what is climate camp?
Climate Camp is a workshop retreat designed to deepen resilience, integrate joy, and cultivate meaningful climate action.
Resiliency helps protect us from stress and overwhelming emotions. Joy helps us remain grounded in the values that inspire our climate work, foster community building, and further protect us from feelings of distress and isolation.
When we are more resilient and joyful, our ability to take meaningful climate action is enhanced.
We need a world full of leaders who can skillfully navigate the emotional complexities of climate change - committed climateers who embody resiliency, joy, and meaningful action in a way that positively impacts oneself, others and the world.
“Priceless weekend. Skills I will be using forever.”
Climate Camp develops these leaders.
the Who
Climate Camp might be for you if…
you recognize that climate change is a significant challenge that can be addressed with human initiative and commitment.
you feel concerned about climate change and committed to taking action.
you believe in personal responsibility and take personal actions to reduce your carbon footprint, also but believe we need to do more as a society.
you work or volunteer in the climate space - or have interest in doing either or both.
you’re ready for a renewed approach and perspective to addressing climate change.
you’re open to learning from others.
you’re up for more joy! - in your life and / or your climate work.
The Context
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.
”
Climate Camp Closing Ceremony 2020
Climate change is a complex and inescapable challenge that impacts how we live, work, and play. It’s no wonder that we are prone to becoming overwhelmed by it all! While each of us reacts to this overwhelm differently, some common responses include avoidance, despair, and burnout. These feelings can impair our ability to address climate change and its many associated challenges.
We need to lean into the climate challenge with bravery, and balance the doom and gloom with the lighter side of the human experience: joy and playfulness. This isn’t to say Climate Camp isn’t serious about climate change. But serious doesn’t have to be heavy. Climate Camp provides an opportunity to feel renewed in our climate work, build community, and discover the pervasive power of joy.
“Thank you for teaching us how to hear something more real than our own fears.”
the benefits
By attending Climate Camp, you can expect to…
gain skills and understanding around deepening personal resilience
integrate more joy and playfulness into your life and climate work
reflect on how resilience and joy can enhance meaningful action
laugh, giggle, chuckle, snicker, guffaw, or chortle
connect (with people!), and disconnect (from devices!)
be outside, in nature
smell like campfire
“Inspiring, energizing, useful experience!”
The Program
While our original Climate Camps have taken place as 2-day, overnight experiences at beautiful camp and retreat centers, we are ready to personalize a program for your needs and specific interests! Consider how the following options may meet your goals:
Half day online workshop
Full day in-person workshop
Two-day in-person workshop
Two-day in-person overnight retreat
Climate Camp in-person programs are designed for 35-45 Climateers, but flexibility is available based upon facility and program goals.
We’d love to explore possibilities with you of a Climate Camp designed for you!
“I loved the content, the format and the pace. ”
example Program - 2-day retreat option
Optional Fri Night
4pm-6pm Arrival
6:30pm Settle In
7:00pm Introductions and getting to know each other
7:30pm Informal time to hang out
Saturday Program
9:30 -10:30 am Welcome and Introduction to Climate Camp
10:45-11:45 am Why playfulness?
11:45 am Play Personalities
12:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm Setting the Stage for Play
1:10 pm Play Personalities in Action
2:15-3:45 pm 5 Steps to Building Personal Resilience
4:00-5:30 pm Communicating through Difference
6:00 pm Dinner
7:00 pm Reflection on the day
7:30 pm Evening Activities
Sunday Program
8:00am Breakfast
9:00am Walk and Talk
9:20am Walk and Talk Debrief
9:30am How to find joy in climate work
10:00-11:00am Integrating Meaningful Action
11am Choose (Y)our own Adventure
12pm Lunch
1pm Moving forward
2pm Closing ceremony
2:30pm End
THE FACILITATORS
Tamara Staton
Tamara is the Education and Resilience Coordinator for the Citizens' Climate Lobby and the original founder of Climate Camp. As a passionate teacher, facilitator, consultant, and professional development coach, Tamara loves working with others in a way that helps them navigate the world, embody their passion, and create big impact. Climate Camp, for Tamara, is the realization of many of her dreams, and she’s excited to share it with you and the world. Playtime for Tamara includes off-grid camping in the high desert basalt canyons with her husband, daughter and German Shepherds.
Casey Meehan
Casey is a La Crosse, Wisconsin-based educator, sustainability professional, and SERIOUSWORK certified facilitator of LEGO Serious Play. He believes that joy and delight are our collective superpowers in responding to the world's biggest challenges. Casey is passionate about helping others tap into their sense of play/fulness in service to climate action. Playtime for Casey includes running, exploring the outdoors with his wife and two boys. And juggling. Not at the same time. Yet.
“Climate Camp opened a whole new world of applying play to climate advocacy.”
“Amazing work. You’re helping us all and you are made for this work. ”
“This is a truly life-changing experience. It compassionately invites you to find the joy in life, to engage your fear and pain not as enemies, but as friends, and to understand and trust in the humanity of others despite seemingly insurmountable differences. Climate Camp helped me understand that to understand and heal yourself is to understand and heal the divisions in our society. It felt like I was coming home to myself and discovering that the things and people I feared could actually be my allies in facing the challenge of climate change together.”
