Treasure Valley Educators Focus on Climate Action at the NASA Earth to Sky: Adapt workshop

Beth Kochevar

McCall Outdoor Science School

Workshop attendees view the restoration efforts of the Valley Fire.

“I feel like I have the resources and the ability to do this, now,” one participant shared. We were standing in a circle in the sun of a Boise autumn afternoon, reflecting about our take-aways from the NASA Earth to Sky Adapt workshop. We all paused in a moment of awe, gratitude, and hope. This participant expressing her newly gained self-efficacy in developing and implementing a climate action with her class was the best possible outcome of the 3-day workshop. Throughout the week, 24 informal and formal educators engaged in discussions, example activities and in-person field trips to exemplify the ways in which they could design and implement lessons with their audiences to empower action to build climate resilience within their communities. 

Day 1: Frameworks for Climate Action

During the first day of the workshop participants were introduced to project-based learning pedagogies, strategies for effectively communicating climate science to broad audiences, and virtually met a NASA scientist helping communities implement climate resilience projects across the US. We discussed the benefits and challenges of implementing project-based lessons within classrooms, noting that students who engage authentically with topics that relate to their lives can be more interested in the associated academic subjects that are inherent in understanding those topics. We explored various Climate Action Plans from individual to national scale to help frame possible projects and topic areas to investigate (such as wildfire risk, agricultural and food systems, and waste management).  Participants wandered throughout the new exhibit hall at the Boise WaterShed, exploring how storytelling, focusing on objects of care, and adapting content to Idaho audiences can be compelling for explaining and engaging with the topic of climate change. Finally, Dr. Ayia Lindquist  from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center spoke directly to participants to show how communities are leveraging their assets to build scalable climate solutions. 

Attendees explore climate communication strategies in the Boise WaterShed exhibition hall.

Day 2: Peaceful Belly Farm and Valley Fire Restoration

As an example of hands-on inquiry they could incorporate within their classes, participants chose between field trips to Peaceful Belly Farm and the Boise Foothills to view restoration efforts after the Valley Fire. At Peaceful Belly Farm, the group met owners Clay and Josie Erskine, who toured us through their operation, focusing on the educational connections they make with visiting students, from making natural dyes to using the heat from compost piles to warm winter greenhouses.  Other participants explored a post-fire sagebrush steppe ecosystem, documenting burn-severity to soil, plants, and the hydrology of the landscape. With the help of fire and geoscientist Kendra Fallon and Matt, hydrologist for the Boise National Forest, participants stepped into the role of resource managers and recommended what action, if any, agencies could take to help the landscape recover from the Valley Fire. 

Day 3: Boise Public Schools and City of Boise 

Day 3 focused on more “urban” examples of climate resilience within public agencies. Some participants met with Boise Public Schools Sustainability Manager Ali Ward at Whittier Elementary to learn about the district’s process of auditing operations for energy efficiency and implementing energy efficient actions in schools. Participants viewed the new solar array on the roof of Whittier Elementary and then visited with ETS Coach Misha Smith’s 6^th grade “Earth Nerds” at Hawthorne Elementary and toured their school garden. Other participants visited with Kayla Duclos of the City of Boise’s Planning and Development Services Department to learn generally about urban planning concepts such as the “15-minute city” and more specifically about Boise’s efforts toward sustainability. The group took a walking tour through parts of downtown to see some of the projects and problems in person. 

We tasked workshop participants with developing and implementing a project-based learning experience for their audiences that encourages climate action. Participants have access to mini-grant funds and stipends from the Idaho EcosySTEM and Idaho STEM Action Center to support their efforts and help make their climate action plans a reality. 

On the final day it was inspiring to hear participants reflect on the ways they built community with one another, connected with experts who foster climate resilience through their work, and would adapt project-based learning to be the most relevant to their audiences. Keep an eye out on this blog as we spotlight their projects in the coming months!