Cornell Climate Steward Training Offered This Fall

People who want to take action in their communities to address the local climate impacts may apply now to join the Cornell Climate Stewards (CCS) training, a free program offered online this fall by Cornell University and participating Cornell Cooperative Extension local offices.

The 12-week Cornell Climate Stewards Program was designed to train and empower volunteers to actively address the impact of our changing environment and to support their local communities with this work. Led by Cornell University and Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) educators, the CCS training classes will cover up-to-date land grant university research, science, and best practices for local resilience while expanding a statewide network of volunteers committed to local action, who are empowered to develop and implement stewardship projects in their communities.

After the training, Cornell Climate Steward volunteers agree to contribute 40 hours over one year to a local project of their own design to help advance their community’s goals. Across New York State, past CCS volunteers have helped their communities earn the Climate Smart Community designation; they have planted community pollinator gardens, volunteered on municipal boards and commissions, and educated neighbors about stormwater management and flood preparation. Project possibilities are unlimited, for more examples, visit https://climatestewards.cornell.edu/climate-stewards-storymap/.

The Fall 2025 CSS training will be offered weekly on Wednesdays at 6:00-8:00pm, from September 10 to December 10 (with no classes on 10/1 and 11/26).  All course materials will be available electronically and participants must be able to attend all training classes online using the Zoom platform.  Additional field trips or meet-ups may be scheduled during the training period, depending upon the availability of participants and staff.  Ideally trainees and their local CCE educator will meet and build relationships with other class participants and support one another. Such field trips/meet-ups will be discussed within the group during the training sessions. Local CCE staff will support participant involvement during the training sessions, and during their volunteer involvement however participants will be responsible for executing their own stewardship projects.

Those who are interested in joining the Cornell Climate Stewards should apply online by Thursday, July 31, 2025.  Spaces are limited and completing the application does not guarantee enrollment in the training program. All applicants will have an informal online interview after an initial review of applications, and successful candidates will be notified and enrolled in the training once all interviews are completed.

Residents of Cayuga, Schuyler and Seneca Counties ONLY may register/apply at https://ccecayuga.org/ClimateStewards2025 or at https://bit.ly/ClimateStewards , and may contact [email protected] with questions about the program or for application assistance. Residents of other New York counties should contact their local Cornell Cooperative Extension office to learn if an educator on that staff will be participating in the program and supporting local volunteers in the Fall 2025 Climate Stewards Volunteer Training Program. To locate your local CCE office, visit: https://cals.cornell.edu/cornell-cooperative-extension/local-offices , or contact the Cornell Climate Stewards program directly at: [email protected]

About Cornell Climate Stewards: The Cornell Climate Stewards Program was developed by researchers, Extension specialists, and students from Cornell University, NY Sea Grant, and Cornell Cooperative Extension through a rigorous three-year process involving many partners and funding from the National Institute for Food & Agriculture (NIFA), federal Extension Smith-Lever dollars, and a pilot grant from the NYS Energy Research Development Agency (NYSERDA). Cornell Climate Stewards continues to grow throughout New York with funding from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). For more information about this statewide program, visit: https://climatestewards.cornell.edu/