Climate Stewards

Volunteers committed to addressing climate change

Are you interested in helping your community adapt to our changing climate?

A new Climate Stewards training program at Cornell Cooperative Extension- Yates County (CCE-Yates) is now taking applications for a 12-module training this spring. This effort will equip participants to act to address climate change in their communities through educational outreach and steward-led climate-smart projects.

Click HERE to complete the application for our upcoming Climate Stewards training! Please submit applications by Sunday, March 16th, 2024.

To download a PDF version of the application, click here.

The 12-session Cornell Climate Training will be held online on:

Thursdays, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Dates: April 3rd, 2025 - June 26th, 2025
Dates off (Based on Holidays): June 19th

After applications are received, candidates will be contacted for a short interview.

For more information, please get in touch with Lydia Williams, Natural Resource Educator, at lrw79@cornell.edu or (315) 536-5123 ext. 4127

Climate Stewards Training Program

The Climate Stewards training consists of 12 modules taught over 12 weeks, beginning on April 3rd, 2025, and will be held online. In each of the first 10 trainings, trainees will cover a specific climate change topic, with additional outside readings, videos, and group activities designed to develop skills needed to lead and educate their communities in climate science, adaptation, and mitigation.

Module 1: Orientation
Module 2: The Science of Climate Change
Module 3: Climate Change Impacts
Module 4: Working with Local Governments & Communities
Module 5: Climate Change Mitigation
Module 6: Community Mitigation Strategies
Module 7: Climate Change Adaptation
Module 8: Community Adaptation Strategies
Module 9: Effective Climate Change Communication
Module 10: Climate Justice
Module 11: Planning Volunteer Projects
Module 12: Presenting Volunteer Projects

Throughout the course, trainees will design an individual or group community action project to present and discuss in the final two class sessions. Cornell University developed this program’s curriculum in partnership with CCE-Monroe.

Climate Smart Communities

Climate Smart Communities (CSC) is a multi-state agency effort led by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC). CSC outlines concrete action lists of steps communities can take to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to a changing climate, and become more resilient in the face of new environmental challenges. Climate Stewards volunteers will use the CSC action list to determine what municipalities have already done and opportunities to take action.

Learn more at the Cornell Climate Steward Website.