Join us for an exploration of education in the era of climate change, as schools seek to develop and empower students as active and engaged global citizens. Hosted at Appleby College located outside of Toronto, ON in partnership with the Klingenstein Center at Teachers College, Columbia University
As the impact of climate change continues to be felt across the world, students and educators are increasingly looking for ways in which they can respond. Research on youth climate anxiety highlights the challenge it presents for young people but also identifies the power of climate action as its antidote. Join us for an exploration of education in the era of climate change, as schools seek to develop and empower students as active and engaged global citizens, in the classroom and beyond.
What are schools, leaders, educators, students, and community partners doing in response to climate change? How are schools rethinking traditional models to center engaged and active student learning for today’s world? Examples of innovation in the area of teaching climate action are emerging in significant ways, and this summit will provide the opportunity for educators to learn about trends, models, and tools that can directly impact their work in schools.
Educators in a variety of positions, from across grade levels and disciplines, will share how they intentionally embed student action in their learning design, and participants in this summit will learn from these case studies as well as emerging research in the field of climate education. Schools will leave with new ideas and resources on how to engage students in a myriad of ways from civic and political engagement to partnering with local artists, immersive learning experiences, and school-wide sustainability programs. Participants will also be able to connect and collaborate with each other as they consider future opportunities for their schools.
SUMMIT DETAILS
Organized by Institute for Global Learning (formerly GEBG) in partnership with the Klingenstein Center and hosted at Appleby College, this summit will provide school leaders and educators the opportunity to build community, to share and collaborate, and to learn from scholars and leaders in the field of climate education.
COST & REGISTRATION
Member school and Teacher’s College student discount registration is $350 USD per person; non-member school registration is $395 USD per person. Registration includes Friday and Saturday breakfast and lunch, refreshments and reception.
GENERAL SCHEDULE
Thursday, October 24, 2025
Pre-Summit Session
Friday, October 24, 2025
8:00 AM Arrivals and Breakfast
9:00 AM Welcome and Opening Speaker
9:45 AM – 4:00 PM Featured Speaker, Breakout Presentations and Networking Session
4:00 – 5:30 PM Happy Hour Reception
Saturday, October 26, 2025
8:00 AM Arrivals and breakfast
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Featured Speaker, Breakout Presentations, Student Leaders in Climate Action Panel
12:00 PM Optional Lunch
1:00 – 7:00 PM Post Summit Workshop & Campus Tour
HIGHLIGHTED SESSIONS FROM LAST YEAR IN SAN FRANCISCO
21st-Century Stewardship
Ava Goodale, Associate Director for the Center for Service and Global Citizenship, Deerfield Academy (MA, USA)
An interdisciplinary approach to Climate Change Education
Mary Kerr, Biology and Marine Science Teacher, Drew School (CA, USA)
Can Current Pedagogical Models Teach Sustainability Beyond Science?
David Lindo, Coordinator of Sustainability (K12), The Dalton School (NY, USA)
Counting Carbon: Why we should all be doing it and how to make it happen
Nick Babladelis, Director of Environmental Stewardship, St. Paul’s School (NH, USA)
Energizing Youth Climate Action: Strategies for Schools
Angela Yeager, Director of Environmental Justice, Laurel School (OH, USA)
Examining Regional Climate Impact through a Capstone Classroom Curriculum
Krysta Ibsen, Middle School Science Faculty; Science Department Co-Chair; VEX Robotics Coach, Berwick Academy (ME, USA)
Intergenerational Climate Dialogues
Ana Romero, Global Education Coordinator/Head of Sustainability, Wellington College (United Kingdom) and Chad Detloff, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, GEBG
Systems Thinking and Climate Change
Cushman Gillen, Green Dean / MS Science Teacher, The Gordon School (RI, USA)
Lessons from the Field: Bold, Whole-School Climate & Nature Action in Practice
Michèle Andrews, Co-Founder & Executive Director, DoorNumberOne.org (ON, Canada); Alison Elliott, Sustainability Director, Trinity College School (ON, Canada); Eleonor Kerr, Director of Operations, Hillfield Strathallan College (ON, Canada); Ali McTavish, Sustainability Coordinator, Mulgrave School (BC, Canada); Tamara Smith, Director of Service, Stewardship & Sustainability, TFS – Canada’s International School (ON, Canada)
Preparing Future Leaders: Climate Change and Social Justice Through Experiential Education
Christina M. Zupanc, Coordinator of Service Learning and Community Engagement, US Educator, La Jolla Country Day School (CA, USA)
Reaching Whole-School Sustainability through Intentional Strategies and Essential Partnerships
Liz Cutler, Whole School Sustainability Consultant, Whole School Sustainability Consulting (NJ, USA)
Reducing Carbon Emissions While Enhancing Connections to the Land through Facilities Partnerships in Place-Based Learning
Stephen Laubach, Director of Sustainability, The Lawrenceville School (NJ, USA)
Climate Education Across the Curriculum
Panelists:
Traci Elizabeth Holstein, Associate Dean of Students/Science Faculty Member, Palmer Trinity School (FL, USA)
Avi McClelland-Cohen, History and English Teacher, Polytechnic School (CA, USA)
Laura Mungavin, Upper School Spanish Teacher and Sustainability Coordinator, Rye Country Day School (NY, USA)
Tom Stewart, Director of Sustainability Programming & Initiatives, Indian Mountain School (CT, USA)
Facilitated by: Dion Crushshon, Director of Global Programs, Blake School (MN, USA)
Climate Education through Experiential Learning
Panelists:
Ethan Knight, Executive Director, Carpe Diem Education & Global Routes (OR, USA)
Kim McCabe, Director of Experiential Learning, Drew School (CA, USA)
Jenny Nadaner, Distinguished Global Scholars Coordinator & World Languages Faculty, York School (CA, USA)
Beth Spencer, Dean of Experiential Education, The Athenian School (CA, USA)
Facilitated by: John Hughes, Director of Experiential Education, The Lawrenceville School (NJ, USA)
Empowering Student Action in Climate/Sustainability Work
Panelists:
Anat Fernandes, K-12 Science Department Chair and Coordinator of Environmental Initiatives, The Buckley School (CA, USA)
Laura Fleming, Environmental Sustainability Manager, Polytechnic School (CA, USA)
John Hsu, Climate Leaders Fellowship Director, Rustic Pathways (OH, USA)
Nicola St. George, Director, Sustainability and Regeneration, Appleby College (ON, Canada)
Facilitated by: Peter Zdrojewski, Director of Outdoor & Global Education; Science Faculty, The Branson School (CA, USA)
Professional Learning and Partnerships for Climate Education
Panelists:
Karina Baum, Director of Global Education, Buckingham Browne & Nichols School (MA, USA)
Lindsey Lohwater, Science Department Faculty, Sustainability Coordinator, St. Mark’s School (MA, USA)
Cheney Munson, Founder of The Climascope Project (CA, USA)
Facilitated by: Lauren Railey, Assistant Head for Academics, Drew School (CA, USA)
