In this inaugural issue, we're pulling back the curtain on a question that’s been central to our mission: How do we equip young people to face the climate crisis with courage and clarity, rather than fear?

We're thrilled to share exciting breakthroughs from our first classroom pilot where students showed measurable gains in climate understanding, hope, and a readiness to act – all while maintaining steady emotional well-being.

We'll also highlight research that is shaping how we at FCC think about messaging in the classroom.

Plus, get a sneak peek at our upcoming work.

Finally, don’t miss ways to engage! You can join us for our upcoming youth-led event “Voices for the Future” on July 19 or learn about opportunities to volunteer and how your support helps us build climate resilience in the next generation.

What We’ve Achieved

Early Impact from Our Pilot Climate Education Program
This spring, we launched our first ever pilot climate education program in four Portland area classrooms in grades 5-12, reaching 80+ students. Our goal was to provide students with a basic, but rigorous introduction to the science of climate change while also developing their emotional intelligence in light of a challenging global crisis, and as well their systems thinking capacity when considering efforts to address the challenge. Based on self-report surveys conducted before and after the pilot, students showed meaningful shifts:

📈 +16% felt they have a real role to play in solving climate change
📘 +13% increase in climate science comprehension
⚡ +11% jump in action readiness
💚 +8% rise in climate-related hope

Crucially, student anxiety levels stayed steady. This is an important distinction in a field where climate instruction without emotional support often leads to distress. As one student reflected:

“I’ve become less anxious, though I still am a little scared. But I think that’s okay.”

What made it different?

Rather than framing climate change as an impending catastrophe, we focused on the loss of climate stability. A stable foundation is what our communities, individual health, and future rely on. This shift in thinking helps provide students with an alternative model for understanding and engaging with the future. It empowers them to act, not freeze.

Our three-part curriculum weaves together issues of science, society, and self – integrating climate literacy with emotional processing and empowerment. Students engaged with a climate emotions wheel, practiced articulating feelings, brainstormed self-care strategies, and studied youth and adult leaders, alike in our Climate Trailblazers video interview series.

One student who began saying, “I don’t know anything,” ended the course with:

“I want to make a difference, as well, and I feel more comfortable and knowledgeable talking about it.”

Another added:

“I feel a lot less overwhelmed when I think about it. And I know that other people are working on it, too.”

In just three sessions, students moved from uncertainty and overwhelmed to resiliency, relevance, and readiness.

Special thanks to Probable Futures, whose frameworks and tools played a crucial role in shaping how we discuss climate change. Their guidance and resources have helped us craft messaging that centers on reality without despair.

Research from the Field

Stanford Study: Emphasizing individual responsibility detracts from more effective collective solutions

A new study from Stanford’s Doerr School of Sustainability found that overemphasizing individual actions—like recycling or biking—can actually increase anxiety while reducing belief in systemic change among youth

What Comes Next: Learn, Lead, Change

This next year, Future Climate Collective bringi our climate education model to life in new and powerful ways:

Future Climate Foundations: our classroom-based program equips teens to understand climate change not only as a scientific issue, but as a deeply human story. Students explore the realities of a warming world through the lenses of science, society, and self—building climate literacy, emotional strength, and civic awareness.
Future Climate Fellows: we will train college students with backgrounds in climate to go into classrooms to teach, mentor, and spark dialogue. Fellows also support teachers while bringing fresh energy and expertise to students.
Future Climate Impact: our year-long, project-based program pairs climate leaders with Fellows and groups of teens to design and implement real-world solutions rooted in community needs utilizing systems thinking.

Our work is about preparing young people for the future they are inheriting. We will ensure they have the knowledge, tools, and support to be resilient in the face of change and prepared to lead.

Learn more about our programs here.

Coming Up Next

Voices for the Future: A Teen-Led Climate Conversation

🗓️ July 19 | 3:00–6:00 PM
📍 Oswego Heritage House

Join us for an inspiring, youth-led afternoon of climate storytelling, resilience-building, and action. Moderated by FCC student ambassadors, this conversation will spotlight the courage and collective power of the next generation.

👉 RSVP here

Take Action

Get Involved

Are you a climate professional? A teacher? A parent? Here are a few ways to support the movement:

Become a mentor or classroom guest: We’re looking for professionals in climate policy, science, communication, and tech to guide and inspire students.
Bring our program into your classroom: We’re looking for teachers and schools to help bring our programs to life.
Donate: Your contribution helps us expand into more schools and train the next generation of climate-ready youth.
👉 Donate here
Share this newsletter: Forward it to someone who cares about the future of education and the planet.

Thank you for being a part of this movement. Together, we’re helping the next generation build the resilience, insight, and support they need to face a changing world and work toward better outcomes for themselves and their communities.

With gratitude,

The Future Climate Collective Team

July 2025