August 7 and 8, 2012 at the School of Environmental Studies in Apple Valley, MN

Apply Now To Attend

The Will Steger Foundation’s Summer Institute for Climate Change Education will enrich your teaching of climate change and help you bring climate literacy to your educational setting.

The 2012 Summer Institute will feature keynote speaker Dr. John Abraham from the University of St. Thomas. Dr. Abraham will share his climate science expertise to provide educators with an overview of fundamental climate science concepts.

What past Summer Institute attendees are saying:

"It was one of the best, most useful workshops I have been to in a long time.”

“I was engaged, the information was clear and logical.”

“I can use some portion of every session I attended in my classroom, which makes this a success for me.”

Grades 3-12 formal and informal educators will receive training on and a copy of our revised, interdisciplinary and standards-based Minnesota’s Changing Climate curriculum and online classroom. Those who have already received this training will have the opportunity to attend more in-depth sessions and learn about new activities to include in their teaching.

Participants will be able to attend a variety of breakout sessions including sessions focused on climate change basics and outdoor classroom skills. In addition participants will hear from educators who have piloted and adapted this curriculum during the 2011-2012 school year. Mileage and accommodations are available for those traveling over 150 miles round-trip within Minnesota.

Join us the evening before the Summer Institute, August 6, for a free public forum with Dr. Eugenie Scott and Will Steger. Dr. Eugenie Scott, is the Executive Director of the National Center for Science Education (NCSE). The event will take place at 7pm in the Cowles Auditorium at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs.

Watch the video below for a recap of last summer’s Institute or review last summer’s agenda here.

There is a nonrefundable $10 participation fee for the 2012 Summer Institute to cover participant meals for the 2 days and composting fees.

Please contact Ann Benson, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with any questions.

Investigate Minnesota’s Changing Climate at the Will Steger Foundation’s 7th Annual Summer Institute for Climate Change Education

August 7 and 8, 2012 at the School of Environmental Studies in Apple Valley, MN

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On August 11 and 12, the Will Steger Foundation hosted a very successful 6th annual Summer Institute for Climate Change Education. The goals of this year’s Institute were to train educators on our new Minnesota’s Changing Climate curriculum and online classroom and provide supporting information and resources to enhance the use of the curriculum.

Learn More…

Throughout the last year it has been hard to miss the news reports, blogs and editorial commentary on the extreme weather events that have been sweeping the country. Tornadoes, flooding, snowstorms, above normal and below normal temperatures have caught the media and the nation’s attention.

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Engaging Students in Environmental Stewardship Through Adventure Learning

In May 2010, Minnesota’s Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) allocated $250,000 to the Will Steger Foundation’s project, Engaging Students in Environmental Stewardship through Adventure Learning, to support the development of a new curriculum, teacher training, online learning and collaboration with schools. The overarching goal of the project is to build awareness and interest in Minnesota’s natural environment and the impact of climate change, and to provide educators and students with the tools necessary for active and life-long stewardship.

All grade 3-12 classrooms and homeschool cooperative or families are invited to participate in this exciting project during the 2011-2012 school year! Please Join us as a Participating or Explorer Classroom!

Benefits of Participating in Minnesota's Changing Climate

Participating classrooms and educators will receive:

• Tuition for one educator to attend the 2011 Summer Institute for Climate Change Education where curriculum training will be provided. Summer Institute 2011 will be at the School of Environmental Studies in Apple Valley, MN August 11-12.
• A copy of Minnesota’s Changing Climate five lesson unit, aligned to Minnesota State Standards and focused on:
  • building awareness and interest in Minnesota’s natural environment and the impact of climate change
  • development of skills useful in exploring the natural environment
  • development of a environmental stewardship project
• Access to an online classroom that includes information and activities correlated to Minnesota’s Changing Climate Curriculum, as well as opportunities for statewide peer to peer interaction.
• Will Steger Foundation staff support throughout the year.
• The opportunity for students and classrooms to showcase the outcomes of their participation in a fair held in the spring of 2012.
• The opportunity to apply to be an Explorer classroom. Five Explorer classrooms from the throughout the state will be selected.

In addition, Explorer Classrooms will receive:

• A classroom visit from Will Steger during the school year.
• Recognition via the online classroom and WSF newsletters as an Explorer classroom.
• A classroom set of Explorer tools that may include weather instruments and digital cameras.
• Travel and accommodations for one educator to attend the Summer Institute 2012, as well as the spring fair.

Expectations of Participation

Participating classrooms and educators are expected to:

• Attend the 2011 Summer Institute for Climate Change Education.
• Use at least a portion of the Minnesota’s Changing Climate five lesson unit.
• Participate in short evaluation opportunities.

Participating Classrooms are Strongly Encouraged to:

• Use the online classroom.
• Implement the entire five-lesson plan unit.
• Plan and implement an environmental stewardship project in their school or community
• Attend the spring 2012 fair to showcase the outcomes of their participation.

In addition to the above, Explorer Classrooms are expected to:

• Interact with other Explorer classrooms via the online classroom, or webinar to be facilitated by Will Steger Foundation staff.

Summary of Time Commitment

The minimum time commitment for a Participating classroom:

• Participation in the Summer Institute 2011.
• Implementation of two one hour lessons throughout the 2011-2012 school year.
• (Total: Approximately 12 training hours, 3 classroom hours, including prep and lesson implementation)

The minimum time commitment for an Explorer classroom:

• Participation in the Summer Institute 2011
• Implementation of five one hour lessons throughout the 2011-2012 school year
• At least three visits to the online classroom for content
• Interaction with other Explorer classrooms
• Participation in the spring 2012 fair to showcase outcomes of the project.
• (Total: Approximately 12 training hours, 12 classroom hours and one day at final fair

Participating grades 6-8 classrooms from the the metro area are eligible for $500 grants due to a unique partnership with the National Park Foundation, Mississippi National River and Recreational Area (National Park Service) and Mississippi River Fund. For more info contact Kristen Poppleton, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Preview our Minnesota's Changing Climate teaser lesson today.
Are you ready to apply?Click Here to complete the application online now.

Explorers (Young) - Adventure Learning

Teachers

Will Steger Foundation’s expeditions aim to inspire participation in climate change solutions through online adventure learning by bringing the expedition and authentic learning experiences to classrooms via the internet. While exploring the Arctic Community Curriculum, also check out our expeditions for additional educational resources and extended learning!

Ellesmere Island Expedition 2007

• Trail Dispatches - Toby Thorleifsson
• Trail Dispatches - Ben Horton
• Trail Dispatches - Sigrid Ekran
• Trail Dispatches - Sam Branson
• Trail Dispatches - Eric McNair-Landry
• Trail Dispatches - Sarah McNair-Landry

Explorers (Young) - Adventure Learning

Teachers

Will Steger Foundation’s expeditions aim to inspire participation in climate change solutions through online adventure learning by bringing the expedition and authentic learning experiences to classrooms via the internet. While exploring the Arctic Community Curriculum, also check out our expeditions for additional educational resources and extended learning!

Ellesmere Island Expedition 2007

• Trail Dispatches - Toby Thorleifsson
• Trail Dispatches - Ben Horton
• Trail Dispatches - Sigrid Ekran
• Trail Dispatches - Sam Branson
• Trail Dispatches - Eric McNair-Landry
• Trail Dispatches - Sarah McNair-Landry

Explorers (Modern) - Adventure Learning

Teachers

Will Steger Foundation’s expeditions aim to inspire participation in climate change solutions through online adventure learning by bringing the expedition and authentic learning experiences to classrooms via the internet. While exploring the Arctic Community Curriculum, also check out our expeditions for additional educational resources and extended learning!

Baffin Island Island Expedition 2007 - Will Steger

• Audio Dispatches from the expedition trail