WHAT: This 4-day climate change professional development opportunity provides what's missing in most climate change professional development- the integration culture and science. This Institute designed to build climate literacy, teaching skills, and confidence of formal and informal educators to help them guide others in investigating climate change and take action. The training uses the G-WOW climate literacy model (www.g-wow.org) that integrates indigenous traditional ecological knowledge of the Lake Superior Ojibwe and place-based investigations with climate science  to demonstrate how to develop culturally relevant climate service learning programs no matter what the location or culture of your community.  This year’s Institute has a special focus on climate change and “nibi” (Ojibwe for “water”) and aquatic environments.  Learn how climate affects water, cultures, economies, and all of us!  

In this Institute you will learn how to:

• Integrate place-based evidence with the latest climate science to investigate climate change.
• Develop culturally relevant climate change learning opportunities and curriculum. 
• Create and apply classroom and community ready ideas for climate service learning projects. Take home teaching resources and multi-disciplinary climate teaching tools that integrate art and STEM will be shared.

WHERE: The Institute is based at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center in Ashland, Wisconsin with field experiences with Lake Superior tribal communities, and on Stockton Island within the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

WHO:  This Institute is for formal elementary- high school teachers of all disciplines, informal community educators, EE educators and interpreters, and college students interested in climate change education. 

WHY:  Research has shown that the integration of place-based evidence of climate change is as effective, or more effective, than simply using scientific facts to teach about this issue. This Institute is sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Extension, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore-National Park Service, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, and the US Forest Service with funding through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.   

COST:  Free. Participants completing the Institute receive a $250 stipend. Graduate credit is available at participant's cost from Northland College. 

All lunches, one dinner, snacks, training, and transportation to the Institute's field training sites is provided.