New England Aquarium

Building on the success of its 2013 pilot, the New England Aquarium (NEAq) will launch a three-year ClimaTeens program to help Boston-area youth learn about climate change, its impacts on ocean systems, and how to discuss solutions with members of the public effectively. NEAq will collaborate with community partners Greenovate Boston, the Center for Teen Empowerment, and the Alliance for Climate Education to work with three cohorts made up of 20 teen volunteers and two program alumni each. They will meet twice monthly to learn about global climate change and to develop skills and confidence for public speaking and fostering constructive dialogue with friends, family, school clubs, and business and civic leaders. Participants initially will reflect on and share their experiences one-on-one or in small groups. Over time, they will apply lessons learned to broader leadership activities, facilitating public dialog about climate-related issues with groups of citizens in neighborhoods throughout Boston. With contributions from an outside evaluator, NEAq will assess whether an aquarium, working with other organizations, can effectively inspire and motivate young people to engage community leaders and stretch their issue involvement beyond personal actions.