Cultivating Growth: Take Action Global and BreakFree Education in Action

At Take Action Global (TAG), we believe that climate education is a right for all learners. Our ongoing partnership with BreakFree Education exemplifies this commitment, bringing together our global network with their specialized expertise in fostering community-driven change among system-involved youth. Together, we’ve launched New Steps of Change, an initiative designed to connect young learners to the environment and inspire tangible action, starting with the vital role of trees in our world.

BreakFree Education works with young people involved in the juvenile justice system, providing them with opportunities for personal growth and community engagement. New Steps of Change introduces these students to sustainability and environmental justice through a unique lens: their personal connection to trees. This approach recognizes that fostering a sense of belonging and responsibility towards the natural world can be a powerful catalyst for positive change. By grounding the program in asset-based community development, BreakFree Education ensures that the initiative builds upon the existing strengths and resources within these young people’s communities, empowering them to become agents of change.

At BreakFree Education, we are thrilled to partner with Take Action Global. This initiative offers a unique opportunity to connect our students, held in confinement, with the natural world. By exploring their relationship with trees, we’re fostering environmental awareness and empowering them to become active contributors to their communities – one seedling of change at a time.

The initiative unfolds across four thoughtfully designed sessions. Beginning with an exploration of the UN Global Goals, students then deepen their understanding of the impact of trees. This groundwork leads to a project-based learning activity where students develop action plans for community tree planting proposals. To further engage their creativity, a design challenge involving tree dedication plaques encourages a personal investment in the proposed actions. This structured approach aims to move students from awareness to active participation in shaping their environment.

Here are some key takeaways that we feel can apply to all classrooms:

Building Identity and Connections: New Steps of Change highlights the importance of fostering a strong sense of identity and connection to the environment. By encouraging learners to explore their personal relationships with nature (specifically trees), the program establishes a foundation for environmental stewardship and action. This focus on identity can be particularly impactful for marginalized youth, providing a positive framework for self-discovery and community engagement.

Asset-Based Approaches: By focusing on the existing strengths and resources within a community (or, in this case, within the lives of the students), we can design more effective and sustainable solutions. This approach values the contributions of all learners and promotes a sense of agency.

Action-Oriented Learning: Moving beyond awareness to action is crucial. Providing students with opportunities to develop and implement real-world projects, like tree planting proposals, can empower them to become active participants in creating a better future.
The collaboration between TAG and BreakFree Education on New Steps of Change is about nurturing a generation that actively contributes to a healthier planet. By focusing on connection, action, and robust educator support, this initiative aims to inspire lasting environmental responsibility and community engagement among all learners, including those too often marginalized. This work was made possible in part by a grant from the Longview Foundation.

Planting Roots and Growing Futures: Heritage Middle School Becomes a Level 1 Arboretum

On May 8, 2025, Heritage Middle School in Berwyn, Illinois, celebrated a significant milestone by achieving Level 1 Arboretum status through the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program. This accomplishment was the result of a collaborative tree planting event involving students, staff, and partners from The Morton Arboretum.

The school’s Climate Action School champions, alongside 7th-grade students from Rachel Belkov’s class, actively participated in planting a diverse array of trees, contributing to the development of the school’s Food Forest. This initiative not only enhanced the school’s green space but also provided students with hands-on experience in environmental stewardship.

Achieving Level 1 Arboretum status signifies that Heritage Middle School has met essential criteria, including maintaining a collection of at least 25 different species of woody plants, having a governing body, a strategic plan for the arboretum, dedicated staff or volunteers, and providing public access or educational programs .

During the planting event, students learned best practices for tree planting, such as:

  • Planting Hole: Digging a hole 2–3 times the width of the root ball but only as deep as the root ball itself to ensure the root flare is at or slightly above ground level .
  • Root Flare: Ensuring the root flare (where the trunk widens at the base) is visible above the soil line to prevent rot and encourage healthy growth.
  • Backfilling: Using the original soil to backfill, gently tamping it down to eliminate air pockets without compacting it excessively.
  • Mulching: Applying a 2–4 inch layer of organic mulch in a donut shape around the base of the tree, keeping it a few inches away from the trunk to prevent moisture buildup and potential rot .
  • Watering: Providing consistent watering, especially during the first two years, to establish a robust root system.

During our visit to Heritage Middle School, TAG team members had the rewarding opportunity to assist in planting a Shagbark Hickory, a Magnolia, and a Fir tree. This hands-on experience not only contributed to the school’s green initiative but also provided valuable insights into tree planting best practices.

One particularly enlightening moment was working with the Shagbark Hickory. Upon inspection, we noticed the presence of girdling roots—roots that encircle the trunk, potentially restricting the tree’s growth and nutrient uptake. Recognizing the importance of addressing this issue early, we carefully pruned the circling roots, ensuring not to disturb the tree excessively during its critical transplanting phase. Properly managing girdling roots at planting time is essential, as they can lead to long-term health problems for the tree if left uncorrected .

The next three years are vital for the establishment and growth of these newly planted trees. Consistent care, including appropriate watering, mulching, and monitoring for any signs of stress or disease, will be crucial during this period. Given the enthusiasm and dedication displayed by the students at Heritage Middle School, we are confident that these trees will thrive under their stewardship.

This experience not only enhanced the school’s landscape but also served as an educational platform, fostering environmental awareness and responsibility among the students. We are proud to have been a part of this initiative and look forward to seeing the continued growth and success of Heritage Middle School’s arboretum.

This event not only enhanced the school’s landscape but also served as an educational experience, fostering environmental stewardship among students. Congratulations to Heritage Middle School on this remarkable achievement!

Tackling Climate Misinformation in the Next Generation

Tackling Climate Misinformation in the Next Generation

Authors:

Gabrielle Rogers, University of South Florida (USF) Student

Eleanor Jolliffe, London Interdisciplinary School Student

May 1, 2025–Climate misinformation, the spread of false or misleading claims about climate change, is prevalent across social media and digital platforms. According to Reuters in 2024, 25% of respondents in 2024 said that they had ‘personally seen, read, or heard any news or information that [they] believe to be false or misleading’ on the topic of climate change in the last week,” (Ejaz et. al). 

This false information creates doubt among the public, undermining trust in science and slowing urgently needed climate policy and action. Without accurate knowledge, the path to meaningful change remains blocked. Strengthening our information ecosystems through education and proactive communication is critical. But how can we do this in practical, engaging ways? 

Pre-Bunking: Building Mental Armor

Pre-bunking exposes people to a small amount of misinformation along with a clear explanation of why it’s false. This builds resilience, so when individuals encounter misinformation later, they’re better equipped to reject it — like giving the mind a vaccine against falsehoods (Bond).

How Do I Do This?

In the classroom, show students common climate myths alongside fact-based debunking. This inoculation helps them spot and resist false claims in the future.

Example:

Misinformation: “The world getting hotter isn’t a big deal.”

Fact: According to the United Nations Environment Programme, even small temperature rises can “…throw the world’s delicate ecosystems into disarray…” (“Debunking Eight”).

Teaching Critical Thinking: Asking the Right Questions

Helping students develop critical thinking skills is key to navigating today’s complex media landscape. Providing guiding questions encourages them to pause and evaluate new information rather than accepting it at face value.

How Do I Do This?

Create a poster or handout with key questions students can refer to when they come across new claims. Questions might include:

  • Do reputable sources confirm this?
  • Can I quickly fact-check this? 
  • How can I kindly correct misinformation when I hear it?

Example:

Design an infographic with these questions and display it as a daily reminder in the classroom.

Utilizing Art and Technology: Making Learning Visible

Art and creative media can make abstract issues easier to digest while spreading awareness.

How Do I Do This?

Have students design posters, stickers, or flyers that tackle common misconceptions, such as the impacts of deforestation or plastic pollution.

Example:

Students can create collages about deforestation in the Amazon using magazine cutouts. First, they express their initial beliefs about the issue, then update their art after researching the facts. This process helps them internalize new knowledge while practising creative expression.

While building resilience against misinformation in younger generations may feel daunting, knowledge is power. Educators can spark curiosity, critical thinking, and care by integrating even small activities into the minds of those who can later create change.

Sources

Bond, Shannon. “False Information Is Everywhere. ‘pre-Bunking’ Tries to Head It off Early.” NPR, NPR, 28 Oct. 2022, www.npr.org/2022/10/28/1132021770/false-information-is-everywhere-pre-bunking-tries-to-head-it-off-early. 

“Debunking Eight Common Myths about Climate Change.” UNEP, 4 June 2024, www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/debunking-eight-common-myths-about-climate-change.Ejaz, Waqas, et al. “Climate Change and News Audiences Report 2024: Analysis of News Use and Attitudes in Eight Countries.” Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, 28 Jan. 2025, reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/climate-change-and-news-audiences-report-2024-analysis-news-use-and-attitudes-eight-countries#:~:text=On%20average%20across%20eight%20countries%2C%2025%25%20of%20respondents%20in%202024,Figure%2010.