The Nisqually River Foundation, with robust community partnerships with the Chehalis Basin Education Consortium (CBEC), South Sound Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (SSG), Capital Region Educational Service District 113, and Mount Rainier Institute, will work with NOAA Fisheries' West Coast Region's Education and Outreach Specialist, Peggy Foreman to implement a new project: From Mt. Rainier to the Pacific Coast: Fostering Resilient Climate Leaders, Communities and Coastal Ecosystems.

The objectives of the project are threefold: host three Summer Teachers Institutes for participating teachers; develop a Climate Resilient Youth Leadership Program for 12-18 year old students; and, produce and implement clearly identified Action Projects for Community Resiliency for the purpose of conserving local ecosystems and increasing resiliency in their communities to extreme weather events and changing climate. The project aims to result in teachers and students who are well versed in their region's geographical threats of receding glaciers, extreme weather/flooding, rising sea levels, alterations of river flow and ocean acidification, and inspire them to make well informed decisions. Ultimately, over three years, 75 teachers and their 1,875 students, and 140 student leaders from the Cascade Range in the east, Nisqually River and Delta in the north, south to Lewis County, and west to the Pacific Ocean in Grays Harbor County will become more engaged in shaping the region's future through increased informed decision making and related direct actions.

The project includes an additional collaboration with the Pacific Northwest Climate Leaders web-based social media campaign, which will engage participating teachers and students in becoming more knowledgeable in local, geographical threats. Project participants will also plant 20,000 native trees and shrubs to restore riparian and coastal habitats, decrease carbon footprint through the project's Cool Schools Challenge, and monitor local stream flows, temperatures and water quality, building on a previous U.S. EPA Targeted Watershed Grant. The project will utilize NOAA's assets to provide participating teachers and students with accurate, relevant and timely scientific information. Specifically, the project will use ClimateChangeLIVE, a distance learning website with a education resources. The project will also use the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit which provides scientific tools, information, and expertise to help people manage their climate-related risks and opportunities, and improve their resilience to extreme events. The toolkit will be used to provide guidance to identify problems, determine vulnerabilities, investigate options, evaluate risks and costs and take action. NOAA's mission will be supported as teachers and students share their knowledge in their classrooms, with school districts, at community meetings, and through social media.