Los Angeles, CA and New York, NY (April 14, 2025) — Mizzen Education and City Parks Foundation (CPF) announced a new partnership today to offer CPF’s acclaimed environmental education curricula—absolutely free—to youth-serving professionals across the U.S. through Mizzen Education’s digital learning platform. Launched in the lead up to Earth Day 2025, the STEM-based series celebrates youth voice, leadership, and year-round outdoor adventure.
Sunlight shimmers through a leafy canopy. Wandering through towering trees, splashing through tiny creeks, and tackling climate change head on, youth are exploring, creating, and connecting with nature, as they learn how to protect and restore the green spaces in their own backyards and communities.
Thanks to a new partnership, Mizzen Education and City Parks Foundation are bringing learning adventures like these to out-of-school time educators and young people all across the country.
The City Parks Foundation curriculum Eco-Explorations includes five flexible modules that educators can adapt to any season, region, or setting. The Eco-Explorations series is designed for young people in middle school (grades 6-8), that pivotal period when youth gain confidence and connect the dots between STEM learning, real-world issues, and future careers. Starting now, every module is accessible through Mizzen Education’s digital learning platform, equipping educators to inspire STEM confidence, youth leadership, and lifelong connection to the wonders of nature.
“Our primary partnership goal with City Parks Foundation is not only to expand STEM learning supports for young people but to amplify their voices as eco-advocates,” said Angelina Garner, VP of Strategic Innovation and Partnerships at Mizzen Education. “Math and science help us understand the world and when we understand the world, we can change the world.”
“This curriculum has been utilized, loved, and honed over 20 years and we’re excited to spread its impact even further,” said Chrissy Word, Director of Education at City Parks Foundation. “In collaboration with Mizzen Education, we’re offering complete lessons and flexible topics that meet educators’ needs in any setting. We're delighted to partner, and hope these lessons inspire countless outdoor adventures that open pathways to youth discovery, STEM learning, and leadership."
Eco-Explorations is an outgrowth of City Parks Foundations’ successful Green Girls program, which began in 2002 as a way to close gender gaps in science programming and experiences throughout New York City. Beginning as an afterschool club and five-week summer program, Green Girls engaged youth in exploring urban forests, rivers, coastal marshes, and beaches, as they learned about STEM, environmental science, and the impact of climate change on the city’s ecosystems and communities. Integrating team-building, social-emotional learning, place-based learning, and student leadership, the program won the National Summer Learning Association’s inaugural 2020 Climate Change Award.
Explore the five engaging and interactive collections geared toward grades 6-8 below!
Indicator Species (3 lessons)
Dive into the natural world of indicator species where youth explore the intersection of climate conditions, biodiversity, and ecosystem health through the dragonfly lifecycle.
Caring for Urban Forests (3 lessons)
Guide youth through research practices of observation and data collection to understand how provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting ecosystem services shape our quality of life, especially in urban environments. As a celebration of learning, service learning meets STEM as youth restore tree beds!
Sustainable Cities (3 lessons)
Bring the water cycle to life and examine how climate change impacts urban water quality and how green infrastructure, like planting and maintaining trees, can influence the effects of climate change. Bonus: incorporate art and creativity in the final lesson as youth create their own planters!
Invasive Species (5 lessons)
Youth will investigate, assess, and analyze the impact of invasive species on their local ecosystems. At the end of the module, youth apply their new knowledge and skills to a community outreach project to share about the importance of invasive species management.
Design a Park Project (3 lessons)
Blend creativity, design, and collaboration with observation and research! Youth examine a local ecosystem and create an action plan to improve (or create!) a green space to support their community’s quality of life and local wildlife.
How to Access Eco-Explorations on Mizzen Education
Youth-serving professionals can access all five free modules by creating a free account on Mizzen Education.
About Mizzen Education
Mizzen Education is a 501(c)3 nonprofit on a mission to empower, uplift, and support out-of-school time educators. Built with practitioners, its digital platform of curated learning resources offers thousands of K-12 activities—for free—that spark curiosity, joy, and a love of learning for young people everywhere.
About City Parks Foundation
City Parks Foundation is dedicated to invigorating and transforming parks into dynamic, vibrant centers of urban life through sports, arts, community building and education programs for all New Yorkers. CPF’s programs — located in more than 350 parks, recreation centers and public schools across New York City — reach over 285,000 people each year. Its ethos is simple: thriving parks mean thriving communities.
Media Contacts
Kristin Stayer / kristin@mizzen.org
Jeanna Chin / JChin@CityParksFoundation.org
📸 Photos courtesy of City Parks Foundation