The 'Climate Action' Course for the Frontier School Divison's 4+1 Program
Residents of Churchill, Manitoba are in a rapidly changing environment, and local observations of climate change evidenced throughout the community. With a location so rich in migratory wildlife, sea ice processes, and dramatic weather events, it is no wonder that Churchill residents have climate concerns and want to learn how to take action. In partnership with Frontier School Division, Duke of Marlborough High School, and the Universities of Toronto, New Zealand, and Brown University, we have developed an immersive four-week Climate Action course to take the students into a deep dive on climate science, Indigenous knowledge of climate and environment, and action the students can take to address their climate risks.
This course is part of Frontier School Division's 4+1 Program, which is an elective course for students who have a special interest in science. Based both in Churchill and on the University of Manitoba campus during the month of June, we bring together expertise across academia, Indigenous communities, cultural institutions and more. Components of the program include: oceanography, atmospheric science, underwater noise monitoring, environmental science and Indigenous knowledge. Experts from across sectors are brought to Churchill (during the first two weeks of the program) and to the University of Manitoba campus (during the third week of the program). The intention is to give students a holistic perspective on what it means to be working in climate science and also provide an introduction to university life.
Since its onset in 2022, we have heard positive feedback from students involved in the program and how it has impacted their lives.
"At first I didn’t want to go into this program because the thought of leaving my remote, small town for so long was terrifying, but I quickly got comfortable and forgot about my fears once we were settled in and met with the program coordinators. This program helped me come out of my shell in more ways than one. I made lifelong friends, learned so many new skills, and realized leaving home to pursue post-secondary education doesn’t have to be a scary thing. I made the right choice deciding to attend this program." –Student from 2022 4+1 Program
To read up on the evolution of the 4+1 'Climate Action' course, our process and our partners, check out our program's poster.
Students' Seasonal Calendars
As part of the My Climate Risk lighthouse activity, and in collaboration with Frontier School Division and local Cree knowledge-keepers to Churchill, we designed a course component covering 'seasonal calendars', which aim to capture each student's unique perspective of what comprises the seasons in Churchill. This activity not only captures climate and environmental cues through a local lens, but also allows for a historical look into the past through both scientific and Indigenous knowledge, to see how things have shifted into the present.
