Boozhoo Using “G-WOW” for Climate Change Service Learning Cathy Techtmann- Environmental Outreach State Specialist University of Wisconsin-Extension NOAA Climate Steward on behalf of G-WOW Team

Place-based Evidence of a Changing Climate Unprecedented cancellations of Bad River tribal wild rice harvests and poor harvest years (2007-2012) Ice cover on Lake Superior at Bayfield, Wisconsin has decreased approximately 3 days/decade or 45 days over the past 150 years “Changes in Lake Superior ice cover at Bayfield, Wisconsin”, Forrest Howk, 2009. Flooding in southern Wisconsin, northern WI lakes were at their lowest level in 70 years. Lake Superior was near record low (2012-2013). At record high 2014.

Scientific evidence of a Changing Climate WI has gotten warmer & wetter over the past 60 years 2010: tied for the warmest 2011: the wettest 2012: the hottest and most extreme 2013: globally warmer than average, oceans warmest in 134 years 2014: globally hottest in 135 years 2015: globally hottest year ever! From 1950-2006: +1ºF over all temperature increase +2 - 2.5ºF increase in NW Wisconsin.

WHAT’S IN THE FUTURE? OVERALL WARMING WARMER WINTERS CLIMATE PROJECTIONS (1980-2055) Based on A1B “middle of the road” scenario OVERALL WARMING Change in Average Annual Temps +4-9ºF WARMER WINTERS Decrease in Frequency of Cold Nights- esp. Northern Wisconsin MORE EXTREME WEATHER Up to 4.5 inch annual mean increase in precip 25% increase in the frequency of 2-inch or greater rainfall events

CLIMATE WINNERS & LOSERS Climate change will affect the habitat conditions that species need to thrive and survive We depend on the sustainability of these species for supporting our cultures and economies

Projected change in Wisconsin’s annual average temperatures CLIMATE AFFECTS CULTURE Cultural Practice of harvesting birch bark. Paper birch is a boreal species that relies on a cool climate. Projected change in Wisconsin’s annual average temperatures in ºF, 1980-2055

The G-WOW model uses climate impacts on Ojibwe cultural practices as The Lake Superior Ojibwe have relied on the sustainability of plant and animal species for generations to support subsistence, cultural, and spiritual practices or “lifeways” Tribes have traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) of natural systems that provides long term place-based indicators of climate change beyond weather variability The G-WOW model uses climate impacts on Ojibwe cultural practices as an indicator of a changing climate for all cultures

G-WOW integrates TEK and place-based evidence, with climate science to evaluate how climate change is affecting habitat conditions needed for the sustainability of the species that support a cultural practice. Key Species Requires habitats with cool growing temperatures, moderate water level fluctuations G-WOW uses impacts on Ojibwe cultural practices as an indicator of a changing climate for all cultures

The G-WOW Model Creates a culturally relevant climate change perspective Links cultural, place-based evidence with climate science Is transferrable to different cultures & locations Promotes action through service learning

TARGET AUDIENCES Students (middle school & above) Teachers-Educators General Public

Climate Change Discovery Center Educator Training Institutes G-WOW OUTREACH TOOLS Experiential learning Ojibwe language, TEK, and cultural elements infused Multi-cultural perspectives Web Curriculum www.g-wow.org Climate Change Discovery Center Educator Training Institutes

Investigate the Science Ojibwe Lifeways Place-based evidence of climate impacts on the sustainability of key species supporting a seasonal Ojibwe cultural practice Talking Circle Sharing service learning projects via an interactive blog Investigate the Science Climate science from federal, state, and tribal sources What Can We Do? Get Ideas Here for taking action through climate service learning projects G-WOW Web Curriculum www.g-wow.org On-line climate change service learning curriculum Represents application of the 4-season G-WOW model

Ojibwe Lifeways Units Spring Ojibwe Lifeway: Maple sugaring and Birch bark harvesting Key species: Sugar maple and paper birch trees Winter Ojibwe Lifeway: Respecting Our Culture Key species: American marten Summer Ojibwe Lifeway: Fishing Key species: Cold and coolwater fish Fall Ojibwe Lifeway: Wild Ricing Key species: Manoomin

Each Ojibwe Lifeway unit includes: Intro to the cultural practice and the species supporting it Coming soon: A new curriculum unit on water & climate- “Hear the Water Speak” Learning objectives Baseline ecological information expla habitat conditions needed for sustainability of the key species(s), possible climate stressors & impacts Cultural connection: TEK on the cultural importance of the key species to maintaining an Ojibwe lifeway Menu of place-based resources to evaluate impacts on the key species Students investigate place-based climate observations Activity Guides focus student investigations

Investigate the Science Customized for each Ojibwe Lifeway unit A toolbox to investigate and evaluate scientific climate change research via interactive maps. Coming Soon: Animated NASA climate maps for Ojibwe Ceded Territory Students research climate trends and projections & evaluate impacts on the sustainability of key species. “Test It” : students test their own climate change hypothesis through self-designed investigations. Activity Guides focus student investigations.

What Can We Do? Students act on knowledge gained to develop a service learning project to address climate change impacts in their community Provides service learning project templates and ideas Tools for customizing service learning projects Ready-made project templates such as Project Budburst, climate phenology wheels, climate collages provide fun, service learning options

Talking Circle Post & share results of service learning projects View projects from other participants Projects are segmented by location and type Variety of project uploads possible: project description, pdfs, images, YouTube links After posting, use simple tool to evaluate project impacts

TEST DRIVE www.g-wow.org

Other On-line G-WOW Resources Teacher Resources G-WOW Curriculum Guide Lesson Plans, Resources, News, Training Vignettes About Project background Partner acknowledgements Climate Change Climate literacy basics Contact For more information Games Interactive climate games

Create Your G-WOW model Cultural Practice What cultural practice do you enjoy? What species is needed to support this practice? What changes are you seeing in the key species or in the habitats it needs? What changes in environmental variables critical to supporting these habitat conditions are projected by climate science? Variables may include: temperature, precipitation, drought, intense rain/ storms, humidity, etc. What habitat conditions does the species need to survive and thrive? Do culture and science agree that climate change may affect the key species and the cultural practice? What implications does this have for you or your community?

G-WOW Model Example: South Milwaukee HS Cultural Practice Perch fish fry Requires cool water. Warmer water also favors invasives that compete with Yellow Perch Credit: GLERL.

G-WOW model example: Southern Florida Cultural Practice Large circles = 50 or more pythons captured Hiking in the Everglades Invasive Burmese python: requires very warm, moist “tropical” habitats Increase in 95+-degree day/year, 2041-2070. What does a changing climate mean for the sustainability of this invasive species? How could this affect recreation, nature-based tourism economies?

Marathon Adventure Academy climate change videos Example of a student driven climate change service learning project Marathon Adventure Academy climate change videos

Coastal Climate Camps Climate change learning experiences based on the G-WOW model at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center and/or Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Climate change field investigation, ancient sugar bush, Little Sand Bay Northwestern School @ the NGLVC G-WOW Discovery Center "When I saw that we would be teaching about climate change… I thought Ugghhh!!! Now I see that the cultural impact of climate change is how to approach middle school kids with this topic.“ … G-WOW Institute Teacher

Ripples… Partnering with the Fond du Lac Tribal College to expand the G-WOW model via a $1.09 million NASA Innovations in Climate Education-Tribal (NICE-T) grant Partnering with Chicago Botanical Garden’s on EPA “Connecting Communities to Climate Change (C3I)” climate initiative. This project was cited in a White House climate paper. G-WOW listed on NOAA’s US Climate Resiliency Toolkit, USDA Project Budburst citizen science phenology network Partnering with APIS on a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Grant on 2016 G-WOW “Hear the Water Speak” climate change initiative The G-WOW Initiative & Team received 2013 Honor Award from the Eastern Region of the US Forest Service for “Courageous Conservation”

unique lifeways of your culture. We invite you to use and help improve the G-WOW model to increase climate change literacy based on the unique lifeways of your culture. www.g-wow.org

Miigwech!