Fwd: a new skills course with Future Climate Collective and an update
Jessica Kleiss
Amy Dvorak has proposed a new skills course in entrepreneurship that deals with climate action leadership for this fall. However, before the dean will approve this course, they want to check for student interest for enrollment. You can also ask Kevin Matischek, Kimani Johnson, or Twyla Metcalf who worked as Future Climate Fellows in '25-'26.
Please see the course description below, and if you might possibly be interested, email Amy Dvorak directly: adv...@lclark.edu.
Through Tools for Climate Action students will be trained as ‘Future Climate Fellows’ in support of high school student teams designing and launching real-world climate action projects. Rather than treating climate action as an abstract academic topic, this course invites students to develop the technical and leadership skills needed to participate in active communities of practice. This course is offered through a partnership between Lewis & Clark College and Future Climate Collective, a Portland-based climate education nonprofit.
The one credit 8-week skills course provides students with training in project management technologies, such as Monday,com, as well as communication tools, frameworks for problem solving, engagement, and grass-roots action. As the semester progresses, students will be assigned to school teams with increasing portions of in and out of class time devoted to meeting with and supporting their student teams. With this additional applied component of this course, students will be required to register for a 1 credit independent study. Students who participate in and successfully complete this course are eligible to participate in the ‘27 Spring Term Tools for Climate Action paid internship course.
Reach out to Amy with any questions!
Amy Dvorak, Director of Sustainability (she/her/hers)| Office of Sustainability Fowler 263| Lewis & Clark College | 615 S Palatine Hill Road, MSC 134, Portland OR 97219 | P 503.768.7794 | adv...@lclark.edu
Jessica Kleiss
Email Jessica for permission to register for ENVS-245. Register for 1 credit to EITHER help with the fall symposium (Aug 31 - Oct 9), OR register for 1 credit to do creative planning work for symposium 2027 (Oct 19 - Dec 9th). Or register for 2 credits to do both! Contact jkl...@lclark.edu with questions
This is a multi-course opportunity: through this first session you will receive professional training and work with high school students, during the spring term there is an opportunity to continue in a paid, credit-bearing internship.
Through Tools for Climate Action students will be trained as ‘Future Climate Fellows’ in support of high school student teams designing and launching real-world climate action projects. Through this hands-on course, students will develop the technical, problem-solving, and leadership skills needed to participate in active communities of practice. This course is offered through a partnership between the Bates Center at Lewis & Clark College and Future Climate Collective, a Portland-based climate education nonprofit.
The one credit 8-week skills course provides students with training in ideation and engagement technologies including a specific focus on Mural and Slack. Students will also learn project management strategies and tools for problem solving and grass-roots action. As the semester progresses, students will be assigned to high school climate teams with increasing portions of in and out of class time devoted to meeting with and supporting these groups. With this additional applied component of this course, students will be required to also register for a 1 credit practicum (ELI 244). Students who participate in and successfully complete this course are eligible to participate in the ‘27 Spring Term Tools for Climate Action paid internship practicum (ELI 444).
Amy Dvorak, Senior Director of Partnerships and Applied Learning | Pierce Faculty Fellow | Bates Center for Entrepreneurship and Leadership | Lewis & Clark College | 615 S Palatine Hill Road, Portland OR 97219 | P 503.768.7794 | adv...@lclark.edu