The Wild Center will host a Summer Institute for New York State Teachers on July 15-18, focused on “Empowering Students for Climate Resilience.” This is the first multi-day institute of its kind hosted by The Wild Center and will bring together middle and high school teachers across all disciplines for a hands-on exploration of climate change and educational best practices.
The Institute will feature a keynote and conversation with Bill McKibben, an environmentalist, author, and educator who has written extensively on the impact of climate change and global warming. Workshops and sessions presented during the four-day Institute will share information on cutting-edge climate science and expose participants to a suite of climate education resources that align with New York State Science Learning Standards. Planning time and field trips will take climate change learnings outside of the “classroom” and encourage practical application of the tools and information shared during this event.
By immersing educators in this subject, The Wild Center and its partners in the Institute will empower participants to weave the topic of climate change into their broader lessons. It’s the first step in building a community of teachers and schools in the Adirondack region and beyond, that are encouraging students to interact with the subject in a greater way – in turn affecting the broader conversation around climate needs.
The Wild Center has hosted similar Institutes in the past, taking place over a single day. “Just knowing about all of the available resources makes me feel more confident about teaching climate change and resiliency to my students,” says a past participant. “I feel like I can take what I learned and put it into use immediately.”
The Institute will be held at North Country School’s RockE House & Basecamp in Lake Placid, N.Y. Teachers are encouraged to attend in teams with others from their district. Register online at: www.wildcenter.org/youthclimate.
Furthering the conversation around climate change is a cornerstone of The Wild Center’s work. In addition to the Summer Institute for NYS Teachers, The Wild Center also hosts one-off summits around the topic at area schools and offers a toolkit on its website for other organizations to create opportunities for learning, dialogue and action on climate change using the Youth Climate Summit model.
About The Wild Center
The Wild Center invites visitors to discover the story of the Adirondacks, and to explore new ways that people and nature can thrive in the same place. Located in Tupper Lake, NY the center uses science-based experiences, exhibits and program to open new ways to look into the relationship that people have with nature and to promote environmental best practices. A 54,000-square-foot facility, The Wild Center features indoor and outdoor space, live animals, hands-on experiences, and its popular Wild Walk, an elevated trail across the Adirondack treetops. The Center is open 7 days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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