Nurture Nature Center is excited to continue and expand our CREATE Resilience efforts with the announcement of a new grant from NOAA’s Office of Education Environmental Literacy Program. This funding supports a four year project called CREATE Connections: Linking a Vision of Resilience to Action which starts October 2023.

This next phase of CREATE focuses on climate action plans (CAPs) adopted in Easton and Bethlehem, PA. CREATE Connections will work to build and strengthen local social connections through a multi-pronged educational approach related to climate action by expanding and supporting partners, including municipal leaders, colleges and universities, public libraries and community organizations, in order to increase environmental literacy.

The project’s goals are to develop accessible educational materials about climate, and community-specific strategies related to climate action, to enable community-based organizational partners (including libraries, students, and artists); to become effective disseminators of climate action information; and to create pathways and support for communities to implement their CAPs. 

To achieve these, NNC will develop active learning programming for youth and their families in collaboration with the local public libraries. Climate strategy spotlights, storefront educational campaigns, public art installations, climate-friendly kits and annual Youth Climate Summit events will provide further opportunities to engage with the community. All programs will include science, art, and community dialogue elements, incorporate civic learning opportunities and integrate NOAA assets and subject matter experts. Local college students will help implement the programs, and community partners, including Community Bike Works, will help reach and engage with local youth. 

The initial CREATE Resilience project, also funded by NOAA in 2018, showcased the important role of connections and shared goals in making resilience a reality. The next critical piece is to take action to reach that resilient future – to make that vision a reality. Follow NNC to stay up to date as we embark on this new CREATE effort.