NOAA Climate Stewards June 26, 2015

NOAA’s education mission: To advance environmental literacy and promote a diverse workforce in ocean, coastal, Great Lakes, weather, and climate sciences, encouraging stewardship and increasing informed decision making for the Nation. ************************************************************************ Public understanding of Earth’s interconnected systems is crucial to our ability to apply knowledge and problem-solving skills to real-world issues (Hoffman and Barstow, 2007). The stewardship of our planet’s resources for current and future generations is critical to the long-term sustainability of society and the planet. Why is NOAA doing this?

Leadership Team

Educators have trouble talking about climate change Discussions of climate change are politicized More than 25% of teachers reported having arguments over this issue. (NESTA Survey of Earth Science Teachers, 2011) Many educators are not sure of the science are looking for credible information sources and education resources

Climate Science is an integral part of NGSS NGSS introduces global climate change as a core idea in middle/high school including: human activities affect global warming decisions to reduce the impacts of global warming depend on understanding climate science, engineering capabilities, and social dynamics global climate models used to predict changes continue to improve

Builds Climate Literacy so educators and students can: understand the concepts of climate assess the scientifically credibility of information make informed and responsible decisions, and initiate actions in the community NOAA Climate Stewards

Benefits for Participants Mini-grant funding to develop and implement a climate stewardship action plan. Travel stipends to attend and present at regional workshops and key professional development conferences. Special contests with monetary and educational resource prizes.

Indicators of Success: Evaluation Results NOAA Climate Stewards: Showed increased confidence in teaching about climate related topics Adopted changes to their teaching practice Developed and implemented stewardship projects Expressed interest in continuing to participate in ongoing professional development experiences. “I am much more able to effectively integrate climate into the curriculum due to the resources and training in the program”

Feeling they could make a difference (9.1/10)* Increased knowledge of climate science (8.9) Readiness to apply what they had learned (8.7) Increased awareness of climate science careers (8.1) Meeting other climate-interested people (7.5) *Scale of 1-10 Strong effects on stewardship project participants:

Stewardship in Action! Restoration and Sequestration with beach grasses Polar Bear Challenge: Conserve energy and change habits Model UN Climate Change Summit Climate Change impacts on wetlands Schoolyard gardens & biochar – Sequestering Carbon Effects of ocean acidification on Hawaiian ecosystems

Organizational Structure for Ways to be involved! I. Climate Education Community Monthly Webinars Monthly Book/Discussion Clubs Regional workshops Receive Information Opportunities (occasional basis) Communication Via “Push” List (sign up on public website) You choose the level of involvement II. Climate Stewardship Community Must Be Working on or Propose a Stewardship Action Project (Apply via Public Website in Fall) Participate in Peer Review Groups to refine your project and apply for funding Community-Wide Communication Via Interactive Listserve Opportunities for travel reimbursements conferences &/or workshops

Access to climate experts on monthly webinars, followed by peer discussions Monthly informal discussions around a video, article, or book. Access to regional workshops (5 in 2015) Receive certificates of recognition for your attendance Receive information on opportunities & access to resources on Web site I. Climate Education Community

Discussion (feedback) groups provide suggestions for your project idea. Opportunities for mini-grants to support your project (up to $2000) Community-wide communication via participant-driven interactive list-serve Continuing support for evaluation of your project Have your project highlighted on the NOAA website Support for travel to conferences/meetings to support dissemination of project results. II. Stewardship Community Support for projects in your classroom or community

Understanding your influence on climate and climate’s influence on you and society. Taking responsibility for environmental quality shared by all those whose actions affect the environment. ( Taking action to reduce climate change and its impacts What is a stewardship project?

Not a NOAA Climate Steward now? Want to join these communities? Climate Education Community - Send an to In the subject line type “Join Climate Stewards Education Section” Stewardship Community Applications will be open in the fall!

oceanservice.noaa.gov/ education/climate-stewards

Questions? Contact: