Written By Jennifer H. Kovalt, Cornell Cooperative Extension Saratoga County
While weather is a short-term condition of the atmosphere outside your door, climate is the long-term pattern of the weather in a particular region.
Though in the northeast we enjoy four distinct seasons, over recent years we have been experiencing more extreme weather events and changes to our climate. Many individuals wonder how they can help their communities mitigate and adapt to these changes to be better prepared.
A newer program created to meet the need for local action is the Cornell Climate Stewards program. Developed by researchers, Extension specialists, students from Cornell University and NY Sea Grant, it is modeled after other Extension programs with a volunteer component, like CCE Master Gardeners, Master Forest Owners, and Master Composters. CCE programs include a mission of putting knowledge to work in pursuit of economic vitality, ecological sustainability and social well-being. Each year this program expands to more counties across the state including CCE of Saratoga County!
Cornell Climate Stewards volunteers are given the tools to learn and communicate about climate science and includes 12 weekly online classes. The training culminates in a certificate of completion and opportunity to complete a 40-hour stewardship project of their choosing over the course of a year. Examples of projects include creating pollinator gardens, invasive species removal, supporting a local task force, winter seed sowing of native plants, or organizing a public educational event; the opportunities are only limited by the imagination! Many existing organizations and municipalities in the Saratoga area are already doing this work, have a laundry list of needs, and would love to be matched with more volunteers!
Funding to create the program came from many sources, but sustained funding is from NY’s Department of Environmental Conservation which helps the program continue to grow. Another way that volunteers can combine efforts is to seek out projects identified through the New York State Climate Smart Communities Program.
To find out if your municipality is a registered or certified community,
visit www.climatesmart.ny.gov. To find out more about the Cornell Climate Stewards Program visit www.climatestewards.cornell.edu
or contact
Training for the fall cohort begins in September and will occur on
Thursday nights.