Celebrating the Power of Local Action: Environmental Steward Impact Summit

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The Rutgers Environmental Steward Impact Summit is set for Saturday, October 24. The half-day conference offers an exciting opportunity for anyone passionate about addressing environmental challenges in New Jersey. Summit will bring together current class participants, alumni, and community leaders and members from across the state to foster greater environmental resilience. Register today: https://go.rutgers.edu/ressummit26

What is the Rutgers Environmental Steward Program?

The RES program is an educational program offered through Rutgers Cooperative Extension, designed to educate and empower individuals interested in improving the environment. The program provides community members with the training and knowledge needed to take effective action on local pressing environmental issues including climate change.

Each year a new cohort of stewards tackles real-world projects addressing topics like water quality, climate change, habitat preservation, and waste reduction. These projects have a lasting impact, benefiting local communities and ecosystems long after the course ends.

The Impact Summit: Celebrating the Achievements of our Certification Recipients.

The Impact Summit is a culmination of the stewards’ hard work, an opportunity for them to showcase their projects providing insights into their work, the challenges they faced, and the positive outcomes of their efforts. This is an opportunity to see the variety of creative solutions being implemented to solve environmental issues at the local level. Their dedication to environmental action is shaping a more sustainable resilient future for New Jersey and for that, they will receive their Rutgers Environmental Steward Certification.

Keynote Speaker: Ed Potosnak, Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Commissioner Ed Potosnak leads New Jersey’s environmental protection and sustainability efforts, guiding initiative focused on resilient communities, clean water, environemtnal stewardship, and economic growth. A Rutgers University alumnus, he brings extensive experience in environemtnal policy, public service, science education, and community leadership.

Why attend the Environmental Steward Impact Summit?

Attending the Summit is not just for stewards, it’s for anyone interested in environmental sustainability, climate change resilience, and volunteerism. It’s a chance to be inspired by stories of local action, network with environmental volunteers, and program staff, and build new collaborations and initiatives.

How to Register

Registration is open to the public. Details can be found here. Whether you are an experienced environmental advocate or someone newly interested in making a difference, the Impact Summit will be inspiring.