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Climate Boot Camp
Developing the Next Generation of Climate Professionals
Climate Boot Camp at a Glance
Each summer Climate Science Center graduate students join early career professionals
from universities, Tribes, state and federal agencies and non-governmental organizations in a rural location to improve their climate science knowledge and skills during a
week-long Climate Boot Camp. The Northwest Climate Science Center (NW CSC)
hosts the retreat to help prepare selectively-invited participants to face the challenges
and opportunities of climate change as our next generation of scientists, educators,
policy-makers and natural and cultural resource managers.
• A week-long retreat to prepare the
next generation of scientists,
educators, policy-makers and resource managers for the opportunities and challenges of climate
change.
Through carefully-planned field trips, skill-building exercises and classroom activities,
Climate Boot Camp Fellows deepen their understanding of basic climate science,
science communication and the science-policy interface. Climate Boot Camp location
changes from year to year, and setting plays an important role in the curriculum. Participants witness first hand the collaboration needed between agencies, Tribes and local
communities to address climate adaptation. They also learn to connect science with local knowledge in ways that help inform decision-making for policy and on-the-ground
management. At the end of the week, Fellows leave with new skills, new knowledge
and an expanded network of colleagues, both local and national.
• Brings together invited Climate
Science Center Graduate Fellows
from across the country with invited
early career professionals from
agencies, tribes, universities and
non-governmental organizations.
• Provides location-based training in
climate science, science communication, decision-making
for policy and management and
integrating different types of
climate knowledge.
• Enhances careers, improves decisions and leads to better policy
through impacts that last long after
participants have returned to the
routines of school and work.
The Northwest Climate Science Center
The NW CSC advances climate science development and delivery for Idaho, Ore-
gon, western Montana, and Washington. It was established by the Department of
the Interior (DOI) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 2010, in partnership with
the academic consortium of Oregon State University, University of Washington and
University of Idaho. Together with DOI’s other eight regional CSCs, the NW CSC
assesses the impacts of climate change and other stressors that transcend management
boundaries, identifying strategies to build the resilience of our nation’s valuable natural
and cultural resources. For more about the NW CSC visit https://www.nwclimatescience.org/user or http://www.doi.gov/csc/northwest/index.cfm.
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A Broad, Place-Based Curriculum
While the educational content of Climate Boot Camp varies
from year to year as experts with local knowledge participate at the different hosting locations, certain themes remain
constant over time. Each year subject experts provide training
modules on basic climate science, science communication, the
science-policy interface and diversity in ways of knowing.
Understanding the major indicators of climate
change in terrestrial and aquatic environments
One of the most popular components of Climate Boot
Camp training is the module on basic climate science and
modeling, that focuses on projected impacts to local Northwest natural and built environments. Because participants
come from a range of academic and professional disciplines,
they consistently rate this basic primer/ refresher as very
valuable.
Projected temperature differences for the Pacific Northwest from 1950-1999
average. Figure by David Rupp, Oregon State University
Improving communication of climate science
for diverse audiences
Nick Houtman (right) and Justin Smith from Oregon State University filmed interviews with fellows to help illustrate effective strategies for communicating science.
Climate Boot Camp curriculum includes a communication
module to prepare participants to collaborate with people
from a range of backgrounds. Past fellows have learned best
practices from experienced communication professionals,
while engaging in exercises to help them craft key messages,
prepare for and participate in interviews, and create video
footage of their research.
Building relationships to foster collaboration and
adaptive management
Engaging with practicing professionals as fellow Climate
Boot Camp Fellows offers participants the chance to recognize ‘real life’ challenges and opportunities in natural
resource management. Additionally, participants see diverse perspectives among panel members that represent
senior level representatives from local agencies, Tribes and
non-governmental organizations. Field trips also help build
understanding of on-the-ground natural resource management and policy.
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A panel of natural resource management professionals including (from left) Jana
Gastelum, Oregon Environmental Council; Louisa Evers, Bureau of Land
Management; David Graves, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission;
Hedia Adelsman, Washington State Department of Ecology; and Toni Turner,
Bureau of Reclamation.
Knowledge Integration
Reconciling different ways of knowing about climate change
Climate Boot Camp curriculum is designed to offer an opportunity for fellows to reflect on conceptual, empirical and ethical dimensions of knowledge
integration in research and education. CBC
fellows address and shift their research assumptions through structured activities, such
as facilitated discussion, intended to provide
practical approaches to collaboration across
disciplines.
Each year curriculum also includes presentations, discussion and field trips highlighting
Traditional Ecological Knowledge—knowledge that is produced from observations
over long periods of time about the function,
history, cultural purpose, and availability of
various resources. Fellows learn to better
understand diverse forms of knowledge and
improve their ability to work across cultures.
Oueida Colwash, a member of the
Warm Springs Tribe, spoke to 2014
participants about historic huckleberry
and bull trout management practices.
Success in expanding key knowledge
Climate Boot Camp strives to deliver relevant, applied, topical curriculum to
participants. Programmatic components and learning outcomes are assessed
through two web-based surveys- one administered before the retreat and one
after. Quantitative approaches are used to measure aspects of learning such
as whether participants increased their level of understanding of a particular
topic, while qualitative approaches are used to gather suggestions for improving the curriculum and delivery. Overall feedback has been very positive- in
2014, 90% or more of respondents found almost all of the training modules
to be valuable or very valuable.
The Early Climate Career
Forum
Climate Boot Camp participants
depart with an expanded network of
colleagues throughout the Northwest region and beyond. The Early
Climate Career Forum (ECCF), an
online community of early career
scientists, managers and others,
helps keep recent and past participants connected on issues related
to climate change. The ECCF was
developed out of the 2012 Climate
Boot Camp as a way for alumni to
interact, discuss relevant topics and
share resources. Additionally, it provides an accessible outlet for anyone
interested in learning more about
climate science from people intimately involved in studying climate
and its implications for ecosystems
and human communities.
More information can be found at
http://eccforum.csc.alaska.edu.
Before Climate Bootcamp 2014 only 2% of participants indicated that they had an above average
or better understanding of knowledge production - by the end that portion increased to 65%.
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Lasting Impacts
So far Climate Boot Camp has trained 68 Fellows from many different agencies, tribes, non-governmental organizations and every regional Climate Science Center in the country. Each alumni leaves Boot Camp with their own story. Here are four of them.
James Holt, Nez Perce Tribe
James Holt is the Director of the Nez Perce Tribe Water Resources Division. In his
words, “The Climate Boot Camp I attended in McCall, Idaho provided me with a concise
curriculum in understanding what studies are taking place in my region. This foundation
provides a strong platform for working with federal agencies in their efforts to manage
and protect subsistence, cultural, and spiritual resources throughout my homeland. The
Nez Perce Tribe is continuing to develop policies and studies on how best to address these
man-made impacts to our way of life. The people I met while there are still in my life to
this day. It was a wonderful experience both personally and professionally.”
Rachel Reagan, U.S. Geological Survey
Rachel Reagan participated in the first year of the Climate Boot Camp as a U.S. Geological
Survey Biologist. She writes “Climate Boot Camp was a unique experience that allowed
me to learn more about climate science, understand climate impacts from many disciplines
and perspectives, and become part of a larger science community. Since Boot Camp, I
have gone on to collaborate on multi-disciplinary research projects addressing climate
change impacts, participate in federal forums, and even went back to graduate school to
learn more! My graduate research evaluates the costs and benefits of culvert replacements
in light of climate influences, benefits to fish, and infrastructure design. I will graduate this
spring and look forward to future opportunities to contribute in this field.”
Tricia Tillmann, EnviroIssues
As a member of the National Wildlife Federation’s climate change adaptation team, Tricia Tillmann compiled reports on climate impacts on the ecosystems of western North
America and worked with nearly 200 natural and cultural resources professionals to identify
challenges and needs for managing regional ecosystems. Of Climate Boot Camp, Tricia
says “It provided critical training in how to communicate environmental issues with diverse
public audiences, a skill I now use with EnviroIssues, a public involvement and communications firm. I feel fortunate to meet and connect with so many exceptional early career
climate change scientists and professionals - the collaborative opportunities at Boot Camp
are outstanding.”
Jacob Wolf, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
After graduating from the University of Idaho, Jacob Wolf was hired as the Air Quality
Meteorologist for the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. He now develops
products and forecasts to help state, federal and tribal agencies determine limits on burning and other polluting activities. Jacob identifies Climate Boot Camp as one of the most
valuable aspects of his graduate training. “It was eye-opening for me to consider the importance of taking scientific results from researchers and effectively relating them to land
managers, stakeholders, and non-scientists. To me, it was very useful to work in the Boot
Camp environment as it opened many different branches of the information tree that I
hadn’t previously considered.”
For more information about Climate Boot Camp visit our staff page at
https://www.nwclimatescience.org/bootcamp/staff
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