professional development/Learning
The National Wildlife Federation and adaptation partners offer formal and non-formal educators both virtual and in-person professional development/professional learning (PD/PL) opportunities and support focused on the RiSC curriculum, learning resources, and programming. Continuing Education Credits and stipends may be available and are determined on a case-by-case basis. Below is a list of upcoming RiSC PD/PL offerings.
Saturday, September 12, 2026, Mercer Botanic Garden
Current RiSC Houston schools will meet for a second time to finalize plans for the school year. Teams will participate in a tour of Mercer Botanic Gardens to identify native plants. Local partner, TBG Partners (landscape architects), will introduce teachers to the different types of resilience projects with a focus on prairies and rain gardens. To help students understand the steps in building a functioning rain garden, TBG Partners will engage teachers in how to build a model rain garden. Teachers will learn the fundamentals of the design process including how to conduct a campus site assessment and the build requirements for different resilience projects. Teams will begin drafting budgets and identifying community and student involvement. Six hours of Continuing Professional Education hours will be provided.
This PD is not open to the public.
The Houston, TX RiSC program is a two-year program that engages students, teachers, and community members in place-based coastal resilience education using a watershed focus to connect urban audiences to local waterways and to foster a greater understanding of the implications of stormwater runoff to water quality. The program's long term goal is to position communities better to advance locally informed coastal resilience solutions that integrate scientific and community knowledge.
Exploring Community Climate Action Projects (Virtual PD)
Thursday, October 1, 2026, 4:30pm-6:30pm
Wednesday, February 17, 2026, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Hosted by Rutgers University,
Using what they have learned from RiSC Action Cards, students plan and implement an action project in their community that helps to mitigate and/or adapt to local climate impacts
Register: https://www.nj.gov/education/climate/collaboratives/
This PD is only for New Jersey public school teachers.
In 2023, the New Jersey Department of Education identified four NJ universities to partner with local non-profit organizations to lend their expertise in providing high-quality climate change education professional development to public school teachers across content areas. NWF affiliate New Jersey Audubon (NJA) was selected to work with two of the collaboratives, Rutgers University and Stockton University. NJA has developed PD focused on two RiSC Action Cards, available in the NWF EcoSchoolsUS Resource Library online.
Taking a Climate Impact Walk (Virtual PD)
Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 4:00pm-6:00pm
Hosted by Stockton University
This interactive webinar will guide you in applying what students learned from performing a RiSC Vulnerability Assessment on their school grounds and in their community by identifying opportunities to increase community climate resiliency.
Register: https://www.nj.gov/education/climate/collaboratives/
This PD is only for New Jersey public school teachers.
Taking a Climate Impact Walk (Virtual PD)
Thursday, November 5, 2026, 11:15am-12:15pm
Hosted by New Jersey Educators Association
judith V.
“I thought I knew about every [climate science] resource available. I was wrong! I learned so many new things yesterday, and your engagement techniques with the group were wonderful.”
clare c.
“I loved the workshop yesterday. . I learned a lot and had a lot of fun! I thought the four corners activity was such a great intro activity. Can't wait to bring that to my own work.”
pablo H.
“I learned so much from [NWF’s] Solarpunk workshop. I’m already reading “What if We Get it Right” and considering how action is the antidote to anxiety. Project Drawdown has also been such an interesting resource that feels very shareable for students.”
josette b.
"I have learned different terminologies that I can bring back to my class. I am so excited to come up with an activity about sea level rise. I am more aware of climate change."