forests to mitigate the risks for children. The article features work by Green Schoolyards America and our partners.

“Keeping Schools Cool”
Earth Island Journal, December 2022

Green Schoolyards America’s directors Alejandra Chiesa and Sharon Danks explain in this article why we need a paradigm shift—with extensive tree planting—-to protect children from extreme heat due to climate change.

ARTICLES about our Schoolyard Forest and Climate resilience work

2024

“3 ways schools are taking classes outside to expand mindfulness,” K-12 DIVE, February 28, 2024 (article text and audio)

2023

“Green Schoolyards: From Asphalt to Oasis,” Save the Bay, October 26, 2023

“How Simple Outdoor Activities Can Help Students Understand Learning is a Process,” K-12 Dive, October 11, 2023

“Urban Forestry Is Having Its Moment,” Yale School of the Environment, September 26, 2023

“Why schoolyards are a critical space for teaching about—and fighting—extreme heat and climate change,” Mindshift, KQED, September 12, 2023 (article text and audio)

“Tulare County school district awarded grant funding to protect students from extreme heat,” Visalia Times Delta, August 18, 2023

“California will spend $120 million to rip up asphalt and plant more trees on public schoolyards,” KNX News 97.1 FM Los Angeles, August 17, 2023 (audio)

“As Temperatures Rise, a Push to Revamp Schools' Outdoor Spaces”
US News, August 3, 2023

“CA Schools Get $117M to Turn Pavement Into Green Space”
The Los Angeles Post, July 28, 2023

“California Schools to Get More Shade and Nature to Protect Kids From Extreme Heat”
Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, State of California, July 13, 2023
(press release; related articles are listed below)

“100 California Schools Combatting Heat by Adding Shade"
ABC 10 News San Diego, July 14, 2023

“100 California Schools Combatting Heat by Adding Shade”
KSBY 6, July 14, 2023 and AOL, July 14, 2023

“Entrega California fondos para patios escolares”
Imperial Valley Press, July 13, 2023

“Las escuelas de California tendrán más sombra y naturaleza para proteger a los niños del calor extremo”
Impulso Newspaper, July 13, 2023

“Governor Gavin Newsom Says California Schools to Get More Shade and Nature to Protect Kids From Extreme Heat as CAL FIRE Awards $47 Million in Grants”
Sierra Sun Times, July 13, 2023

“How Greening California Schoolyards Protects Kids and the Climate”
KQED, June 29, 2023 (article text and audio)

“Reimagining Schoolyards to Improve Health and Learning”
Public News Service, May 11, 2023 (includes new text and audio)

Grant Funding Available to Create Greener Schoolyards
California School Board Association, April 3, 2023

“Reimagining Schoolyards to Improve Health and Learning”
Governing, February 22, 2023

“Soon-to-expire federal funds offer rare opportunity to invest in innovative science programs”
EdSource, February 14, 2023

“Greener School Playgrounds are an Overlooked Climate Solution”
Fast Company, January 27, 2023

2022

“Keeping Schools Cool: We need a paradigm shift—and trees—to help children through the climate crisis.”
Earth Island Journal, December 2022

“El recurso menos explotado de las escuelas”
Stanford Social Innovation Review, November 8, 2022
(Reprinted in Spanish from the original article published in English, Winter 2019)

“A New UNICEF Report Says that Children are Experiencing Frequent Heat Waves Around the World”
CapRadio, October 26, 2022

“Green Schoolyards: Concrete Jungles Become Natural Playgrounds”
Natural Awakenings, September 30, 2022

“Investing in Green Schoolyards”
Planetizen, September 20, 2022

“Outdoor Learning Comes to South City High,” South San Francisco Unified School District, May 18, 2022.

Schoolyard Forest Launch Webinar

“Introducing the California Schoolyard Forest System℠ — Launch Webinar”
California Schoolyard Forest System, October 4, 2022

The founding partners of the California Schoolyard Forest System℠ launched this initiative with an hour-long webinar featuring presentations and discussion.

Speakers
- Sharon Danks, Green Schoolyards America
- Alejandra Chiesa, Green Schoolyards America
- Juan Mireles, California Dept. of Education
- Leslie Taylor, California Dept. of Education
- Andra Yeghoian, Ten Strands
- Walter Passmore, CAL FIRE
- Julia Gowin, PhD, CAL FIRE