ResilienceMT: Partnering with Rural and Tribal Communities to Cultivate Youth Climate Resilience Engagement

Abstract

ResilienceMT is a NOAA-funded education effort to cultivate Montana communities’ resilience to drought, wildfire and smoke, extreme heat, and flooding. Led by the University of Montana, the project partners include several Montana rural and tribal communities as well as Montana State University. With current and predicted impacts of the changing climate on the rise, Montana communities need to prepare for more extreme future conditions. This article describes the project co-design process used to envision and create climate resilience education activities and products, including a traveling climate resilience science exhibition, with and for Montana communities. Descriptions of exhibition elements and how they scaffold student voice and empowerment are provided, along with lessons learned for effective collaborations to support youth engagement in community-driven climate resilience learning and action.