Climate Stewards

Climate Stewards is a training program that prepares people to build resilience to climate change impacts on communities and ecosystems. This curriculum was first developed in California by the University of California Division of Agricultural and Natural Resources, California Naturalist Program.

How Does Climate Stewards Work?

Through in-person sessions, field trips, and online learning, participants will:

• Improve their understanding of climate science and climate change impacts on human communities and ecosystems.
• Develop confidence and skill to communicate with others about climate change.
• Connect with other community members and local organizations to work together on climate resiliency projects.
• Help build a community of active Climate Stewards

What is Included in the Climate Stewards Curriculum?

Climate Stewards is a hybrid (online and in-person) training course. The curriculum is divided into the following units:

• Unit 1: Community Connections – Connect through experiences with climate change and extreme weather, focusing on relationships, social-emotional resilience, and trauma-aware practices.
• Unit 2: Communication, Interpretation, Education – Learn to communicate about climate change using the appropriate tools for various audiences.
• Units 3 & 4: Climate in Context – Learn the science behind climate and earth systems, climate change, and the role of humans with examples from Oregon.
• Unit 5: Community Resilience – Learn to leverage community connections and resources for climate resilience efforts focusing on community-specific risk and resilience assessments and collective solutions to climate change.
• Unit 6: Community Engagement – Connect with community partners that offer volunteer opportunities related to climate stewardship and resilience work as part of a capstone project. Engage in one or more communities of practice related to climate change work.

The training course is typically delivered over 12 weeks. Courses include online lessons, in-person classroom sessions and field trips.

Climate Stewards is a training program that prepares community members to communicate about climate change and engage in local efforts to advance community and ecosystem resilience.

The Columbia River Gorge Commission is excited to partner with Oregon State University Extension Service to offer this Gorge-focused course this Spring!

In this course, you will:

1. Learn about climate science and climate change impacts on local communities and ecosystems in the Columbia River Gorge.
2. Develop confidence and skills to effectively communicate with others about climate change.
3. Participate in field trips connecting you with community members and organizations across the Gorge.
4. Become part of a growing community of active Climate Stewards.

How to Register:

Sign up at the registration link below!

Cost:

To cover the costs of this program, the standard registration fee is $250. A sliding scale is available. We intend for this training to be accessible to all who are interested and ask participants to decide what amount works for them to support the program.

For more information, please contact Colin Jarvis at [email protected]

The OSU Extension Service Oregon Naturalist program, through a partnership with the Columbia River Gorge Commission, Oregon Climate Change Research Institute, and University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, developed a Climate Change curriculum and training that was piloted in the Columbia Gorge, Fall 2023.

“I am hopeful and excited to see how this course could build a foundation and network of climate stewards first in the Gorge and … throughout Oregon. I am looking forward to being part of a community that will learn from each other and build climate resilience together.”

2023 Climate Stewards Participant