Informal learning settings reach a range of audiences with climate change education, but one commonly overlooked audience is young adults. In recent years, the National Audubon Society has expanded its efforts to engage underrepresented young adults in climate education and action through its network of more than 30 centers and through its Audubon on Campus program. In particular, Audubon is working to reach young adults from historically underrepresented communities via guided nature experiences that emphasize climate science and action. This chapter summarizes the lessons learned from a four-year project to implement theoretical and empirically based strategies to design guided nature experiences for young adults, with a focus on climate education and action. Through these efforts, Audubon identified lessons for other informal settings to consider, including (a) engaging young adults as the designers and leaders of climate change education efforts so that participants see others “like them;” (b) creating opportunities for advocacy and action within education experiences; (c) focusing on actions that are relevant and feasible to the lives and lifestyles of young adults; (d) ensuring accessibility and affordability by providing transportation, equipment, and other resources; and (e) planning extra time for co-designing programs and efforts.

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National Audubon Society: Engaging Young Adults in Climate Change Education in Informal Settings

  • Joy Kubarek,
  • Brian Johnson,
  • Loren Smith,
  • Alayna Schmidt

摘要

Informal learning settings reach a range of audiences with climate change education, but one commonly overlooked audience is young adults. In recent years, the National Audubon Society has expanded its efforts to engage underrepresented young adults in climate education and action through its network of more than 30 centers and through its Audubon on Campus program. In particular, Audubon is working to reach young adults from historically underrepresented communities via guided nature experiences that emphasize climate science and action. This chapter summarizes the lessons learned from a four-year project to implement theoretical and empirically based strategies to design guided nature experiences for young adults, with a focus on climate education and action. Through these efforts, Audubon identified lessons for other informal settings to consider, including (a) engaging young adults as the designers and leaders of climate change education efforts so that participants see others “like them;” (b) creating opportunities for advocacy and action within education experiences; (c) focusing on actions that are relevant and feasible to the lives and lifestyles of young adults; (d) ensuring accessibility and affordability by providing transportation, equipment, and other resources; and (e) planning extra time for co-designing programs and efforts.