Youth Climate Program wins major NOAA grant

TUPPER LAKE | The Youth Climate Program at the Wild Center won nearly half a million dollars from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) this fall to support and expand environmental literacy. The total $449,278 award extends across three years and will put in motion The Wild Center's youth project: "Empowering Rural Youth for Community Climate Resilience in New York State." The education outreach and action project dovetails with science from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) Office of Climate Change. And it will work in collaboration with the Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith Colleges and the Alliance for Climate Education (ACE). Success in Tupper Lake came in one of only eight grants awarded through NOAA's Environmental Literacy Program. In announcing the awards, NOAA said ongoing environmental events underscore the need for climate resilience education. "With the second most active Atlantic hurricane season on record, catastrophic fires in the west, and springtime severe storms and flooding, it is clear that all communities need to prioritize resilience efforts," the agency said in its news release. "Successful resilience efforts cannot be limited to fortifying infrastructure and improving plans and policies; they depend on sustained and equitable public engagement. "Projects funded through the Environmental Literacy Program not only build public understanding of how municipalities can become more resilient, but also enable people of all ages, socio-economic backgrounds, cultures, and educational levels to take part in building safe and enduring communities." WILD CENTER YOUTH At The Wild Center, Executive Director Stephanie Ratcliffe said they believe it is critical for students to learn about climate change and ways to best plan for the future. "But education alone isn't enough to lead to action. We also need to empower students to help their communities prepare for the changes that are likely to affect them." Working with Finger Lakes Institute and the Alliance for Climate Education (ACE), the Youth Climate Program can expand its outreach across New York State. "While all of New York will face urgent climate change-related challenges, every community's response to the issue will differ," Ratcliffe said. "In more rural places, such as the Adirondacks, decreased snowfall might impact winter tourism. In the Finger Lakes region, increased flooding from intense storm events is already having an impact on lake water quality." Nadia Harvieux, education program manager at the Finger Lakes Institute, said students recognize climate change as a critical issue facing their future. And they want to be part of the solution, she said. "This project is an exciting opportunity for youth to take action and help create a climate resilient future for their communities." TEACHING RESILIENCE Empowering Rural Youth for Community Climate Resilience will make a long reach across New York, serving 700 to 800 rural high school students and 60 youth leaders. "The project is also designed to reach a much wider audience, including 30 rural decision-makers and community members, as well as 50 to 60 educators," The Wild Center said in a news release. Specifically, the NOAA grant will be used to: Create a New York State Youth Climate Summit Network that can share actions aligned with New York climate change resilience planning. Establish opportunities for youth to effectively partner with local decision-makers to work on climate action, engagement, and resilience. Plan and host Youth Climate Summits and intensive Youth Climate Leadership Retreats to increase climate literacy and action among high school students. Develop programs to help prioritize climate change education and student mentoring. Build awareness of the New York State Climate Smart Communities (CSC) program. SCIENCE SUPPORT The DEC Office of Climate Change will collaborate with New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Energy & the Environment, Inc., and NOAA's Climate Program Office to contribute scientific information, resources, and tools to The Wild Center's project. "We are thrilled to be supporting The Wild Center's project," NOAA Director of Education Louisa Koch said. "They are a recognized leader in engaging and empowering youth to have a voice in addressing climate impacts now and in the future." Since 2008, The Wild Center's Youth Climate Program has worked with thousands of high school and college students and educators, building climate action plans students can implement in their own schools and communities. The work has garnered national and international respect. To date, the Wild Center project has inspired over 40 communities around the world to host over 85 Youth Climate Summits in person and, for now, virtually. "The best part about this work has been watching young leaders get excited, realizing they can do something about this crisis we're all facing," Ratcliffe said. "And it's exciting to know we'll be working with even more students going forward. "They have the optimism, they have the will, they have new and fresh solutions, and they have hope." FIND OUT MORE To find out more about The Wild Center Youth Climate Program: wildcenter.org/our-work/youth-climate-program/ To learn more about NOAA's Environmental Literacy Program: noaa.gov/office-education/elp The seven additional NOAA awards were given to: EcoRise Youth Innovations, $450,000, in Austin, Texas; Florida Atlantic Univ., $449,903, in West Palm Beach, FL; the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, $449,480, in Portland, ME; Mississippi State University, $449,076; The National Wildlife Federation, $450,000 for The Resilient Schools Consortium Phase II, New York City; the Science Museum of Virginia, $307,685, in Richmond; and to the University of Hawaii, $449,991, in Kahului. Information about each of these projects is online at noaa.gov

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Youth Climate Program wins major NOAA grant

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