After graduating from NNOCCI’s Crash Course in Effective Climate Change Communication, I felt inspired. I was equipped with the knowledge and skills to have more impactful climate change conversations, and I didn’t want that momentum to fizzle out. I heard the quote from Bill McKibben, a leading climate activist, echoing in my head: “the best thing an individual can do, is be a little less of an individual”. So, I prepared a presentation for my colleagues at Blandy Experimental Farm to share what I had learned over the seven-week course.
Located in northwest Virginia, Blandy is a 712-acre field station of the University of Virginia, and is home to the State Arboretum of Virginia. Our mission is to increase understanding of the natural environment through research and education. Every year, we reach roughly 4,000 students through our education programs, 1,500 people at our community programs, and we receive an estimated 200,000 visitors to our site. We also host 25 to 30 undergraduate, graduate, and faculty researchers each summer.
Our small staff hold a wide diversity of roles: the curators and arborists that manage our landscapes, the educators and interpreters that engage our community members, and everyone who works tirelessly behind the scenes to keep us running. In my presentation, I provided our team an opportunity to learn more about NNOCCI, why NNOCCI’s mission is relevant to Blandy, and what resources are available to enable further climate action. One key resource discussed was Homegrown National Park, an organization that provides inspiration and tools to communities looking to turn their natural spaces into wildlife habitat and usher in a healthier, more sustainable world.
A few additional takeaways emerged from our time together:
- After a period of inactivity, our sustainability group is being revived to highlight climate actions we’ve taken in the past and spur future action.
- Our assistant curator is updating signage and information on our website to talk about climate change impacts and the importance of native plants and pollinators in tackling the biodiversity and climate change crises.
- We have compiled a resource of local food providers to share with our staff, researchers, and other guests in order to highlight the benefits of buying local and reducing carbon emissions associated with transporting food.
- The presentation I developed serves as a tool for further outreach, including a recent presentation I gave to the Shenandoah chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists during their climate change class.
There’s still a lot of work to be done. I’m grateful to NNOCCI for providing excellent training, a plethora of resources, and a network of professionals to support me in these endeavors. To close with a quote from The Lord of the Rings:
“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” – Tolkien
