The Wild Center, Paul Smith’s College, Adirondack Research Consortium and Adirondack Explorer Join Earth to Sky’s Team Adirondack
The Team will travel to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center November 2024
Adirondacks, NY - The Wild Center, Adirondack Explorer, Adirondack Research Consortium, and Paul Smith's College are excited to announce their selection to the new Earth to Sky Academy cohort as Team Adirondack. This multi-organization team highlights the local commitment to advancing climate communications and supporting interpreters and community educators in the Adirondack region.
“We are thrilled to invite Team Adirondack to our upcoming Academy and include them in our growing community of practice. The most effective conversations about climate change are happening at regional scales, and the impressive coalition that Team Adirondack has assembled is well-positioned to lead that work in upstate New York,” said John Ceballos, Earth to Sky Interagency Partnership course coordinator.
The new cohort comprises five other teams: Channel Islands, Team Colorado River & Uplands Corridor, Team Climate Resilient Colorado, Team Northeast Ohio Climate Heroes, and New York City. They were chosen through a competitive selection, and the new teams represent various federal and state agencies, state and metropolitan parks, colleges, and nature centers. The 29 incoming regional leaders have extensive experience in place-based interpretation and education, Earth science, training development, and community building.
"We are excited to be part of the Earth to Sky community and to have the opportunity to bring cutting-edge climate science and communication techniques to the Adirondack region," said Jen Kretser, Director of Climate Initiatives at The Wild Center. "This training will empower us to better support our educators in delivering impactful climate messages that resonate with our local communities."
The Academy is a tuition-free five-day course held at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The content is based on more than 20 years of experience and extensive evaluation of the Earth to Sky model. Participants are supported every step of the way: before, during, and after the Academy.
"We are honored that Paul Smith’s College has been selected to join the Earth to Sky Academy cohort,” said Zoë Smith, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives. “This opportunity empowers us to inform and engage our students and community and help them drive positive change throughout the Adirondack-North Country region.”
Each of the five teams will travel to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center this November to attend the Earth to Sky Academy. The week-long training will focus on NASA climate science, communication techniques, and Earth to Sky methodology. After completing the Academy, each team will develop and offer climate communication courses tailored to their region's needs. These courses will serve as ongoing resources for their communities, fostering a network of skilled interpreters and educators.
“This opportunity to attend the Earth to Sky Academy will give Adirondack Explorer cutting edge climate science and understanding to inform our reporting and engage our audiences–in print and online–in this crucial topic,” said Tracy Ormsbee, publisher of Adirondack Explorer.
Team Adirondack will return to the region with resources to develop trainings for other organizations and agencies interested in furthering their skillset in climate communications and messaging. Team Adirondack will serve as a regional core for a community of practice, working to strengthen a network of regional leaders across the Adirondacks.
"We are honored to join the Earth to Sky Academy as Team Adirondack," said Dan Fitts, Executive Director of the Adirondack Research Consortium. "This opportunity will enhance our ability to communicate critical climate science and support our local educators in inspiring meaningful action within our communities."
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About The Wild Center
The Wild Center invites visitors to discover the story of the Adirondacks and to explore new ways that people and nature can thrive in the same place. Located in Tupper Lake, NY, The Wild Center uses science-based experiences, exhibits, and programs to open new ways to look into the relationship that people have with nature and to promote environmental best practices. The Wild Center’s reimagined experience utilizes Wild Walk and its largely outdoor 115-acre campus.
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About Paul Smith's College
At Paul Smith's College, it's about the experience. As the only four-year institution of higher education located in the Adirondack Park in upstate New York, Paul Smith's provides real-world, hands-on learning in fields such as business and hospitality, culinary management, forestry, environmental sciences and natural resources. We pride ourselves on research and advocacy on issues that improve our planet and the lives of the people who inhabit it. Learn more at paulsmiths.edu.
About Adirondack Explorer
Adirondack Explorer is a nonprofit independent news organization (print and digital) with the mission to use its news reporting and analysis to further wise stewardship, public enjoyment for all, community vitality, and lasting protection of the Adirondack Park. Founded in 1998, the Explorer is giving voice to the Adirondacks and is an indispensable source of news and information on the conservation needs, community challenges, and recreational opportunities of our region. Learn more at adirondackexplorer.org
About Adirondack Research Consortium
The Adirondack Research Consortium (ARC) was established to bridge the gap between scientific research and practical application in the Adirondacks. We connect scientists from various research organizations with business owners, local and state governments, private land managers, farmers, foresters, teachers, and engaged citizens. By partnering researchers with decision-makers, ARC ensures that sound science informs real-world solutions and addresses pressing issues in the Adirondacks.