Alliance for Climate Education, or ACE, is the national leader in high school climate science education. ACE is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides free multimedia assemblies on climate science and solutions to high schools. Since 2009, ACE has reached more than 700,000 students at more than 1,200 high schools nationwide. ACE is currently active in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, New England, Washington, DC, Northern California, and Colorado.
Contents
Assembly
ACE provides free in-person assemblies at high schools nationwide. The assembly has garnered positive reviews from teachers, administrators and media, and is noted for its dynamic multimedia content and effectiveness in connecting with hard-to-reach teen audiences. A 2010 study showed that the ACE Assembly contributed to a 58% improvement in climate science understanding.
Action Teams
After the assembly, ACE helps students start or improve Action Teams, or environmental clubs, at school. Projects consist of anything from starting a recycling club to solarizing the school district. More than 25,000 students have joined more than 700 ACE Action Teams nationwide.
For example, in February 2011, the Action Team at West High School, in Torrance, CA, led a drive-through electronic waste recycling event which saved more than 26,000 lb of ewaste and earned the school $2,600.
Special Events/Partnerships
In Winter 2011, ACE partnered with Protect Our Winters to present Hot Planet/Cool Athletes, a winter tour of high schools in mountain communities. ACE presented their climate presentation in tandem with prominent professional winter athletes, including two-time Olympic gold medalist Seth Wescott, Olympic silver medalist Gretchen Bleiler and five-time X Games gold medalist Nate Holland. Athletes added to the presentation by discussing tangible local impacts of climate change on their careers and local communities.