Climate Wayfinding Program at App State: Fall 2025 Retreat
We are excited to announce our 2nd offering of Climate Wayfinding, an immersive learning program for students seeking clarity, courage, and community on their climate journeys. Participants explore their unique possibilities for contributing to positive climate action. Fall 2025 retreat dates are: September 19-21; apply here by August 29.
The Climate Wayfinding Program was developed by leading climate thinker/doer Dr. Katharine Wilkinson and The All We Can Save Project, which has trained three App State faculty/staff as program facilitators: Heidi Campbell (Counseling & Psychological Services), Carla Ramsdell (Physics & Astronomy) and Laura England (QEP/Sustainable Development). The ~15-hour Climate Wayfinding program includes an opening session followed by five topical sessions; it’s a significant investment of time that we expect you will find extremely rewarding.
For Fall 2025, we are offering the program as a “day retreat” (i.e., no overnight stay) at Valle Crucis Conference Center (photo of the retreat space below). This center is about a 20 minute drive from campus (map link). Retreat days and times are as follows:
- Friday, September 19, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm (on campus location TBA)
- Saturday, September 20, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (at Valle Crucis Conference Center; lunch provided)
- Sunday, September 21, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (at Valle Crucis Conference Center; lunch provided; includes waterfall hike)
Cost to you: $0. Deep-dive professional development programs typically cost $1000 or more, but we have funding that allows us to make this meaningful program available to a small group of students at no cost. Given the value of what participants receive, we ask that you thoroughly commit your time and focus for all of the scheduled sessions if you are selected.
Application: To be considered for one of the 15 spots in our Fall 2025 Climate Wayfinding Retreat, please complete and submit this application form by Friday, August 29, 2025. Note: We ask that all applicants please hold the blocks of time listed above so that you are able to participate if you are selected.
Who is the Climate Wayfinding program for? If you are holding questions about your place in climate engagement and/or seeking deeper involvement, this program is designed for you. We anticipate giving ~2/3 of the spots to students (undergrads and grad students; all majors are welcome) and will fill the remaining spots with faculty and staff. (Note: This program is not designed for those who are looking primarily for climate 101, career counseling, or technical content.)
More about Climate Wayfinding
How we find our way:
- We look inward — exploring our climate emotions, core motivations, guiding values, and skills and “superpowers.”
- We look outward — exploring climate solutions, accelerators for change, and our unique contexts and communities.
- We look forward — exploring our visions of the future and creating a personalized “climate compass” and plan.
What does the experience involve?
Climate Wayfinding participants engage in diverse modes of exploration. The program weaves together the following elements:
- New writings by Dr. Katharine K. Wilkinson
- Curated read/watch/listen materials
- Grounding with music and poetry
- Questions to open and close group time
- Guided visualizations and meditations
- Prompts for reflection and free-writing
- Facilitated large-group discussion
- Independent small-group discussion
- Frameworks for exploration and synthesis
- Resources and activities to go deeper
Quotes from university students who have participated in Climate Wayfinding:
“I’m endlessly grateful to Climate Wayfinding program facilitators for providing me with a truly immersive and embodied learning experience. Through generative group discussions, our cohort explored artistic and educational resources on climate justice and systems change (all while building meaningful, long-lasting connections within a community.”
“Climate Wayfinding helped me dig deep into understanding my emotions and motivations around addressing the climate crisis. I feel more capable of talking about the challenges we face, and more inspired to work toward solutions. The blend of reflection, discussion, and intentional goal-setting make me excited to get to work, on personal and professional pathways.”
“Climate Wayfinding was unlike any other educational experience I’ve ever been a part of — catered to the entire person (mind, body, heart, spirit), crafted with astonishing thoughtfulness and intentionality, framed by people whose joy + intentionality + eagerness to engage made all the difference.”
