Cornell Climate Stewards are Volunteers committed to addressing resiliency issues - Are you interested in helping your community adapt to our changing environment?
CCE Cattaraugus is excited to participate in a statewide training created to help local citizens learn about the science and best practices for addressing the resiliency issues affecting their communities and completing a local volunteer stewardship project. Previous projects have included organizing a public education event, hosting repair cafes and supporting local taskforce initiatives- there are many options to choose from!
Modeled after other popular Extension volunteer programs, such as the Master Gardeners program, the 2025 training will be led by Cornell, CCE and Sea Grant staff from across NYS with in-person, hybrid, and zoom options. Participants will receive training and support from their local Cornell Cooperative Extension office. Join over 100 stewards and educators in over 25 counties today!
The Cornell Climate Stewards training program with Cornell Cooperative Extension Cattaraugus County is now taking applications for a 12-module training this Fall. This effort will equip participants to act to address resiliency issues in their communities through educational outreach and steward-led projects.
The 12-session Cornell Climate Stewards Training will be held on:
- Wednesdays, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
- Dates: Sept 10, 2025 – December 10, 2025
- Location to be announced
For more information, please get in touch with Kim Oudemool, Natural Resources Educator, at kkr35 [at] cornell.edu%C2%A0">kkr35 [at] cornell.edu or (716) 699-2377 ext. 106
Cornell Climate Stewards Training Program
The Cornell Climate Stewards training consists of 12 modules taught over 12 weeks, beginning on September 10, 2025, and will be held in person. In each of the first 10 training sessions, trainees will cover a specific topic, with additional outside readings, videos, and group activities designed to develop skills needed to lead and educate their communities in background science and best practices.
- Module 1: Program Orientation
- Module 2: Background Science
- Module 3: Impacts Part 1
- Module 4: Impacts Part 2
- Module 5: Working with Local Communities
- Module 6: Intro to Mitigation
- Module 7: Local Community Mitigation Strategies
- Module 8: Intro to Adaption
- Module 9: Local Community Adaptation Strategies
- Module 10: Science Communication
- Module 11: Planning Volunteer Projects
- Module 12: Presenting, Recognition and Evaluation 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.
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 a concrete list of actions that communities can take to address the impacts and become more resilient in the face of new environmental challenges. Cornell Climate Stewards volunteers will use the CSC action list to determine what municipalities have already done and opportunities to take action.
Find more information about the program here: Cornell Climate Steward Website
Click https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/2025ClimateStewardsCatt_258 to complete the application for our upcoming Cornell Climate Stewards training.
