September 24–25, 2026
Shelburne Farms, Shelburne, Vermont

Climate education is entering a pivotal moment. Across the Northeast and beyond, educators, nonprofit leaders, community partners, and youth advocates are exploring what relationship-centered climate education can look like in a rapidly changing world.

This fall, the Climate Change Education Collaborative will convene its second annual summit at Shelburne Farms, bringing together educators and partners from across the region to strengthen climate education through connection, collaboration, and collective action.

We're especially excited that Northeastern NAAEE Affiliate organizations will be joining this year's Summit:

• Connecticut Outdoor and Environmental Education Association (COEEA)
• Maine Environmental Education Association (MEEA)
• New Hampshire Environmental Educators (NHEE)
• Vermont Education and Environment Network (VEEN)
• Rhode Island Environmental Education Association (RIEEA)

Together, these organizations are part of the larger Affiliate Network of the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), a community of more than 20,000 environmental education professionals working to provide "the education we need for the world we want."

What to Expect

Over two days, participants will move through a shared arc of:

• Grounding in where we are today
• Imagining the future we want to create
• Exploring pathways to make that vision a reality

The Summit offers opportunities to strengthen climate education practice, build regional connections, learn from colleagues across the Northeast, and generate ideas for supporting one another's work.

September 24: Optional Pre-Summit Workshop

The pre-summit workshop focuses on strengthening climate education practice, policy, and regional collaboration. Sessions include:

• NAAEE Guidelines for Excellence: Educating for Climate Action and Justice, facilitated by Bora Simmons, PhD, and Joan Haley, EdD
• Strengthening Climate Education Through Policy, Infrastructure, and State-Level Pathways, facilitated by Sarah Bodor (NAAEE) and Liz Soper (National Wildlife Federation)
• Regional conversations focused on sharing successes, identifying needs, and exploring opportunities for collaboration

Participants can also join an evening dinner and community gathering.

September 25: Summit Day

The Summit Day experience includes:

• Networking and relationship-building with climate education leaders from across the Northeast
• A facilitated visioning experience inspired by Solarpunk principles and future-focused thinking
• Participant-led conversations and collaborative design sessions focused on:
  • Action-oriented climate education projects
  • Network strengthening and partnerships
  • Reflection, renewal, and sustaining ourselves in this work

Registration Information

Thanks to support from a private funder and Shelburne Farms, registration is being offered at a reduced rate of $50.

Optional add-ons include:

• Pre-Summit Workshop: $25
• Dinner: $20
• Lodging: $50–$100

Registration deadline: September 4, 2026

Accommodations are available on a first-come, first-served basis and include rooms at the Shelburne Farms Inn and residential houses on the farm.

Financial assistance is available for those who need support to attend.

Register Today

Registration is now open:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climate-education-collaborative-summit-tickets-1987822540730

Whether you're a classroom educator, nonprofit professional, community partner, youth advocate, or climate education leader, this Summit offers a unique opportunity to reconnect with purpose, strengthen regional relationships, and help shape the future of climate education in the Northeast.

We hope to see you at Shelburne Farms this September!

Where Creativity Meets Environmental Action

Through seed funding up to USD $2,500, peer support, and capacity building programs, the Fellowship empowers youth around the world leveraging the creative arts to safeguard the ocean, waterways, and climate.  Who Can Apply? Young people worldwide ages 16-24, who are starting or working on projects addressing concerns related to the ocean, waterways and/or climate issues through a creative arts lens  Individuals, groups, or organizations  New or emerging projects less than two years old If selected, you will receive: Funding up to USD $2,500  Access to a community of other Fellows and Capacity Building Programs  Support from the Future Blue Youth Council and Bow Seat staff    Submit by August 30th @11:59pm ET

Apply Now

Attend the True Blue Fellowship Info Session!

Join us to learn more about the True Blue Fellowship from program alumni, hear about their experiences, and discover what makes a strong application. Whether you're considering applying or simply want to learn more, this session is a great opportunity to ask questions and gain insights directly from past Fellows and Bow Seat staff.  Saturday, August 8 | 10:00–11:00 AM ET

Register Here

Get Inspired by the Success of The 2025 True Blue Fellows!

The 2025 True Blue Fellowship Year in Review highlights the inspiring projects and milestones of the 2025 Fellows, who made a difference in their communities through their innovative ocean and climate projects. Explore their impact, and imagine what your own project could achieve.

Read the Report

Vermont Education & Environment Network (VEEN) Joins Fund IRL to Support Youth in Real Life

Young people don’t just need less screen time. They need more opportunities to connect in real life.

Community-based supports, like afterschool and youth development programs, help create environments where young people build relationships, develop confidence, and feel a sense of belonging as they find their footing in the world.

But too many young people still don’t have access to these kinds of opportunities.

Cost, transportation, and limited availability continue to create barriers, especially in underserved communities.

At the same time, social media lawsuits are moving forward across the country. If these cases result in settlements, they could create a significant opportunity to invest in youth development programs at scale.

What matters now is how those funds are used—and whether they reach programs that support young people directly.

That’s why Vermont Education & Environment Network (VEEN) is part of the Fund IRL coalition.

Across Vermont and the region, we see firsthand the impact that hands-on environmental education, outdoor learning, and youth leadership opportunities can have on young people. Experiences that connect youth with caring mentors, their communities, and the natural world help build resilience, belonging, and a sense of purpose. Additional funding could expand access to these opportunities, ensuring that more young people—regardless of where they live or their family's income—can participate in meaningful real-world learning experiences.

We have seen this before. Without clear planning, large settlement funds can be redirected or diluted.

Fund IRL is working to ensure that any potential funding is invested in programs that provide real-world connection, mentorship, and opportunity for young people.

This is a moment to act early and shape what comes next.

Join the Coalition: FundIRL.org.

VEEN is excited to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of this year's Youth Climate Leaders Academy (YCLA) participants! Hosted by our organizational member, the Vermont Energy Education Program, YCLA empowers high school students across Vermont and New Hampshire to design and implement projects that address real-world climate challenges in their schools and communities.

Throughout the year, student teams identified climate-related issues they care about, developed solutions, collaborated with peers and mentors, and turned their ideas into meaningful action. Their creativity, leadership, and commitment to building a more sustainable future are truly inspiring.

We encourage you to explore this year's student projects and celebrate their achievements in the latest YCLA newsletter:

Youth Climate Leaders Academy Newsletter

Interested in getting involved? YCLA is open to students in grades 9–12 and provides educators and youth with the resources, mentorship, and support needed to develop impactful climate action projects. The 2026 Kick-Off Retreat will take place December 4–5, 2026, with registration opening this September.

Learn more about the Youth Climate Leaders Academy and how to participate at:

VEEP Youth Climate Leaders Academy

Are you a young adult passionate about the outdoors, leadership, and building a more inclusive outdoor community?

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is accepting applications for its Emerging Leaders Summit (ELS)—a leadership development and stewardship experience that brings together young adults from across the eastern United States to learn, connect, and give back to the Appalachian Trail.

Who should apply?
Young adults ages 18–30 who:

• Are interested in Appalachian Trail stewardship and conservation
• Want to develop leadership skills and build community
• Are passionate about creating welcoming and inclusive outdoor spaces
• Have any level of outdoor experience (no prior experience required)
• Come from a variety of educational, professional, and volunteer backgrounds

Priority will be given to applicants living in the eastern United States and those received by July 31st.

Participants will engage in hands-on stewardship projects, shared outdoor experiences, leadership development activities, and networking with peers who care about the future of our public lands and outdoor spaces.

Learn more and apply:
Emerging Leaders Summit Application

Questions? Contact: ELS@appalachiantrail.org

This is a great opportunity for college students, recent graduates, early-career professionals, and emerging leaders looking to deepen their connection to conservation, stewardship, and outdoor leadership.

Registration is now open for the NAAEE 2026 Conference (October 6–9) & Research Symposium (October 6–7), hosted by the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) in partnership with the Environmental Education Association of Oregon. In times of change, imagination matters. This year’s theme of “Imagine If…” invites us to pause, look beyond current constraints, and consider what becomes possible when education drives connection, action, and positive change. We’ll explore how we can build on the momentum already underway across our field—and what more becomes possible when environmental education is fully leveraged to shape a more just, resilient, and sustainable world.

The Annual Conference and Research Symposium offer inspiring and thoughtful keynotes, a rich variety of workshops, presentations, symposium panels, discussions, bright spots, and posters, along with great opportunities for networking, growth, and change.

NAAEE is committed to making this in-person experience accessible to all, with financial aid and scholarships available. Check the conference website for information.

To help share this announcement, view the NAAEE 2026 Promo Toolkit. Thank you!

The True Blue Fellowship empowers young people around the world, who are using creativity to drive environmental action. Through funding of up to USD $2,500, peer support, and capacity-building opportunities, Fellows receive the resources they need to grow projects that safeguard the ocean, waterways, and climate.

Eligible applicants:

• Ages 16–24 worldwide

• Individuals, groups, or organizations

• New or emerging projects less than two years old

• Projects addressing ocean, waterway, and/or climate issues through a creative arts lens

Selected Fellows receive funding, access to a global community of peers, and support from the Future Blue Youth Council and Bow Seat staff.

Applications are due by August 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.

Learn more and apply here: https://bowseat.org/programs/true-blue-fellowship/

How is environmental science being taught in high schools today? What resources and support do teachers need most?

To help answer these questions, the North American Association for Environmental Education has partnered with BSCS Science Learning and the FieldScope Project to launch a national survey of high school environmental science teachers.

The survey explores topics including classroom instruction, field experiences, citizen science, curriculum choices, data collection practices, and professional learning needs. Findings will help shape future environmental science curricula, tools, and professional development opportunities.

The survey is open to any high school teacher who teaches environmental science as a dedicated course or as a significant component of a broader science class. It takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.

If you teach high school environmental science—or know someone who does—please consider participating and sharing this opportunity with your network.

Learn more and take the survey:
NAAEE Survey Announcement

The more educators who participate, the stronger and more representative the findings will be.

The Wade Institute for Science Education at Manomet Conservation Sciences

2026 Summer Professional Development Institutes From Waterwheels to Waterways: Engineering Design and Environmental Science in the Lowell Mills A 3-Day Hybrid Professional Development Institute for Grades 6-12 Educators Virtual Dates: Mondays, July 13th and 20th, 2026 (9:30 AM – 1:00 PM ET) In-Person Dates: Thursday and Friday, July 16th and 17th, 2026 (8:30 AM – 3:30 PM ET) Location: 2 half-days online via Zoom (9:30 AM – 1:00 PM ET), and 2 in-person days in Lowell, MA (8:30 AM – 3:30 PM ET) Collaborating Partners: Tsongas Industrial History Center; Lowell National Historical Park Cost: $375 per educator; $325 per educator if attending in a team of 3 or more educators In this 3-day hybrid institute, participants will explore the Lowell and Merrimack River Watershed through hands-on, inquiry-based learning that connects history, engineering, and environmental science. With guidance from local experts and partners, educators will investigate the industrial legacy of Lowell, examine its environmental recovery, and collaborate to design a working model of the city’s historic mill-and-canal system. Awareness Inspires Conservation: From Data to Action A 4-Day Professional Development Institute for Grades 3-8 Educators Dates: Monday, July 20th - Thursday, July 23rd, 2026 (8:30 AM -3:30 PM ET) Location: Cape Cod, MA (Eastham, MA/Chatham, MA) Collaborating Partners: Atlantic White Shark Conservancy; Center for Coastal Studies Cost: $475 per educator; $425 per educator if attending in a team of 3 or more educators This 4-day Summer Institute immerses educators in real-world conservation challenges, from species recovery to human-wildlife interactions, through authentic research, data analysis, and field investigations. In collaboration with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy and the Center for Coastal Studies, participants will engage in hands-on activities such as shark dissection, coastal exploration, and data mapping, with an optional fifth day featuring a “Science in the Harbor” tour in Provincetown, MA. Resilient Coasts: Using Local Phenomena to Understand Climate Solutions A 3-Day Professional Development Institute for Grades 6-12 Educators Dates: Tuesday, July 28th - Thursday, July 30th, 2026 (8:30 AM -3:30 PM ET) Location: Crane Beach, The Trustees of Reservations (Ipswich, MA) Collaborating Partner: The Trustees of Reservations Cost: $375 per educator; $325 per educator if attending in a team of 3 or more educators This multi-day summer Institute offers educators a place-based professional learning experience in coastal science and conservation at Crane Beach, combining hands-on fieldwork with collaboration alongside scientists. Through authentic data analysis and exploration of restoration projects, participants will gain tools and strategies to connect local environmental change to broader science concepts and classroom inquiry. PDPs and Optional Graduate Credit are available for all Institutes. Additional work required for graduate credit. 2026 Late Summer Focus Workshop The Living Storyline: Ecosystems, Inquiry, & Real-World Science A 2-Day Focus Workshop for Grades 3-8 Educators Bring new life to your science curriculum through locally-relevant phenomena! You will explore both coastal and terrestrial ecosystems, including their interactions, biodiversity, and the relationship between change in populations and human impact. (The Lloyd Center’s 82 acres of forest, wetland, salt marsh, and estuary makes for a great location to explore ecosystems!) Participating teachers will explore how to use compelling real-world phenomena to anchor a cohesive storyline unit that builds student understanding over time. You will experience a variety of participatory science projects, including a BioBlitz, and even take canoes out on the Slocums River! Educators will leave with adaptable tools, instructional resources, and confidence to implement storyline teaching and meaningful, nature-based investigations in their own classrooms. Location: Lloyd Center for the Environment (South Dartmouth, MA) Dates: Tuesday, August 11th & Wednesday, August 12th, 2026 (8:30 AM – 3:30 PM ET, in person) Cost: $275 per educator PDPs and Optional Graduate Credit: 14 PDPs are available without graduate credit. 22.5 PDPs and 1 graduate are available for an additional cost. Additional work is required for graduate credit. Educators can learn more about these programs and register online at wadeinstitutema.org!

Vermont school districts have an exciting opportunity to improve indoor air quality, increase energy efficiency, and build staff expertise through the 2026–2027 School Air Quality Fellowship.

The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council is now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 School Air Quality Fellowship. Running from September 2026 to May 2027, this nine-month program empowers K-12 public school district staff to develop plans for cleaner indoor air and energy efficiency.

Fellowship Benefits:

• Personalized Training and Technical Assistance: Specialized Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and energy management training from industry leaders
• Paid Credentials: Fully paid support for earning credentials like the Building Operator Certification, Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian, and LEED Green Associate
• Green Schools Conference Attendance: Travel and attendance to the Green Schools Conference and School Facilities Leadership Summit in Austin, TX (Feb 8-11, 2027).
• Peer Networking: Connection with a cohort of regional and national peers
• Mini-Grant Funding: The opportunity to receive up to $30,000 in mini-grant funds through a collaboration with the American Lung Association 

Monetary Value: The estimated monetary value of the Fellowship is $5,000, with potential for up to $30,000 in mini-grant funding.

Participant Commitments

• Develop or refine district-level written IAQ guidelines with expert guidance
• Select and complete a relevant professional credential
• Attend national conference in Austin, TX February 2027 (travel and attendance included with Fellowship)
• Devote roughly 10 hours per month to Fellowship training, technical assistance, and credential work (may vary depending on credentialing opportunity pursued)

Application Process and Timeline:

• Application open April 24 – July 10, 2026
• Fellows selected by July 31, 2026
• Fellowship runs September 2026 through May 2027

See the Center for Green Schools website for more information including FAQs, and a Justification Letter that applicants can share with their supervisors. 

Questions: contact schools@usgbc.org.

APPLY NOW

New England districts interested in learning more are also encouraged to connect with Medea Villeré, the Northeast regional contact for the program, who can discuss the fellowship, indoor air quality initiatives, and related school sustainability projects. Her email is mvillere@usgbc.org.