Environmental Leadership 2023

The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it. In taking action, the Climate Science Climate Justice team of the Environmental Leadership Program maintains that environmental education is essential in providing the next generation with skills to adapt to and address the environmental impacts of climate change. Our team connects middle school students to hands-on outdoor experiences at H.J. Andrews, an experimental old-growth forest located in the Cascade Mountains. Students are introduced to climate science and evidence of climate change through four lessons: microclimates, tree identification, phenology, and climate justice. These investigations cover a range of topics including plant identification, how climate change affects plants and animals, the qualities and significance of old-growth forests, and the intersection of climate change and social justice. Through these investigations, students developed a connection to the natural world around them, an understanding of how climate change can affect natural systems, and ideas for how individuals can participate in creating solutions. By empowering young students with critical thinking skills, exposure to scientific methods and concepts, and more in-depth knowledge of their surrounding environment, the climate team paves the way for future environmental stewardship and taking action against climate change one student at a time as we all go on to become the leaders of tomorrow.