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Climate Boot CampDeveloping the Next Generation of Climate ProfessionalsEach summer Climate Science Center graduate students join early career professionals from universities, Tribes, state and federal agencies and non-governmental organiza-tions 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.

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. Par-ticipants witness first hand the collaboration needed between agencies, Tribes and local communities to address climate adaptation. They also learn to connect science with lo-cal 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.

The Northwest Climate Science CenterThe 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.nwclimate-science.org/user or http://www.doi.gov/csc/northwest/index.cfm.

Climate Boot Camp at a Glance• A week-long retreat to prepare the

next generation of scientists, educators, policy-makers and re-source managers for the opportu-nities and challenges of climate change.

• 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 com-munication, decision-making for policy and management and integrating different types of climate knowledge.

• Enhances careers, improves de-cisions and leads to better policy through impacts that last long after participants have returned to the routines of school and work.

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A Broad, Place-Based Curriculum

Understanding the major indicators of climate change in terrestrial and aquatic environmentsOne 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 North-west 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.

While the educational content of Climate Boot Camp varies from year to year as experts with local knowledge partici-pate 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.

Improving communication of climate science for diverse audiencesClimate 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 rec-ognize ‘real life’ challenges and opportunities in natural resource management. Additionally, participants see di-verse 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 manage-ment and policy.

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.

Nick Houtman (right) and Justin Smith from Oregon State University filmed in-terviews with fellows to help illustrate effective strategies for communicating science.

Projected temperature differences for the Pacific Northwest from 1950-1999 average. Figure by David Rupp, Oregon State University

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Knowledge Integration

The Early Climate Career Forum Climate Boot Camp participants depart with an expanded network of colleagues throughout the North-west region and beyond. The Early Climate Career Forum (ECCF), an online community of early career scientists, managers and others, helps keep recent and past partic-ipants 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 pro-vides an accessible outlet for anyone interested in learning more about climate science from people inti-mately involved in studying climate and its implications for ecosystems and human communities.

More information can be found at http://eccforum.csc.alaska.edu.

Reconciling different ways of knowing about climate change

Climate Boot Camp curriculum is designed to offer an opportunity for fel-lows to reflect on conceptual, empirical and ethical dimensions of knowledge integration in research and education. CBC fellows address and shift their research as-sumptions through structured activities, such as facilitated discussion, intended to provide practical approaches to collaboration across disciplines.

Each year curriculum also includes presenta-tions, discussion and field trips highlighting Traditional Ecological Knowledge—knowl-edge 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.

Success in expanding key knowledgeClimate 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 improv-ing 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.

Oueida Colwash, a member of the Warm Springs Tribe, spoke to 2014 participants about historic huckleberry and bull trout management practices.

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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Jacob Wolf, Idaho Department of Environmental QualityAfter 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 burn-ing 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 im-portance 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.”

Lasting Impacts

Rachel Reagan, U.S. Geological SurveyRachel 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.”

James Holt, Nez Perce TribeJames 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.”

Tricia Tillmann, EnviroIssuesAs a member of the National Wildlife Federation’s climate change adaptation team, Tri-cia 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 commu-nications 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.”

For more information about Climate Boot Camp visit our staff page at https://www.nwclimatescience.org/bootcamp/staff

So far Climate Boot Camp has trained 68 Fellows from many different agencies, tribes, non-governmental organizations and ev-ery regional Climate Science Center in the country. Each alumni leaves Boot Camp with their own story. Here are four of them.