The Wild Center has been awarded a grant by the Institute of Museum and Library Services to create an exhibition space that helps re-frame how science museums present and interpret climate change.

Set to open June 2021, the exhibit titled Solutions: Voices from the Frontlines of Climate Change is expected to present practical, regionally-relevant climate solutions that illustrate the opportunity of climate resilience to The Wild Center’s 100,000+ yearly visitors.

The core of the Solutions exhibition is planned to be a 3,000-square foot space featuring large-scale imagery, video, interactive activities and first-person accounts from leaders in climate solutions as well as those most impacted by climate change, including youth and indigenous communities. These messages are expected to be augmented by permanent exhibits across the campus that provide a climate-solutions lens along with a maker space for younger audiences.

The goal of the exhibit is to educate the public about climate change in an interesting, interactive way that multiple generations will be able to understand.

Prior to the exhibit opening, The Wild Center is planning on holding three public convening events across interdisciplinary, intergenerational audiences between May 2020 and February 2021 to test the solutions-first framing, promote community dialogue and gather information on audience knowledge to inform exhibition design. They will also draw on 11 years of solutions-focused climate change education experience from their Youth Climate Program.

The exhibit design is expected to be guided by a team of expert advisors from:

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Office
The New York State Office of Climate Change
NY State Energy Research & Development Authority
Center for Native People and the Environment at SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry
American Museum of Natural History
Members of The Wild Center’s Youth Climate Advisory Board

The Solutions exhibition is yet another initiative by The Wild Center focused around educating others on climate resilience.

This November, The Wild Center will host their 11th annual Adirondack Youth Climate Summit, attracting 180 high school and college students across Northern New York State to increase their climate literacy and leadership skills. Earlier this year, The Wild Center held a three-day leadership retreat for high school students, as well as a Summer Institute for NYS Teachers to empower educators on teaching climate change education.

More information on the Wild Center is available on their website.