About Us
The Monmouth University Climate Change Learning Collaborative (MU CCLC) was developed by Michelle Schpakow, Ed.D., Catherine Duckett, Ph.D., and Peter Jacques, Ph.D. in collaboration with Monmouth University’s Urban Coast Institute (UCI), the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC), and Monmouth Conservation Foundation. With the funding support of the NJ Department of Education’s Expanding Access to Climate Change and NJ Student Learning Grant, the MU CCLC aims to prepare NJ K-12 teachers to teach climate change in developmentally appropriate ways across all grade levels and subject areas. Monmouth Conservation Foundation, NJ Sea Grant Consortium, and the Urban Coast Institute will offer place-based curriculum and experiential learning opportunities while Monmouth University will offer professional development related to climate science, interdisciplinary instruction, and special interest topics related to climate change. Though the MU CCLC is funded by a grant from the New Jersey Department of Education, the materials and any opinions, results, conclusions, or recommendations expressed within are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the New Jersey Department of Education nor constitute an endorsement thereof.
Collaboration and Community Engagement!
The MU CCLC team is here to offer support and answer questions between sessions. Sign up for email announcements and reminders from our team, or email us at MUclimateeducation@monmouth.edu. You can also join our Google Classroom to interact and collaborate with other, local educators. We look forward to working with you!
Stipend Requests
Teachers and administrators from New Jersey public schools are eligible to attend Climate Change Learning Collaborative events/opportunities and use services provided by the Climate Change Learning Collaborative. Teachers from New Jersey public schools are eligible to receive a stipend for attending Climate Change Learning Collaborative events/opportunities outside contracted hours and substitute teacher coverage for attending Climate Change Learning Collaborative events/opportunities at an offsite location during contracted hours. Teachers will be required to complete a post-event/opportunity survey to receive a stipend or substitute teacher coverage. The MU CCLC’s partnering Local Education Agencies (LEAs) in Monmouth County, Mercer County, and Union County will be given priority in event/opportunity attendance and the disbursement of stipends or substitute teacher coverage.
To request stipends, you must meet all of the above criteria. You can then submit a signed 2024 W9 and Contracted and Professional Services form to muclimateeducation@monmouth.edu for each event you attend. Stipends will be paid at the rate of $60/hour up to $180 per event. If you need help completing these forms, let us know. Your school may email us an invoice for substitute teacher costs for any events you attend during the school day.
Upcoming Professional Development Sessions
Fall 2025 – Student Opportunities with NJSGC
K-12 teachers from LEAs in Monmouth University’s service area can bring their students to New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium for an outdoor experiential learning opportunity to explore how coastal ecosystems are impacted by environmental disruption. Students will investigate topics such as natural resource availability, coastal biodiversity and natural hazards with hands-on activities and field investigations in this three-hour program that takes place at Gateway National Recreation Area on Sandy Hook.
Space is limited to two classes (up to 60 students) per LEA and is available September-November 2025 only. Please contact Samantha Maxwell-Kowal, K-12 Program Coordinator at smaxwell-kowal@njseagrant.org 732-872-1300, extension 13 for more information and to reserve your field trip.
Fall 2025 – Student Opportunities with MCF
K-12 teachers in Monmouth University’s service area can coordinate with the Monmouth Conservation Foundation to provide students with an outdoor experiential learning opportunity to explore how land conservation and climate change are connected. Students will investigate topics such as land use, natural climate solutions, place-based learning, and leave no trace principles. MCF staff will work with teachers to tailor a program that takes place at MCF’s Scudder Preserve in Atlantic Highlands or at another mutually suitable location. Space is limited to two sessions (up to 25 students per session) and is available September-November 2025. Please contact Doug Caum, MCF Director of Educational Outreach at dcaum@monmouthconservation.org or 732.333.7995 for more information or to reserve your field trip.
Climate Change, Human Health, and Hope for the Future
December 4, 2025, 6 – 7:30 p.m., Zoom
Climate change is a public health emergency in many respects. In this session, we will review how climate change increases the likelihood of severe weather and its impacts on human health. We will review the major vector borne diseases that will increase under global heating as well as respiratory and heat-related illnesses. We will also discuss the co-benefits to human health of some climate mitigation strategies such as electric cars and stoves. Climate Anxiety and Climate Dread are among the mental health challenges worsened by climate change we will also discuss hopeful signs and events. At the end of the session, participants will work with other teachers at their grade level to brainstorm appropriate lessons for their students. Register for Climate Change, Human Health, and Hope for the Future!
Interdisciplinary Instruction for Climate Education (Grades 3-5)
December 9, 2025, 4 – 6 p.m., Zoom
Grade 3-5 educators are invited to learn about incorporating climate change standards into lessons. Participants will learn interdisciplinary planning strategies and pedagogical approaches for integrating climate change education at the upper elementary level. Participants are encouraged to bring their own lesson plans for the workshop portion of the session. These plans will be examined collaboratively and updated to better infuse climate change standards. Register for Interdisciplinary Instruction for Climate Education (Grades 3-5).
Coaching & Collaboration
December 11, 2025, 6 – 7 p.m., Zoom
Please join us online for some professional networking. We will provide a brief review of climate change education, a question and answer period, and time to work together in a supportive environment. Teachers may bring lesson plans they need help with. Administrators may bring questions they have about implementation in their schools. We are happy to address any needs brought to this session and provide space for collaboration among schools and districts. Register for Coaching & Collaboration.
Native Plants for Climate Resilience
January 8, 2026, 6 – 7 p.m., Zoom
Climate Change and other aspects of extreme weather motivated by global heating will cause ecological instability. Human agriculture, planting, and landscaping practices can be further destabilizing, or by working with nature’s strengths, humans can plant for greater stability. Native plants, having evolved in a location and in ecological relationships with other native creatures, can stabilize ecosystems, slow the decline of animal populations, and potentially improve water quality and buffer flooding. In this session, we will review basic climate change and the major environmental assaults on plants and animals caused by climate change. We will study selected New Jersey plants and insects as examples of ecosystem components that average NJ residents can observe and impact in their home or town. We will review some common invasive plants, and participants will have a chance to use what they learned in an exercise to “fix Dr. Duckett’s yard.” Some concepts will be appropriate for teachers of all grades. This session will be presented by Catherine Duckett, Ph.D. Register for Native Plants for Climate Resilience.
Interdisciplinary Instruction for Climate Education (Grades K-2)
January 13, 2026, 4 – 6 p.m., Zoom
Grade K-2 educators are invited to learn about incorporating climate change standards into lessons. Participants will learn interdisciplinary planning strategies and pedagogical approaches for integrating climate change education at the primary level. Participants are encouraged to bring their own lesson plans for the workshop portion of the session. These plans will be examined collaboratively and updated to better infuse climate change standards. Register for Interdisciplinary Instruction for Climate Education (Grades K-2).
Coaching & Collaboration
January 16, 2026, 4 – 5 p.m., Zoom
Please join us online for some professional networking. We will provide a brief review of climate change education, a question and answer period, and time to work together in a supportive environment. Teachers may bring lesson plans they need help with. Administrators may bring questions they have about implementation in their schools. We are happy to address any needs brought to this session and provide space for collaboration among schools and districts. Register for Coaching & Collaboration.
Education and the UN Sustainable Development Goals
January 23, 2026, 4 – 5:30 p.m., Zoom
All grades educators are invited to learn about United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and incorporating them into lessons and school initiatives. Participants will discover how climate change is not strictly a science issue but related to other social and global matters (regions and people from all around the world, economic issues, water and food shortages, resources, health, energy, community, etc.) and connects across all disciplines and subjects. Therefore, this workshop is a great session to take before or after Interdisciplinary Instruction for Climate Education PD sessions. Participants will collaboratively examine different sustainable development goals, with given resources and ideas for teaching and students’ civic engagement. Register for Education and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Climate Change, Human Health, and Hope for the Future
February 3, 2026, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m., Zoom
Climate change is a public health emergency in many respects. In this session, we will review how climate change increases the likelihood of severe weather and its impacts on human health. We will review the major vector borne diseases that will increase under global heating as well as respiratory and heat-related illnesses. We will also discuss the co-benefits to human health of some climate mitigation strategies such as electric cars and stoves. Climate Anxiety and Climate Dread are among the mental health challenges worsened by climate change we will also discuss hopeful signs and events. At the end of the session, participants will work with other teachers at their grade level to brainstorm appropriate lessons for their students. Register for Climate Change, Human Health, and Hope for the Future.
Coaching & Collaboration
February 20, 2026, 3 – 4 p.m., Zoom
Please join us online for some professional networking. We will provide a brief review of climate change education, a question and answer period, and time to work together in a supportive environment. Teachers may bring lesson plans they need help with. Administrators may bring questions they have about implementation in their schools. We are happy to address any needs brought to this session and provide space for collaboration among schools and districts. Register for Coaching & Collaboration.
Biodiversity and Climate Change Impacts
February 26, 2026, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m., Zoom
Climate change is an emergency for many plants and animals and causes them to become stressed and lose habitat for living and breeding. Climate change also causes ecological mismatches between organisms in symbiotic relationships, such as pollinators and plants or animals and the plants or animals they feed on. Many different biological examples of current climate impacts on the living world will be discussed as well as solutions to the climate mediated biodiversity crisis. This session is appropriate for middle and high school teachers as well as for others who just want to deepen their own understanding of the threats to life on Earth. Register for Biodiversity and Climate Change Impacts.
Preparation Session for 2025-2026 Culminating Showcase Event
February 26, 2026, 1:00-3:00 p.m., Zoom/In-person
This session is for teachers and administrators of partnering LEAs registered for the 2025-2026 Culminating Showcase Event. This time can be used to put together posters and displays, decide on or request materials, ask questions about the event (travel, expectations, etc.), or to address any other concerns. The MU CCLC is prepared to assist with the creation of display materials. We are also happy to address any needs brought to this session and provide space for collaboration among schools and districts in preparation for the Showcase. You can now register for this session either online or in-person. Please ensure that you are also registered for the Culminating Showcase Event itself.
For the in-person session we will be meeting in the Rebecca Stafford Student Center in Room 202B. You will find the Student Center (#26) on the campus map. Please park in the main lot when visiting campus. Unfortunately, there will not be any food or beverages served during the event, but you may bring your own or purchase some from the first floor of the student center. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Climate Change and Sea Level Rise
March 2, 2026, 6 – 7 p.m., Zoom
The climate change driven sea level rise lecture will start with an overview of the Earth’s Greenhouse Effect and how it has contributed to sea level changes over the past 100 million years, followed by a discussion of present day sea level changes and the natural processes that will contribute to future relative sea level rise. The lecture will conclude with a discussion on how sea level rise contributes to more frequent and impactful nuisance flooding and coastal storm surge in New Jersey’s coastal communities. Time will be provided for questions and answers with the speaker, Tom Herrington, Ph.D. Register for Climate Change and Sea Level Rise.
Using the En-ROADS Climate Simulator for Understanding Climate Solutions
March 5, 2026, 5 – 7 p.m., Zoom
This session, which will be presented by Catherine Duckett, Ph.D., a biologist and climate science educator, is designed for teachers of grades 8 through 12. Teachers will focus on climate solutions using the En-ROADS decision support model. En-ROADS is a tool that uses a slightly simplified version of the climate model used by the United Nations to help users understand the impacts of different climate solutions. In this session, Dr. Duckett will lead the participants in an activity that can be used directly in classrooms. En-ROADS provides materials for teachers to use in their own classrooms. Some of these materials will be provided to registrants prior to the session. Come prepared to save life on the planet and negotiate with other participants to do so! Register for Using the En-ROADS Climate Simulator for Understanding Climate Solutions.
Coaching & Collaboration
March 11, 2026, 4 – 5 p.m., Zoom
Please join us online for some professional networking. We will provide a brief review of climate change education, a question and answer period, and time to work together in a supportive environment. Teachers may bring lesson plans they need help with. Administrators may bring questions they have about implementation in their schools. We are happy to address any needs brought to this session and provide space for collaboration among schools and districts. Register for Coaching & Collaboration.
2025-2026 Culminating Showcase Event
March 19, 2026, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Monmouth University Campus
Please save the date! The Monmouth University CCLC will host the 2025-2026 Culminating Showcase Event on March 19, 2026. This event is mandatory for all partnering LEAs and highly recommended for all other school districts. Teams of teachers, administrators, and groups of students are encouraged to create posters and other displays to share with colleagues around the state highlighting their accomplishments and progress toward implementing the NJ climate change education standards. In addition to the symposium, we will host Doug Tallamy as the keynote speaker, facilitate student-centered activities with prizes for K-12 students, and provide opportunities for collaboration with Monmouth Conservation Foundation, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, Ocean County Master Composters, and more!
Each registrant (including K-12 students, teachers, and administrators) will need to sign photo release forms and indicate any dietary restrictions. Necessary forms will be shared upon registration. Due to this event falling on a workday, teachers will not be paid to attend, however, school districts may request reimbursement for substitute teachers. Additionally, we can reimburse the cost of bus transportation up to $800 per district. We look forward to celebrating with you in March! An agenda and additional logistical details will be shared via email with districts as they register. Email muclimateeducation@monmouth.edu with any questions.
Register for the Culminating Showcase Event by February 27, 2026.