We support meaningful, local climate-related learning experiences and career-connected education pathways to help future generations care for and sustain our world.
We are on a mission to ensure the next generation is equipped with the agency, knowledge and skills needed to address the impacts of climate change and to foster a resilient future for themselves and their communities.
We work towards a shared understanding of climate literacy and green skills, aligning policies across Colorado to support and encourage climate education and pathways to green careers.
We expand access to formal and informal climate-related education experiences for all young people.
With a focus on rural communities, we support collaboratives of K-12 school districts, higher education and industry to create pathways that help students explore and access high-quality green careers.
We empower youth – to grow their agency around the climate crisis, to lead the shaping of the Climatarium model, and to connect with other passionate young people.
2023 is shaping up to be the hottest year in recorded history, with Colorado experiencing the repercussions of climate change — a warmed state, decreased snowpack in the Southern Rockies, and devastating forest fires. The call for urgent and united action is more critical than ever.
In response, Climatarium is on a mission to transform Colorado into a beacon of community-driven climate education in the next five years. We’re focused on supporting young people with:
The Climatarium’s initiative, deeply rooted in community collaboration, is already making waves.
Climatarium rural collaboratives/hubs
Institutes of higher education
Rural K-12 school districts
Industry and community partner
Through this network, we have showcased what’s possible when diverse partners unify to address significant challenges. This ecosystem supports a range of green job pathways, including in energy, agriculture, and outdoor tourism sectors.
These offerings have the potential to impact 15,000+ middle and high school students across five hubs. While celebrating local successes, we recognize the need for broader, statewide strategies.
Climatarium hubs throughout rural Colorado are driving education, climate resilience, and economic prosperity.
Explore the bright spots of rural collaboration championed by Climatarium, fostering education and economic prosperity in rural Colorado since 2019. Each hub is a testament to the power of community, promoting climate-career-connected learning, and bringing forward innovative solutions to climate challenges.
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We identify and connect potential partners and bring youth together.
We facilitate visioning and support partners in learning across contexts.
We offer technical support and coaching on areas such as governance, sustainability, and coalition building.
We advance the policy conditions at a district and state level necessary for climate education and action to be celebrated.
We work to ensure rural regions can bring their ideas to life by connecting them to critical funds and partners.
Through our experiential learning work, we create high-quality learning opportunities through collaborations with rural education collaboratives, nonprofits, higher education institutions, and the private sector. Our work seeks to ensure Colorado’s youth have hands-on education and leadership experiences focused on climate resiliency.
Core values of our experiential learning work include:
ECI supports high school youth as they find their passions, explore their regional environment, and learn from real-world business leaders and activists.
Established in August 2020 by Lyra Colorado and Fort Lewis College, ECI nurtures high school students’ academic exploration, career readiness, and leadership development interested in Colorado’s environmental and climate issues. Based at Fort Lewis College each summer, ECI combines real-world learning opportunities, including mobile labs and outdoor field trips, to cultivate changemakers in environmental stewardship.
Discover the opportunities ECI offers, now a partnership between the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative and Fort Lewis College, supported by Lyra.
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Parents, teachers, superintendents and students - Are you interested in launching a similar program in your community?
If you are interested in bringing climate-related career connected learning to your community please reach out.
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