BASEcamp: Building Community for Climate Action Educators

As educators across New Hampshire and Vermont continue to explore ways to engage students in meaningful climate action, finding a supportive community can make all the difference. That’s where BASEcamp comes in.

The Vermont Energy Education Program / New Hampshire Energy Education Program (VEEP/NHEEP) BASEcamp Network (Building Action Support for Educators) is more than just a Google Group — it’s a growing community of educators, environmental professionals, and changemakers committed to helping students take meaningful climate action.

Whether you’re just beginning to integrate climate learning into your classroom or already leading student-driven sustainability projects, BASEcamp offers a space to connect, collaborate, ask questions, and share ideas with others doing similar work across the region.

The network was designed with one important idea in mind: none of us should have to do this work alone.

What Happens in BASEcamp?

BASEcamp is intentionally flexible and community-driven. Participants can engage in ways that work best for them, whether that means jumping into conversations regularly or simply checking in when support is needed.

Here are a few ways educators are already using the network:

Sharing Resources & Problem Solving Together

Need affordable hydroponic equipment? Looking for participatory decision-making activities? Hoping to connect with someone who has experience leading climate action projects with students?

BASEcamp creates space for practical problem-solving, idea sharing, and collective brainstorming. Members are encouraged to share successes, challenges, upcoming events, and questions big or small.

The group also centers respectful dialogue and community care. Conversations focus on learning together, calling each other in, and building supportive relationships rooted in shared goals.

Building Connections Beyond the Screen

BASEcamp also encourages educators to connect through formal and informal meet-ups, discussions, and collaborative conversations.

Participants can organize virtual check-ins, hikes, classroom collaborations, or educator gatherings — and VEEP/NHEEP staff are even available to help host Zoom or Google Meet sessions if needed.

In a field where educators are often balancing ambitious goals with limited time and resources, having a trusted network to lean on can be incredibly valuable.

Ongoing Learning & Professional Growth

About once a month, the network shares curated resources, articles, tools, or ideas connected to climate education and student action. These resources are paired with discussion prompts to spark ongoing dialogue and reflection — almost like a climate education book club.

Participants are also welcome to bring their own prompts, ideas, and resources into the conversation.

And for educators looking to document professional learning, participation in BASEcamp meetings and discussions can count toward CEUs or other professional development requirements through certificates of participation.

Why Networks Like BASEcamp Matter

Climate education can sometimes feel overwhelming — especially when educators are navigating complex topics, emotional responses, and rapidly changing environmental realities alongside their students.

Networks like BASEcamp remind us that climate action education is deeply collaborative work. By sharing ideas, supporting one another, and learning together, educators can build stronger, more hopeful learning experiences for students and communities alike.

At UVTPC, we know that some of the most powerful learning happens when educators have opportunities to connect across schools, organizations, and state lines. BASEcamp is helping make those connections possible.

Interested in Joining?

If you’d like to be added to the BASEcamp Google Group, email Aubrey Nelson (aubrey.nelson@veep.org).

Whether you’re looking for fresh ideas, collaborative partners, professional learning, or simply reassurance that others are navigating similar challenges, BASEcamp offers a welcoming place to start.