Conservation in Action Certificate Program
Understanding the landscape of conservation in Massachusetts and how to engage with it.
Are you ready to build knowledge, develop skills, and take your next steps in conservation and environmental action? This program is designed to help you learn, get the resources you need, and engage with conservation efforts on many levels, from the choices you make in your everyday life, to promoting climate action in your community. You will be introduced to the best practices for engaging with others about climate issues and solutions, and how to most effectively help advance conservation policy.
As a Mass Audubon Conservation in Action Certificate Program graduate, you will
- Be equipped to engage with conservation efforts in your community.
- Get introduced to how land is protected and how habitats are restored at the local level.
- Learn how environmental advocacy works and gain skills to participate at different levels
- Be introduced to the different ways individuals relate to environmental issues and conservation, and how to motivate others to take action.
- Have opportunities to join a group or team working on a conservation project or advocacy effort.
- Be part of a community of like-minded participants, learning together.
- Receive a Certificate of Completion. Additional documentation can be provided for participants who need it for PDP credits, reimbursement, or other requirements.
Who Should Attend
- Anyone who cares, is interested, and is motivated to learn and take action for conservation.
- Anyone who is (or wants to become) an active community volunteer and is ready to know more about the environment and how nature protects people and the climate as well as wildlife.
- Anyone with a local role in conservation, stewardship, or sustainability who is interested in engaging with people who care about the health and safety of your community.
Program Details
11 weekly online sessions, Tuesdays, 7:00-8:30pm, January 21- April 8, 2025
Each week will cover a foundational topic for understanding the landscape of conservation in Massachusetts through introductory presentations on:
- Land Protection and Habitat Restoration - tools, strategies, and successes
- Environmental Advocacy – how conservation legislation happens at state and local levels, the roles played from lobbyists to elected officials, and how to be involved
- Community Scale Conservation and Grassroots Conservation Work – engaging effectively with others to advance local conservation projects and priorities
- Climate Impacts and Solutions
- Environmentalism – understanding how people relate to nature and environmental issues, and motivating others to engage with conservation action
In addition, there will be:
Suggested homework exercises and supplemental resources. To further develop your learning, you will be invited to share during a homework review discussion each week.
Small focused group discussions will focus on supporting you to delve deeper into one of the presented topics in a smaller group discussion.
Hands-on opportunities in April-June 2025. As the class sessions wrap up, you will have opportunities to join projects, teams, and learning experiences located around the state, including:
- Mass Audubon’s Nature & Climate Champions (campaigns, legislative actions)
- Conservation and habitat restoration projects (stewardship, wetlands and stream restoration, wildlife monitoring, invasives removal, maintaining specialized gardens, etc.)
- Community activities and events focused on conservation
- Training in environmental education and communicating about climate and behavior change
Fee
$220 per person for Mass Audubon members; $265 for nonmembers
You can become a member during the registration process to take advantage of the member rate.
Discounted fees available. Please email us for an application for:
- Student rate $180 per person
- Group discounts for any organization or environmental group sending three or more members
- Scholarships
Planned Schedule
| Session Date | Topic |
|---|---|
| January 21 | Introductory session |
| January 28 | Massachusetts Climate Impacts & Solutions |
| February 4 | Land Protection |
| February 11 | Ecological Restoration |
| February 25 | Environmental Advocacy |
| March 4 | Environment and Society |
| March 11 | Examples of Community Scale Conservation Project and Initiatives |
| March 18 | Creating and Stewarding Community Conservation Work |
| March 25 | Conservation Behavior Change and Engagement |
| April 1 | Small group discussions focusing on topics of interest |
| April 8 | Final class, in-person opportunities available April-June |
Additional Information
A syllabus, suggested readings, and an interest survey will be sent to registrants before the program starts.
Weekly synchronous online class sessions will be held using Microsoft Teams. You will receive the Microsoft Teams link and user tips in your registration confirmation. A reminder will be emailed to you 48 hours before program start. Class sessions will also be recorded, so you can view them later as needed.
There are no required textbooks. Suggested articles, readings, and videos will be emailed as PDF files or links.
Questions
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