This summer, TESI, in conjunction with the CLEO Institute Climate Speaker Program, is helping support lifelong learners at Oak Hammock at the University of Florida (UF). Community Action Projects for the Environment (CAPE), an initiative housed at the UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), typically focuses on youth aged 11–18. It equips participants to identify local issues and take meaningful action. For the first time, CAPE will explore how that civic engagement model can be adapted to engage older adults.

“We have advertised the program to attract residents at Oak Hammock who are interested in suggesting a change in their community,” said Dr. Martha Monroe, who led the development of the CAPE curriculum. “We have assembled a team of people from UF who are curious about how this might work and are engaging in this pilot study as a research venture.” Ellen Siegel from the CLEO Institute added, “Our senior population holds a wealth of knowledge and many care deeply about the world they are leaving to others. We are looking forward to working together on this project.”

Dr. Megan Ennes, TESI Director and Assistant Curator of Museum Education, will contribute to the program by leading a session and supporting evaluation efforts.

To learn more about CAPE, visit https://programs.ifas.ufl.edu/cape.