Tribal Climate Resilience Camp

USET Tribal Climate Resilience Camp

USET's Climate Change Resilience Program supports teams of Tribal Leaders, climate change coordinators, planners, and program managers to build skills, gather information, and develop Tribal policies and plans needed for Tribal Nations to address climate change impacts.

Why you should participate

  • Learn examples of Tribal climate adaptation planning.
  • Identify resources from climate science centers and Tribal organizations.
  • Build camaraderie with your Tribal Nation team.
  • Develop climate adaptation to fit the values and priorities of your Tribal Nation/community.
  • Create a strategy to engage your Tribal Nation/community in climate adaptation planning.
"Excellent and essential for Tribes seeking to do Climate Change planning...it provides a space, time, and resources for Tribal teams to get together and really push things forward in a collaborative format that is supportive, instructive, and inspiring. I hope the sponsors acknowledge this and continue allowing for such camps in the future."
- Tribal Nation Delegate
"Great setting despite it being virtual. Casey and Tyler really set the tone for the icebreakers, etc."
- Tribal Facilitator/Knowledge Sharer
"I loved all the thought and care put into the cohorts, check ins, and main speaker sections. It was one of the better virtual experiences that I have had by far!"
- Tribal Nation Delegate
"While an in-person camp would have allowed for a richer experience and fewer "real life" distractions, the camp setting was well thought out and the frequent breakouts did foster comradery and teamwork."
- Tribal Facilitator/Knowledge Sharer

Sample Tribal Climate Resilience Camp Agenda at-a-glance

Want to learn more about Tribal climate resilience camps? Watch these videos about previous camps!

Frequently asked questions

A: It may not be an individual, but rather a team that makes the ideal candidate. The camp planning committee is looking for teams of three individuals from their respective Tribal Nations. Ideally the various team members would hit all three of the following descriptors:
  1. Tribal environmental professional: Someone who might be spearheading the efforts in producing a climate adaptation plan, either now or in the future.
  2. Tribal leader: Could be a Council member, a community leader, or culture/traditional knowledge keeper.
  3. Next Generation Tribal Environmental Professional: Someone who has just started in natural resources and shows promise in holding a key role with the department in the future.

A: For Tribal Nations, a climate adaptation plan can come in many different forms. However, the core can be characterized as a comprehensive plan that brings together information sources (i.e., global climate models, formal vulnerability assessments, traditional ecological knowledge, etc..) and other resources to provide insight and/or generate some actions that can be taken toward adapting many different aspects of the Tribal community. These aspects include, but are not limited to, natural and cultural resources, infrastructure, businesses, housing, emergency response, and policies in order to improve their overall resiliency to the impacts of climate change.

A: A vulnerability assessment also works to synthesize and integrate information on a deeper level than a comprehensive climate adaptation plan. Information included will often be expert-derived cultural or traditional ecological knowledge, scientific knowledge, and quantitative analyses all pertaining to a particular natural/cultural resource, business, ecosystem, housing area, or emergency response protocol, and other items. This information is garnered in order to assess the degree to which that particular item or area of interest is susceptible to the impacts of climate change while also identifying what specific areas are most susceptible and/or the reasons why.
Have questions, or want more information about the Tribal Climate Resilience Camp? Get in touch with us!