Climate Change Educator Retreat: July 12-14, 2023

Dates: July 12-14, 2023

Location: Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY

Program Description

Join a network of educators for a hands-on exploration of how to teach climate change science, impacts, justice and solutions hosted at the Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY. Using a variety of curricula, interactive workshops, field trips, and guest speakers, educators will examine youth-driven, action-oriented strategies for bringing climate change solutions into their classrooms or organizations. Curriculum and program planning time is incorporated into the program, and educators are welcome to attend in teams from their district/organization. Content is best suited for educators that work with middle to high school aged youth across all disciplines. Residential and non-residential options available.   

The Climate Change Educator Retreat is co-hosted by the Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith College and The Wild Center. Partners include NOAA’s Office of Education, NOAA’s Climate Program, Adirondack Watershed Institute, Climate Generation, New York State’s Office of Climate Change, NYSERDA, and Action for the Climate Emergency.

Cost

Residential: $160, includes meals and onsite lodging on campus at Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Non-Residential: $110, tuition only, lodging and some meals on your own

Eligible for Continuing Teacher and Leader Education credit (CTLE)

Scholarships are available (participant travel to and from the Institute is not included)

Registration & Scholarships

Register HERE. Registration is open through May 22, 2023. 

We are pleased to be able to offer a select number of scholarships to cover the cost of registration for educators who do not have access to professional development funding. Please inquire about and apply for the scholarship PRIOR to completing the general registration application.

Click HERE to access the scholarship application. Scholarship applications are due May 8, 2023. 

Meals

All meals will be provided by Hobart and William Smith Colleges’ on-campus food service. Please be sure to indicate any dietary restrictions or preferences in the Participant Info Form that will be sent to you once you have completed your registration.

On-site Lodging

The full registration fee of $160 includes lodging on campus at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, our home base for the program. We will be housed at the O’Dell’s Townhome apartments. Each person will have a single room in a suite-style apartment with a shared kitchen, living area and bathroom. Housing will be grouped by gender, please indicate housing preferences in the follow-up questionnaire you will receive once you have registered for the Retreat. If you are attending the Retreat with colleagues and would like to be housed together, we will do our best to accommodate.

 Off-site Lodging

For those who prefer an off-site lodging option, or will commute to the Institute daily, the Non-Residential registration rate of $110 covers tuition and all meals, but not overnight accommodations. There are many lodging and Airbnb options in the Geneva area. Please see off-campus overnight options here. 

COVID Safety

Keeping all our participants safe and healthy is a priority. The Retreat will adhere to Ontario County, NYS and CDC COVID safety guidelines and requirements in place at the time of the Institute. More specific information will be provided closer to the Institute dates as needed.

Travel

Retreat Meeting Location and Address

Merritt Hall, Room 100 (first floor)

670 S. Main Street

Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Geneva, NY 14456

Travel Directions to Campus

From the West: Follow I-90 East (New York State Thruway) to exit 42. Turn right onto Route 14 south after exiting Thruway. Follow Rt. 14 to Geneva (approximately 6 miles). At the first traffic light (corners of Exchange and North Sts.) turn right onto North Street. At second traffic light (corners of North and N. Main Sts.) turn left onto N. Main St. Proceed south on N. Main St. approximately 1.5 miles to continue to S. Main Street. Merritt Hall is located on your right at 670 S. Main Street. Street parking should be available in the vicinity of Merritt Hall.

From the East: Follow I-90 West (New York State Thruway) to exit 42. Turn right onto Route 14 south after exiting Thruway. Follow Rt. 14 to Geneva (approximately 6 miles). At the first traffic light (corners of Exchange and North Sts.) Turn right onto North Street. At second traffic light (corners of North and N. Main Sts.) Turn left onto N. Main St. Proceed south on N. Main St. approximately 1.5 miles to continue to S. Main Street. Merritt Hall is located on your right at 670 S. Main Street. Street parking should be available in the vicinity of Merritt Hall.

From the South: Take Route 14 North into Geneva, which becomes S. Main Street. Merritt Hall is located on your left at 670 S. Main Street. Street parking should be available in the vicinity of Merritt Hall.

From the Binghamton/Ithaca areas: Follow Route 17 West to Route 96 into Ithaca. From Ithaca, take Route 96 to Route 96A at Ovid, to Routes 5 & 20 West in Geneva. Follow 5 & 20 into Geneva for about 5 miles to S. Main Street. Turn south on S. Main Street, Merritt Hall is located on your right at 670 S. Main Street. Street parking should be available in the vicinity of Merritt Hall.

 Check out the Hobart and William Smith Colleges Campus Map.

Additional Information

View the Draft Agenda 

View the Retreat Flyer 

Learn more about Geneva and the Finger Lakes region!

Questions?

For more information, contact Nadia Harvieux, Associate Director for Educational Programs at the Finger Lakes Institute, Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Youth Climate Leadership Retreat: July 31-August 3, 2023

Dates: July 31-August 3, 2023

Location: Rock-E House and Basecamp, Lake Placid, NY

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Are you a High School student looking to learn more about climate change impacts, justice, and solutions? Join us for the Youth Climate Leadership Retreat at North Country School’s Rock-E House & Basecamp in Lake Placid, NY. This retreat is a 4-day 3-night experience for high school students to develop valuable skills to lead on climate change in their schools and communities.  

Students are welcome to attend individually but are encouraged to attend with other students from their school or group as well. We will be accepting up to 3 students from the same school/group. This retreat will increase students’ climate literacy and leadership skills through:

• Dynamic hands-on workshops, presentations, and a field trip to The Wild Center
• Team building activities with other student leaders
• Outdoor experiences (canoeing, hiking, campfire, farm tour etc.)

COST

The retreat costs $75 for accepted students which includes lodging, meals, admission to The Wild Center, and all retreat activities. Scholarships are available. See below for details. 

The Youth Climate Leadership Retreat is co-hosted by The Wild Center’s Climate Program and the Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith College. The Leadership Retreat also works in partnership with NOAA’s Office of Education, NOAA’s Climate Program, Adirondack Watershed Institute, New York State’s Office of Climate Change, NYSERDA, WSP, Action for the Climate Emergency, and North Country School.

APPLICATION & AGENDA

Click here to apply. Rolling admissions through Friday, May 12th, 2023. Students will be notified by mid June, 2023. 

Scholarships are available! Click here to apply. Please fill out the scholarship form BEFORE applying to the retreat. The scholarship deadline is May 12th, 2023. 

LODGING & MEALS

All meals will be provided by the Rock-E House & Basecamp. They work to source local, organic, and sustainably-produced menu items, including many items from North Country School’s farm. The Youth Climate Program works to accommodate dietary restrictions and preferences. 

The registration fee of $75 includes lodging in the Rock-E House, our home base for the program. The Rock-E house has beautiful, comfortable shared bunk rooms with shared bathrooms. Bunk rooms sleep 3-5 people and are equipped with linens, blankets, a pillow, and a towel. Rooms will be organized by gender and students may indicate on the registration form if they would like to share a room with a specific person. There are 4 shared bathrooms throughout the house with at least 1 on each floor. Please click here for photos of the property. 

CONTACT

For more information, contact Elodie Linck, The Jeanne Hutchins Youth Climate Coordinator, at youthclimate@wildcenter.org or at (315) 742-7229.