Climate Kids Program
Connecting young people with the natural world, climate justice & activism. Inspiring hope and sense of agency through shared action.
Climate Kids Meetups
Climate Kids is taking a break right now, as we evaluate capacity. Whole-family opportunities for connection and action occur regularly - see our events page. During COVID, Climate Kids met by Zoom every two months to learn and take action together. These sessions are free and open to children of all ages, though the program is designed for ages 5-12.
You were welcome to join our mailing to receive updates if this program hosts events in the future!
Past Meetups:
Beavers: Doing Their Part to Tackle Climate Change!
October 2021 Recording available here
Join us for a special webinar to learn about the important work that beavers do here in Oregon to help tackle climate change—and how YOU can help!
You probably know that beavers are amazing engineers, but did you know that they are one of our most hopeful climate adaptation partners, and that their dams provide important benefits for all of us?
Beaver dams keep water on the mountain landscape longer, improving water quality and security for humans and animals alike
Beavers create wetlands with willows that capture and store carbon
Beavers create wildfire safe zones for animals, and aid in post-fire recovery
Oregon is in the midst of a fierce, multi-year debate over whether to continue to allow recreational trapping of beaver—our state animal—on our public lands. So gather your crayons, pen, paper, and envelopes, because we will be drawing & writing snail-mail letters to the Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Beaver Management Work Group about how important beaver are, and asking them to place a moratorium on beaver killing on federal and state-managed public lands, BEFORE November 1. (The beaver hunting & trapping season is scheduled to open on November 15th.) We really need our beaver friends to thrive on Mt. Hood!
Our speaker is Suzanne Fouty, Ph.D., Hydrologist/Soils specialist and retired USDA Forest Service, who will be giving a talk created in collaboration with Michael Krochta, the Forest Watch Coordinator at BARK. Learn more about Bark’s Beaver Habitat Restoration Project here.
This special presentation is geared towards kids, but will be satisfying for all ages.
Thanks to everyone who joined our Pedalpalooza Slow Roll Family Rides this summer — especially Community Cycling Center and members of Andando en Bicicletas y Caminando who co-sponsored our August ride.
It was so fun to talk with friends, listen to music, and see the kids glow with independence on their bikes. Khumamokwst Park to King Farmers Market Sunday July 25 & August 22, 9:30-11 AM
Music, Activism and the Wind!
Saturday, June 12th, 9:30 - 10:30 AM
Calling all Climate Defender Kids! Join us for our June Meetup (via Zoom). We’ll talk about music as a form of activism and how music can inspire action, understanding and connection. We'll do some interactive learning with teachers Paula & Zoe, a fun movement activity with teacher Ashley and Melvin the snail puppet, and we'll provide space for kids to reflect on personal connections with music and nature. We hope you can join us!
This meetup will also have a very exciting announcement about a new collaborative project in the works with some very wonderful people. In this session we'll tell you about this new Climate Defender Kids collaboration, our awesome partners, and ask for your ideas! It’s a surprise for now, so don't miss our meetup to hear the exciting news!
Climate Defender Kids is a program of Families for Climate. We provides fun opportunities for young people to learn and connect with peers around climate change, activism, and social justice. We coordinate group activities and actions that expand understanding around these important issues, and inspire kids' sense of agency and hope.
This event is free, though donations are encouraged. The program is designed for ages 5 to 10, but all are welcome!
Please RSVP in advance. We’ll send you the Zoom link after you sign up.
We'll send out an optional at-home activity (aka "Climate Defender Challenge!") and follow-up resources after the session for kids and families to explore the topic further.
Climate Defender Kids - Learning Series:
Our 4-week series of interactive sessions is designed to inform, connect and inspire. The program features interactive activities, conversation and learning, with each week focusing on a different theme related to climate change, activism, and social justice.
Created by a team of professional educators, parents, and activists, the curriculum is designed for ages 5-12, but all ages are welcome!
Participants receive a welcome packet of activities in the mail and, upon completion, a certificate and small gift. Participation is free, but we ask families to consider a donation to support our work!
We hosted our first learning series in the summer of 2020, and it was a big success! Join our Climate Defender Kids email list to receive updates!
