Quincy, Ill. — From a spring full of tornadoes to summers with extreme heat and flooding, Illinois communities are already living through the impacts of climate change. Be part of the solution by turning concern into collective action by taking the Climate Stewards Training this fall.
The University of Illinois Extension Climate Stewards program is a four-week, interactive program that equips community members with the tools they need to communicate effectively about climate change, activate local collective solutions, and motivate others to join in.
Local training sessions will be 3 to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays from Oct. 14 to Nov. 4 at the Illinois Extension office in Quincy. The training sessions include conversations with local leaders, real-world scenarios, peer relationship building, hands-on learning opportunities, and a field trip to see local climate solutions in action. Participants will tour rain garden sites in Hancock county and learn from community leaders about local work in the COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disasters) network.
Participants will leave with a better understanding of Illinois climate patterns and how Illinoisians think about it, strategies for effectively communicating about climate impacts, and ways to get involved in local climate resiliency work. After graduating as an Illinois Climate Stewards, participants will be equipped to get involved with community science projects, land and water stewardship efforts, and education and interpretation activities in their communities.
Find more information and sign up for a local training by Sept. 30 at go.illinois.edu/climatequincy.
The program cost varies. The standard course fee is $80. For those who can pay more and support someone else taking the course, the suggested fee is $120. Please contact Amy Lefringhouse if the fee prohibits attendance to discuss other options.
If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the information session, contact Amy at heberlei@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet access needs.
The Climate Stewards program is offered through Illinois Extension’s natural resources, environment, and energy team, which provides research-based education for awareness and action to sustain healthy environments and ecosystems that support quality living and resilient communities. Extension staff empower people across Illinois to make a difference through the Master Naturalist, Climate Steward, and Master Watershed Steward volunteer and training programs.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.