Creating Climate Change Makers Workshop Series

Educating students on climate change is a critical step in building climate-literate citizens.

Through education, we empower. Through empowerment, we create the world future generations will need to thrive.

Creating Climate Change Makers Workshop Series

Creating Climate Change Makers is Communitopia’s AWARD-WINNING workshop series. These fully facilitated workshops bring critical climate change education directly to your classroom and support students in connecting to local solutions. Currently taught by veteran environmental educators in a 3-part series, workshops emphasize the simple science behind climate change, local impacts, and ways students can take action in their own backyards. Designed for students in grades 6-12, workshops increase students’ scientific literacy surrounding climate change, increase their motivation to take action, and provide them with opportunities to create an action plan. All students leave the workshop with a personalized Climate Action Plan in hand. Any student who follows through on their action plan is recognized by Communitopia as a Climate Change Champion.

"The workshop exceeded my expectations. I think it was extremely valuable to discuss climate change in terms of how it affects our area.”

- Science Teacher, Brashear HS

Post-workshop action-plan coaching

Oftentimes, teachers and students are interested in post-workshop coaching to help get Climate Action Plans off the ground. We provide targeted coaching services of up to 6 additional hours to help implement and launch your climate action project. Examples of past projects include co-teaching a unit on Environmental Justice, supporting students to get a Climate Action Resolution passed in their district, or forming a Climate Action Team . Communitopia staff work in collaboration with you and your students to ensure you have a customized plan and the resources you’ll need to ensure success.

We also invite all students interested in taking additional actions to our Pittsburgh Youth for Climate Action youth group, which is a regional group of students who meet monthly to collectively take action on climate change!

Pricing

Due to generous funding from Heinz Endowments, Patagonia, and the Pittsburgh Foundation, Communitopia provides it workshops and coaching for FREE to any school serving students in a high need environmental justice community as defined by Allegheny County Health Department, or with 50% or more students receiving Free or Reduced Price Lunches.

For schools that don’t qualify for free programming, an invoice is sent after you schedule your workshop , coaching session, or bundle program.

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What are the results?

Since 2018 Communitopia’s Creating Climate Change Champions Workshops have:

  • Reached more than 500 students, 90% from environmental justice communities

  • Increase students’ literacy on climate change by 33% 

  • Increase students’ motivation to take action on climate change by 35%

  • Increase students’ motivation to influence others to take action by 15%. 

  • Produce hundreds of student letters written to school board members asking them to pass climate action resolutions with one school district, Woodland Hills School District, successfully passing Pennsylvania’s very first Climate Action Resolution in July of 2019.

  • Produce numerous student statements at school board meetings to advocate for climate-friendly policy.

  • Plugged more than 40 youth into active Climate Action Teams who continue to build skills, raise awareness and fight for climate justice.

  • Recognized among the winners of the 2020 Pennsylvania Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence.

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