Stetson is doing its part to fight climate change by launching a new environmental action program on campus and in the DeLand community. 

In October, the university established a chapter of Campus Climate Action Corps (CCAC) — the first nationwide AmeriCorps program solely dedicated to campus-based, community-led climate action. CCAC works with partners to build their capacity to lead initiatives for public awareness — increasing energy efficiency and improving at-risk ecosystems by implementing local solutions for underserved households and communities.

The Stetson chapter will be led by Kevin Winchell, director of Community Engagement. Nine other campuses across six Eastern states will serve as inaugural host sites for the CCAC program, which is an initiative of Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities committed to advancing the public purposes of higher education.

Also in October, Kathryn Carpenter arrived on campus with AmeriCorps to serve as the Campus Climate Action Corps Team Lead. Carpenter brings a background in project management, environmental consulting and public health nursing. 

In addition, Avery Brooks ’26 and Anuket Goins ’24 joined the team as Climate Action Energizers. Together, they will work with Stetson Environmental Fellows Audrey Berlie ’24, Jacob Robinson ’24, Sugeeth Sathish ’25, Mackenzie Powers ’26 and Phoenix Medley ’27, along with advisers/professors Tony Abbott, PhD., and Jason Evans, PhD, to identify and implement environmental sustainability initiatives.

‘Reduce Our Carbon Footprint’

The team has developed a Climate Action Plan to guide their work, highlighted by the creation of “Reduce Our Carbon Footprint” — a public awareness campaign that is organized into monthly themes: Energy Efficiency, Food Sustainability, Waste Reduction, Green Spaces and Biodiversity, and Water Conservation. The campaign’s intent is to promote actions everyone can take to reduce the carbon footprint on campus.  

The team’s initial at-risk ecosystem project, started in December, is focused on rehabilitation of the Bartram Trail section at the Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center, which was impacted during recent storms. Later this spring, the team will be ready to support low-income households with basic home-energy assessments to identify easy steps residents can take to reduce monthly bills. 

For students, there will be opportunities throughout the Spring 2024 semester to get involved and, as Carpenter described, “really make a difference.”

Note: You can follow the Campus Climate Action Corps on Instagram (@environmentalfellows) and at tabling events on campus. A new website presence is in the works. Also, for more information or to get involved, contact Kathryn Carpenter at [email protected].