Teens are critical to the climate conversation.

The Arctic is warming at twice the rate of the rest of the world, and Alaskans are experiencing effects of climate change today. The Anchorage Museum shares climate change stories and encourages creative solutions to this complex challenge. As the next generation to tackle climate change, teens are invited to these conversations.

“It is important to talk about and take action on climate change because
I want to protect Alaska so that I and generations to come will always
have a place to call home."

- Greta DeBerry, Teens for Climate Action Summit participant

Learn. Investigate. Take action.

Teen Climate Communicators are Anchorage-area 9-12th grade students interested in learning and communicating about climate change. Building on the success of past teen climate programs, the Anchorage Museum’s new Teen Climate Communicators provides teens the opportunity to use museum artwork, objects, and resources to investigate and discuss climate change.

Teens will work with like-minded peers who want to take action on and communicate about climate change. Over the course of a four-month session, teens work with museum staff to develop a teen-driven project that raises climate change awareness. Activities may include writing an article, hosting a gallery talk, developing a digital resource, or creating artwork. In addition to developing a teen project, teens receive volunteer hours and a climate communicator certificate.

"Climate change in the past has always meant something I couldn't change. Now it's starting to feel like something I have a shot at fixing."

Teen Climate Communicators gather for fall, spring and summer sessions, each focusing on different themes related to climate change. Teens apply for and commit to each four-month session. Weekly meetings alternate between in-person and virtual, and teens are expected to complete some work outside of regular meetings. Teens can participate in multiple sessions.

Why Participate?

• Collaborate with like-minded teens on a project to increase climate change awareness
• Learn from museum professionals and guest presenters
• Engage with museum artwork, objects, and resources beyond what the general public experiences
• Gain experience communicating about and taking action on climate change issues
• Earn volunteer hours
• Receive a certificate of completion and add this experience to your resume and portfolio
• Be empowered to be climate leaders and make positive change

WHO: Anchorage-area students grades 9-12 
WHERE: in-person meetings at Anchorage Museum
WHEN: 4:30-6 p.m. every Wednesday, January 25 — May 3, with some independent work expected outside of meetings  

The Anchorage Museum’s new Teen Climate Communicators program provides Anchorage-area students grades 9-12 the opportunity to use museum artwork, objects, and resources to investigate and discuss climate change. Teens work with like-minded peers and museum staff over a four-month session to develop a teen-driven project that raises climate change awareness. Activities may include writing an article, recording a podcast, hosting a gallery talk, developing a digital resource, or creating artwork. In addition to developing a teen project, teens receive volunteer hours and a climate communicator certificate. 

This spring, students are invited to participate in conversations and activities around the five Rs of sustainability: refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle. Students will learn about addressing climate change through sustainable actions. Participants will engage with the museum, and community experts in discussion and activities focus on simple everyday actions that can be taken to move towards a more sustainable future.

APPLY NOW 

Applications for the Spring 2023 session must be submitted by midnight Wednesday, Jan. 25.