Register: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cP7C2k5-Q76dGOeFfS0W1A#/registration 

Join Climate Mental Health Network and NEEF on Tuesday, March 25 at 6:30 p.m. ET for the launch of the first evidence-based, teacher-tested resources for middle school educators to address the emotional impacts of climate change. At our launch webinar, you will:

1. Learn about the research behind the resources

2. Get first access to the FREE Climate Emotions Toolkit 

3. Hear from teachers who have used it and the team that created it

These resources were developed based on a three-year program of work, including a nationwide research study to understand the experiences and needs of middle school teachers and their students. Informed by that research, we developed a comprehensive set of resources to support both student and teacher mental health. A nationwide pilot confirmed its effectiveness, with middle school teachers across the US testing the resources in their classrooms. 

Key findings from our research:

• 83% of teachers said their school community had been impacted by an extreme weather event. 

• 98% of teachers said they have encountered emotional reactions from students when teaching about climate change. 

• The majority of teachers felt unequipped to help students cope with the mental health impacts of climate disasters. 

Teachers overwhelmingly recommend the resources we developed for addressing climate emotions—100% of teachers said they’d recommend the toolkit to a colleague. 

Here’s what they’re saying: 

• “The toolkit provided a wealth of valuable resources that made it highly effective for addressing both the cognitive and emotional challenges of teaching climate change.” (California teacher)

• “The activities got my students thinking about their emotions in a very productive and meaningful way.  They also made it easy to lead good discussions and help me understand each individual student better.”  (New Jersey teacher)

• “The lesson plans were aligned with our science standards. The activities were easy, short and effective.”  (Florida teacher)

Register: https://cornell.zoom.us/meeting/register/LX329yunQH-Qk3QdToycPQ#/registration

Are you interested in teaching more about climate change? Are you interested in creating and teaching a new elective course for your school? Join us for a panel discussion with teachers teaching electives about climate change on Wednesday, March 19 at 7pm EST.

Panelists:

• Sarah Brumberg, Lehman Alternative Community School, Ithaca, NY

• Travis Crocker, Dryden High School, Dryden, NY

• Shaundra Davis, Richfield Springs School District, Richfield Springs, NY

• Heidi Lux, Lehman Alternative Community School, Ithaca, NY

• Tatiana Merrick, Buffalo Public Schools

• Glen Stuart, Montgomery High School, Skillman, NJ

  Panelists will share:

• Brief overviews of their courses

• Lessons learned from teaching their courses

• Favorite resources used in teaching about climate change

• What they wish they knew before starting the course

• Thoughts on teaching climate change in 2025

• Answers to your questions!

Note that the registration form includes a place for you to submit your questions.

Register: https://stemteachersnyc.org/cuny-stnyc-sconyc-2025/

STEMteachersNYC, Lehman College & SCONYC invite you to a Celebration of STEM Teaching, Community & Connection!

Saturday, March 8, 2025 | 9:30am – 4:30pm

Lehman College, 250 Bedford Park Blvd | Bronx, NY

You’re Invited! So many individuals, organizations, and institutions contribute to the learning landscape of the NYC STEM teaching community. Our learning community is created through connections from teacher to teacher, community to classroom, degree program to cultural institution, and more. Join us March 8th 2025, for a celebration of the teachers in our community, and of all the supporters of the learning continuum – join us and make new connections!

This year we will focus on the connections and partnerships that help build the professional learning scaffolds and opportunities for growth for teachers. Join us in celebrating together!

What to Expect

Join us for a day of connection, inspiration, and celebration of the NYC STEM teaching community!

Brief Agenda:

• Morning: Hands-on workshops led by K-12 STEM educators in partnership with The Science Council of New York City (SCONYC).

• Afternoon: Keynote speakers, collaborative breakout sessions, and panel discussions on mentorship, partnerships, and teacher leadership.

• Closing: Awards ceremony, coffee, and dessert.

Celebrate the teachers, faculty, and cultural institutions that build bridges across classrooms and communities, creating opportunities for growth and learning. Don’t miss this chance to connect, collaborate, and be inspired!

Watch it live: https://www.wildcenter.org/live/

Livestream Agenda

9:30 AM - 9:45 AM - Welcome & Opening Remarks

• Jen Kretser - Director of Climate Initiatives, The Wild Center

• Sunita Halasz - Project Coordinator, ACORN

• Zoe Smith - VP Strategic Initiatives, Paul Smith's College

9:45 AM - 10:30 AM - Plenary Session 1: Climate Change: Where We Live

• Amanda Stevens - Senior Project Manager, NYSERDA

• Dr. Curt Stager - Author & Professor of Natural Sciences, Paul Smith's College

10:30 AM - 11:15 AM - Plenary Session 2: Getting to "Our" Solution

• Tony David - Division Director, Akwesasne St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Environmental Program

• Alexandra Jacobs-Wilke - Mayor, Village of Potsdam  

1:30 PM - 2:15 PM - Plenary Session 3: New York Climate Initiatives

• Kisha Santiago-Martinez - Deputy Secretary of State, NYS Department of State

• Maureen Leddy - Director, Office of Climate Change, NYS DEC

• Suzanna Randall - Chief Resiliency Officer, NYS DEC

2:15 PM - 2:30 PM - Plenary Session 4: North Country Rural Resilience Road Map

• Jen Kretser - Director of Climate Initiatives, The Wild Center

• Sunita Halasz - Project Coordinator, ACORN

• Zoe Smith - VP Strategic Initiatives, Paul Smith's College

3:45 PM - 4:30 PM - Plenary Session 5: Where Do We Go From Here? a Media Panel

• David Sommerstein (Moderator) - News Director, North Country Public Radio

• Bridget Shirvell - Freelance Journalist, Author of Parenting in a Climate Crisis

• Mike Lynch - Climate Reporter, Adirondack Explorer

• Catherine Wheeler - St. Lawrence Valley Reporter, North Country Public Radio

Register here: https://www.priweb.org/event/science-in-the-virtual-pub

We are all too familiar with the impacts of foods, nor'easters, ice storms, derechos, tornadoes, hurricanes, and even atmospheric rivers of rain or snow but most of us would not rank drought high on our list of natural hazards of major concern. Let's take a minute or two to rethink that. Certainly, all of the aforementioned weather hazards are quite capable of infrastructure damage, disruption, physical and economic injury and even death on a large scale. Yet, anthropologists and archaeologists theorize that drought is a unique hazard that should not be ignored. Just ask the Mayans in Mesoamerica or ancient Egyptians about drought. A look back into the history of these great cultures and nations will reveal that drought can be blamed and named as a Destroyer of Civilizations. Now, fast forward in your mind, to the Dust Bowl event of the 1940s in the US; fast forward again to the decades-long drought of the 2000s in the western US and finally, consider the "taste" of drought that we all just experienced along the I95 corridor. No, drought is not quite the threat to our civilization that it was to the Mississippian indigenous nations in the midwest but we do need to reckon with any water shortage that could impact our major cities (New York, Boston or Philadelphia) or our ability to grown food in the high plains or agricultural valleys of California. So, let's talk about assessing drought in a changing climate.

This presentation will cover some of the history of drought, impacts of drought in the US in the past 10 years and the focus of research and inquiry on monitoring drought, drought outlooks, impacts and resilience strategies for the future.

Visit our nation's drought information portal at Drought.gov and learn more about Assessing Drought in a Changing Climate. Learn more about Sylvia Reeves at https://cires.colorado.edu/people/sylvia-reeves

Register: https://systemdynamics.org/event/accelerating-sustainability-education-with-system-dynamics-a-community-based-strategy/

Join us for an engaging webinar where the authors of a recently published paper in Nature Sustainability share their findings on scaling educational innovations in sustainability. While many high-quality educational resources are available, their adoption often remains limited. This session will present the System Dynamics model developed to analyze propagation strategies and highlight the potential of community-based approaches. Learn how mobilizing a network of ambassadors can drive exponential growth in adoption, with actionable insights for implementing these strategies in various contexts, including sustainability-focused initiatives.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand the limitations of traditional outreach and word-of-mouth strategies in scaling educational innovations.

  1. Discover the benefits of a community-based propagation model for accelerating adoption.

  2. Explore real-world examples of successful scaling through ambassador networks.

  3. Gain actionable insights on implementing community-based propagation strategies in educational and other settings.

About the Presenters

Juliette Rooney-Varga directs the Climate Change Initiative, co-directs the Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy, and is a professor of Environmental Science at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She has more than twenty years’ experience as a scientist studying biogeochemistry and microbial ecology. Her current work focuses on translation of science to bridge the gap between scientific and societal understanding of climate change and sustainability. She develops and analyzes the impact of dynamic modeling and interactive simulations that enable people to learn for themselves about the climate and energy systems. These simulations bring current climate change and energy science to students, citizens, and policymakers at all levels and have been shown to motivate science-informed action.
She earned a Ph.D. at the University of New Hampshire, an MS from Cornell University and a BA from Colby College.

Charles Henderson is a Distinguished Professor at Western Michigan University (WMU), with a joint appointment between the Physics Department and the WMU Mallinson Institute for Science Education. He is the Director of the Mallinson Institute and co-Founder and co-Director of the WMU Center for Research on Instructional Change in Postsecondary Education (CRICPE). His research program focuses on understanding and promoting change in higher education, with an emphasis on improving undergraduate STEM instruction. Dr. Henderson’s work has been supported by nearly $11M in external grants and has resulted in many publications. He is a Fulbright Scholar and a Fellow of the American Physical Society. Dr. Henderson is the senior editor for the journal Physical Review Physics Education Research and has served on two National Academy of Sciences Committees: Undergraduate Physics Education Research and Implementation, and Developing Indicators for Undergraduate STEM Education.

David Ford serves as the Vecellio Professor of Vecellio Construction Engineering and Management in the Via Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He joined Virginia Tech in 2022. Ford’s research focuses on the social impacts of natural disaster management in communities. In his current research, he is exploring the quantification of habitation loss using dynamic modeling. He aims to expand the analysis of disaster management projects beyond economics to include their social impacts. Previously,  Ford served on the faculties of Texas A&M University and the University of Bergen, Norway. He has over a dozen years of experience in engineering practice.

Florian Kapmeier is Professor of Strategy at ESB Business School at Reutlingen University, Germany. He received his doctorate from the University of Stuttgart on “Interorganizational Learning in Learning Alliances”. He has strengthened his academic profile with research visits at MIT Sloan School of Management (Cambridge, USA), McGill University (Montréal, Canada), University of Lugano (Switzerland), and Emlyon Business School (Lyon, France). For his research and teaching activities, he links the System Dynamics methodology with empirical research on theory development and testing, focusing on organizational aspects of the understanding of complexity, increasingly addressing environmental sustainability issues.

Register: https://lakeheadu.zoom.us/meeting/register/fnszR72IRk25PXVE9W7l0A#/registration

Join North American researchers as they share their exploration of the challenges and opportunities in advancing Climate Change Education (CCE) in teacher education through three critical papers. These papers investigate historical and political dynamics shaping climate change’s place in education, present a heuristic of promising pedagogical practice, and examine how political orientation shapes teacher practice. Experienced and emerging scholars David Long, Joe Henderson, Andrea Drewes, Ellen Field, and Sidney Howlett share their recent findings for addressing the complexities of CCE in teacher education.

More information: https://www.priweb.org/visit/events

Join PRI's Director of Teacher Programming, Dr. Don Haas, for an exploration of teaching his favorite lesson, and why it is so powerful and important.

It's an investigation of the story of a gallon of gasoline, of the scale of things and of how we can bring deeper understandings of climate change to broader audiences.

The session celebrates that we are all climate educators (even if we are not professional educators) and it will help us to navigate difficult discussions. You will gain a more visceral understanding of the urgency of climate change coupled with strategies for addressing the problem and the associated negative emotions. And you will be able to employ these strategies in your own teaching immediately.

The interactive workshop is intended for educators across the disciplines as understanding climate change requires understanding broad interdisciplinary ideas. It is also intended to engage educators from across the career span, from pre-service teachers to veteran educators.

Register: https://tinyurl.com/3yxyz3um

National Wildlife Federation (NWF) affiliate, New Jersey Audubon (NJA), has been adapting the Resilient Schools and Communities (RiSC) program since 2021.

A series of “RiSC Action Cards” have been developed by NWF and NJA to offer teachers an opportunity to explore the RiSC program in small bites. The RiSC Action Cards have been integrated into NWF’s EcoSchools U.S. program

NJA’s new webinar series will explore each of the new Cards. This interactive webinar will explore how to implement a community climate action project that will increase your community's climate change resiliency. Hear from experienced RiSC teachers about their students' projects.

Facilitator: TBD

More information here: https://www.priweb.org/visit/events

Drop by between 11 am and 1 pm on Feb. 18 and build your own miniature wind-powered elevator to take home. Learn about wind power and other climate change solutions from Dr. Ingrid Zabel, PRI’s Climate Change Education Manager.

Register here: https://nycdoefacilities.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_55xkH62QxGlUcYK

Back for a second year! Two in-person and one virtual day of professional learning, to help educators integrate climate change into their curricula. Per Session available.

In-person sessions will be held at Columbia University Teacher’s College, 525 W 120th St, New York, NY 10027.

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/yc6tyvjs

National Wildlife Federation (NWF) affiliate, New Jersey Audubon (NJA), has been adapting the Resilient Schools and Communities (RiSC) program since 2021.

A series of “RiSC Action Cards” have been developed by NWF and NJA to offer teachers an opportunity to explore the RiSC program in small bites. The RiSC Action Cards have been integrated into NWF’s EcoSchools U.S. program

NJA’s new webinar series will explore each of the new Cards. This interactive webinar will explore the impacts of climate change on people and the wildlife around us. A current RiSC teacher from New Jersey will share how her students have investigated wildlife impacts.

Facilitator: TBD

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/e38d88u4

National Wildlife Federation (NWF) affiliate, New Jersey Audubon (NJA), has been adapting the Resilient Schools and Communities (RiSC) program since 2021.

A series of “RiSC Action Cards” have been developed by NWF and NJA to offer teachers an opportunity to explore the RiSC program in small bites. The RiSC Action Cards have been integrated into NWF’s EcoSchools U.S. program

NJA’s new webinar series will explore each of the new Cards. This interactive webinar will explore how students can reach out to their community to identify the climate change vulnerabilities they experience. A current RiSC teacher will provide examples form her own teaching and describe actions students took based on their survey findings.

Facilitator: RiSC educator from New Jersey, TBD

Register: https://events.humanitix.com/nyc-outdoors-environmental-education-expo

Join the annual Environmental Education Expo to discover what programs and opportunities are available for NYC teachers, students and families from 20+ local organizations, including Hudson River Park’s River Project, Billion Oyster Project, Brooklyn Botanic Garden and more.

Each year, this event aims to showcase environmental education resources for New York City teachers and educators, in hopes that more children will have the opportunity to experience and learn about the natural features of our city.

Get ready to learn about exciting topics including:

• Field trips

• Sustainability

• Urban Agriculture

• Composting

• Solar Power

• Nature in the City

• Citizen Science Programs

• Professional Development Opportunities

• Recycling

• The Hudson River Estuary

This event is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged but not required.

RSVP: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfySOazmCgPtLT4ViSxua2hSqfiD0KF_KvmCTAio_l41gsCsA/viewform

The NYC Youth Agenda Coalition is turning five, and they’re making this their Year of Visibility and Accountability. Explore interactive Policy Stations to learn about research, recommendations, and future vision, and share your experiences on issues like economic mobility, education equity, environmental justice, housing security, and mental health.

In particular, the policy group is looking for movement on equitable access to green spaces, and green jobs. During the event, the policy group will be presenting data on what the city has been doing in regard to green spaces and green jobs, inviting youth leaders to provide feedback on how as young people, they can instigate more action towards these shared goals. Your insights will shape the advocacy agenda as the Coalition prepares to meet with local officials this spring.

If you have any questions or would like to follow-up directly with the NYC Youth Agenda Coalition, please email rachel.castillo@cuny.edu

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/39ek9k79

National Wildlife Federation (NWF) affiliate, New Jersey Audubon (NJA), has been adapting the Resilient Schools and Communities (RiSC) program since 2021.

A series of “RiSC Action Cards” have been developed by NWF and NJA to offer teachers an opportunity to explore the RiSC program in small bites. The RiSC Action Cards have been integrated into NWF’s EcoSchools U.S. program.

NJA’s new webinar series will explore each of the new Cards. This interactive webinar will discuss the different types of community-based solutions. Led by a current RiSC teacher, this session will focus on the difference between climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Facilitator: RiSC educator from New Jersey, TBD

Register: https://tinyurl.com/ys659zwz

The incoming administration has declared that climate change is a hoax and is planning to install climate deniers and oil and fracking executives at the helm of federal agencies that were created to protect public health and the environment from those very industries.

On the heels of Inauguration Day, Earthjustice is poised to fight the new administration on multiple fronts. Earthjustice sued the first Trump administration more than 200 times and won 85% of those cases — and they're ready to do it again. Trump is more prepared this time, but so are they.

The town hall will feature Earthjustice President Abigail Dillen, Senior Vice President of Programs Sam Sankar, Vice President of Policy and Legislation Raúl García, and Deputy Managing Attorney Robin Cooley. You will hear their plan for the first 100 days of the new administration and the actions they’re already taking to protect the health of frontline communities, wildlife, and our shared climate future.

Can’t join live? Register to receive a recording after the event.

This will be a town hall–style event and will include a live Q&A where you can submit questions for our speakers. The event platform will offer closed captioning and the option to dial in by phone for audio-only access.

Questions? Contact events@earthjustice.org

Register: https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/billionoysterproject/items/595726/availability/1622536243/book/?full-items=yes

The Billion Oyster Project is hosting a virtual Professional Development workshop on creating Storymaps with ArcGIS for classroom middle and high school teachers. There's a nominal fee that can be waived for Title I teachers (Email Elisa for the code!). 

Elisa Caref, she/her

Teaching and Curriculum Specialist

ecaref@billionoysterproject.org

Billion Oyster Project

10 South Street, Governors Island

New York, NY 10004

Register: tinyurl.com/2ue4x75w

Our children today are facing the challenges of a warming world head on. They have a right to understand the realities of the climate crisis and what it means for them – and so, the adults in their lives have a responsibility to provide that knowledge as best they can. Join us as Harriet Shugarman, an internationally renowned activist, policy analyst, economist and author of the book, How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change, Turning Angst into Action, shares her unique insights and some best practices for having these meaningful conversations.

Due to limited space, advance registration is required. This event takes place at 334 Furman St. (Park offices).

About the Author/Speaker

Harriet Shugarman is the founder and Executive Director of ClimateMama, a core team member with The Ecopsychepedia Project and the Chair of the Advisory Council of Our Kids Climate, a global parent climate network.  Harriet worked with the International Monetary Fund for 13 years, including as an IMF representative at the United Nations for 10 years. She is a professor of Sustainability and Climate Change, teaching at both Ramapo College and The College of New Jersey. Harriet is a mentor and leader with the Climate Reality Project and was the founding chair of the NYC Climate Reality Metro chapter; she is also a recipient of the prestigious Climate Reality Alfredo Sirkis Memorial Green Ring Award. In New York State, Harriet is an active member of the policy team at CRETF, where she is helping advocate for and move the state forward on providing climate education – across subject  areas –  for preK through 12th grade. Harriet is on the advisory committees of a wide range of climate, justice and education organizations including Dear Tomorrow, WECAN, and CHICKs . Harriet is the mother of two young adults; she lives in New York City with her husband and her dog, Moose.

Register: https://actionnetwork.org/events/nyc-youth-climate-justice-convergence?source=direct_link&

The climate crisis is worsening, fossil fuels are continuing to expand, New York City has literally been on fire, and we have an incoming xenophobic presidency that pledges “drill, baby, drill,” who poses a threat to our human rights across the board, and a prospect of continual disasters. We are at a tipping point for our movement.

On January 25, days after the upcoming inauguration, a cross-sectional portion of organizers, young people, activists, and students from across the New York City youth climate justice movement will gather for a critical day-long gathering of trainings, workshops, speakers, and planning. It's high time we stand up for our future; this is our opportunity! You don't want to miss it.

This is our moment to come together, learn, and prepare for what a second Trump administration means for our future and organizing in New York City and how we're going to fight back. The day will include workshops and presentations from organizers and activists across the movement, covering all the issues that define our future under attack to paint a picture of what it looks like to fight for climate justice as our country is being taken over nationally by fascism. The presentations and workshops will cover and discuss the state of climate justice, environmental justice, and climate action policy in New York City and State, and how we can get involved in organizing for change here. We will also discuss in depth what our roles are in the movement, get to know youth organizers and passionate students from across the city, and get an understanding of how we can organize for change in our school communities. The day will also feature a suite of exciting and well-known speakers. Lunch will be provided.

Whether you've never attended a climate or environmental justice action before or you've dedicated years to organizing around it, this event is for you.

Let's learn, let's grow, let's prepare, let's bring this movement together.

Another future is possible.

Note: This event is geared to any and all who want to engage in youth organizing with a focus on students in High School, Higher Education, Middle School, or other recent graduates of either high school or a higher level.

Register: https://eepro.naaee.org/learning/principles-practice-new-resources-teaching-climate-education

Join NAAEE on January 23 at 3:00 PM ET for an eeWEBINAR featuring new (and free!) resources for integrating climate education into your teaching and learning.

Three climate change leaders will share materials to advance climate change education: Frank Niepold, NOAA’s Senior Climate Education Program Manager, Dr. Bora Simmons, Director of the Project for Excellence Program of NAAEE, and Dr. Christopher Roland Knittel from MIT’s climate education group.

Our speakers will discuss:

•  NOAA’s recently-released "Climate Literacy: Essential Principles for Understanding and Addressing Climate Change"

•  NAAEE’s “Educating for Climate Action and Justice,” the latest module in the Guidelines for Excellence series

•  New high-school climate change lesson plans from MIT that are free and easy to use

• Additional resources from NAAEE and NOAA that can support climate education at all levels

All registrants will receive the recording of this webinar. 

Speakers:

Bora Simmons serves as the founding director of the National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education. The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) initiated the Project in 1993 to help educators develop and deliver effective environmental education programs. The Project has drawn on the insights of literally thousands of educators across the United States and around the world to craft guidelines for top-quality environmental education.

Christopher Knittel is the associate dean for Climate and Sustainability, the George P. Shultz professor, and a professor of Applied Economics at the MIT Sloan School of Management. Prior to MIT Sloan, Knittel taught at the University of California, Davis, and Boston University. His research focuses on industrial organization, environmental economics, and applied econometrics.

Knittel is an associate editor of The American Economic Journal— Economic Policy, The Journal of Industrial Economics, and the Journal of Energy Markets. His research has appeared in The American Economic Review, The Review of Economics and Statistics, The Journal of Industrial Economics, The Energy Journal, and other academic journals. He also is a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research in the Productivity, Industrial Organization, and Energy and Environmental Economics groups.

Knittel holds a BA in economics and political science from California State University, Stanislaus; an MA in economics from the University of California, Davis; and a PhD in economics from the University of California, Berkeley.  

Frank Niepold is the climate education coordinator at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Program Office in Silver Spring, Maryland. Niepold also leads the education section of NOAA's public data and information web portal, Climate.gov, and is a co-chair of the U.S. Global Change Research Program's Education Interagency Working Group. In addition, he has served as the U.S. Climate Action Report Education, Training, and Outreach chapter lead for the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), an education and youth delegate for the United States at the 2015 Conference of Parties (COP21), and a member of the Federal Steering Committee for the Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4).

At NOAA, he develops and implements NOAA's climate goal education and outreach efforts that specifically relate to NOAA's climate goal and literacy objective. Additionally, he is the managing lead of the U.S. Global Change Research Program document, "Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Science."

Registration opens January 2.

Students will earn community service hours while planning sustainability initiatives and Climate Action Days activities for their schools.

This event will take place in-person at Brooklyn Technical High School, 29 Fort Greene Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11217.

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/mpj7dsab

National Wildlife Federation (NWF) affiliate, New Jersey Audubon (NJA), has been adapting the Resilient Schools and Communities (RiSC) program since 2021.

A series of “RiSC Action Cards” have been developed by NWF and NJA to offer teachers an opportunity to explore the RiSC program in small bites. The RiSC Action Cards have been integrated into NWF’s EcoSchools U.S. program

NJA’s new webinar series will explore each of the new Cards. This interactive webinar will guide educators in how to apply what students learned in reviewing a climate vulnerability report focused on school grounds and a school community in a way that prepares students and educators to identify opportunities for increasing community climate resiliency.

Facilitator: Roberta Hunter, PhD (908) 396-6506, roberta.hunter@njaudubon.org

Register: https://montclair.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0of--vrzMsHd3zzvt_H9xEH-njdXx_GiJ-#/registration

Book talk with Kelley Le, author of Teaching Climate Change for Grades 6-12, hosted by Montclair University and the American Educational Research Association (AERA)

This timely and insightful book supports secondary science teachers in developing effective curricula around the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) by grounding their instruction on the climate crisis. This new edition focuses on meeting teachers where they are in their teaching and learning while tending to various contexts, communities, and cultures to activate educators in understanding and responding to the climate crisis in this moment. By anchoring instruction on the climate emergency, Dr. Lê offers guidance on how educators can activate students as agents of change for their own communities.

Register: https://tinyurl.com/3344cp99

To kick off the new year, Climate Reality’s Founder and Chair, former US Vice President Al Gore, and Climate Reality President and CEO Phyllis Cuttino are hosting a special call with Climate Reality Leaders around the globe.

Together, we’ll review what we learned in 2024, recap the outcomes of COP 29 in Baku, discuss the state of the climate movement in the US and around the world, and look ahead to our big plans for 2025.

Register: https://www.sustainabilitynetwork.ca/events/bridging-the-gap-the-generational-divide#register

In today’s dynamic workplace, a tug and pull is unfolding among four distinct generations: the seasoned Baby Boomers, the pragmatic Gen-Xers, the determined Millennials, and the tech savvy Gen-Zers. Each group brings its unique set of values, priorities, and preferences to the table, shaping the dynamics of modern workplaces in profound ways.

However, this diversity can sometimes lead to friction, as different generations may have conflicting beliefs and expectations. Navigating these differences requires a shift in thought that acknowledges the value of each generation’s contributions while fostering a collaborative environment where everyone feels heard and respected.

In this engaging session, participants will be challenged to explore their own biases and assumptions about different generations, gaining insights into the factors that shape each group’s values and behaviors. This session will provide practical strategies for bridging the generational divide and fostering greater understanding and cooperation among team members. Participants will leave with actionable insights to create a more inclusive and harmonious workplace.

Learning Objectives:

- Participants will learn the unique skill sets that each generation brings for synergetic cooperation.

- Participants will gain perspective and understanding in overcoming generational obstacles in the workplace.

- Participants will be able to define psychographic diversity and the role it plays in bridging the generational divide.

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About the Presenter:

Miriam Dicks is an operations leader with proven experience in transforming organizations to achieve optimal operational performance. Over the past 20+ years she has held several positions in operations management and operations consulting as well as serving as adjunct faculty teaching operations courses on both the graduate and undergraduate level. Miriam’s passion for operations is fueled by her belief that any organization can operate in excellence with the right tools for change.

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Register: https://tinyurl.com/54uny3mr

Presented in partnership with the Outdoor Learning School and Store, alongside our Outdoor Learning Partners, this popular online series (January 14 - February 25, 2025) continues with more engaging expert presenters on a wide variety of topics.

• Registration is free and there are always draw prizes for attendees!

• All registrants receive a discount code to access outdoor learning resources when they register.

• Workshops are 60 minutes and take place on Tuesdays at 4pm Pacific time / 7pm Eastern time.

• For those who can’t attend live, each session is recorded and posted here.

• Following the workshop, participants will receive a link through which they can access a certificate of attendance.

• If you can’t attend the live workshop you can still request a certificate of attendance after you watch the recording.

• Make sure you’re subscribed to Take Me Outside’s newsletter so you don’t miss any updates and announcements!

Register: https://outdoorlearning.com/event/braiding-sweetgrass-for-educators/?mc_cid=0e47db0457&mc_eid=a9864ff807

Join four engaging and insightful online sessions which will unpack the essential elements of Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults.

This will be facilitated by award-winning and best-selling Indigenous author, Monique Gray Smith, who adapted Robin Wall Kimmerer’s New York Times Best selling book, Braiding Sweetgrass for a new generation of readers. She is well known for her storytelling, spirit of generosity and focus on resilience.

Monique will take you on a learning journey, exploring the 6 sections of the book and the chapters within each of them, including key content for classroom and school use. 

Dates and Times:

• Wednesday, Jan 8, 15, 22, 29 – 4pm Pacific Time / 7pm Eastern Time on Zoom Meeting

• Recorded and recordings made available to registrants after for those who can’t attend live (available for 3 months after the session)

In each session we will attend to:

1. Indigenous wisdom

2. Teaching of the Plants

3. Scientific Knowledge

4. History and Social and Emotional Wellness

5. The reflection questions, calls to action and beautiful illustrations by Nicole Neidhardt

All registrants will receive:

1. 4 x virtual 60 min learning sessions with Monique Gray Smith!

2. Access to the recordings (available for up to 3 months following the sessions)

3. A Certificate of Completion

Your contribution: 

• Early Bird Registration: $120 ($30/session) until December 17 (please select this option if you are able)

• 50% Discounted Registration: $60 ($15/session) until December 15 (please select this option if price is a barrier)

• 25% discount for groups of 5 or more using this code at checkout: N945QEAF

Your course fee goes towards supporting our charity in covering the course costs, including ensuring that we compensate the course instructors adequately, and that we can continue to offer learning opportunities like these.

Facilitator:

Monique Gray Smith is an award winning Indigenous author and educator. In addition to Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults, she has authored many other books including Speaking Our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation and Lucy and Lola, part of The Journey Forward. Monique’s books are used to share wisdom, knowledge, hope and the important teaching that love is medicine. Monique is Cree and Scottish and has been sober and involved in her healing journey for over 33 years. 

Register: https://takemeoutside.ca/certification/?mc_cid=0e47db0457&mc_eid=a9864ff807

The course includes:

• 30 hrs of Self-paced Learning through 10 Online Learning Modules

• 3 Live Workshops (recorded if you can’t make it live)

• Hands-on activities for you and your class as you learn

• Outdoor Learning Certificate (upon completion)

• $10 CAD Coupon for the Outdoor Learning Store

• Discounts at the Take Me Outside Store

Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6Kgw6TxuQaOdKstztwK1Jg#/registration

In an era of evolving environmental and social challenges, how do visionary organizations like Finance Engage Sustain (FES), a youth-led and youth-serving organization, emerge as powerful leaders? And what can they teach both aspiring and established environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs)?

This panel dives into the story behind FES—not just what they do but how they got here—providing insights into their journey from a grassroots initiative engaging 500 schools, 400 towns, and 100,000 youth in Indigenous, rural, and remote areas from 2016 to 2020, to its new era as a youth-led support structure that has provided $1.5M to support the scaling and implementation of over 151 youth-led projects, leveraging an additional $4.5M through training and wrap-around support. Throughout its years, FES has maintained its youth-led nature and community roots.

Hear from FES youth leaders as they reflect on key milestones, share strategies for establishing trust with the communities they serve, and discuss the delicate balance of scaling impact without losing sight of grassroots values. Attendees will gain practical insights on founding and sustaining a mission-driven organization, from recruiting allies and board members to developing robust feedback mechanisms. Whether you're starting out, scaling up, or reimagining your organization’s impact, this session offers a roadmap to redefining environmental leadership and fostering meaningful change.

The Climate Solutions Innovation Forum is a multi-year program that highlights newer innovative environmental nonprofits who share the story to inspire emerging leaders and/or to expose seasoned leaders to new ways of affecting change and reaching new audiences. CSIF shines a light on less traditional policy-oriented NGOs, youth led organizations as well as recently emerged culturally-focused ENGOs mostly at the fringes of the mainstream.

About the Presenters

Kat Cadungog (she/her) is Executive Director of FES.

Kat has been acting as the Executive Director for FES since late 2020 and officially came into the position in mid-2021. Kat has had her hand in everything FES. She has collaborated with youth across Canada in over 50 Action Projects in remote, rural, and Indigenous communities when she was Sustainability Project Consultant for FES’ 3% Project. She has also worked in FES’ SDGs portfolio, managing the SDGs Launch Program. Despite the hardships brought by COVID-19, she successfully expanded the SDGs Launch program not only in Canada, but to higher education institutions in the USA and now the UK.

Alyssa Obrand (she/her) is Managing Director of FES.

Alyssa supports the team with financial management and administration tasks, and is in charge of everything from payroll, to invoices, and receipts. Alyssa joined FES in 2021, after finishing her Bachelor of Commerce at McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management. Now, upon finishing a Masters of Science in Environment, Politics and Society at the University College London in the United Kingdom, she is fulfilling her passion for environmental activism and reimagining the philanthropic sector for youth with FES.