Climate Toolkit Symposium Agenda

Opening Evening Reception

SUN., OCT. 26, 6 – 9 P.M.

🌴 Welcome to the Symposium!

Held against the backdrop of Phipps Conservatory’s lush Tropical Forest Panama exhibit and Special Events Hall, this welcoming event will feature an opening address from Richard Piacentini, President & CEO of Phipps, and Margaret Waldock, Executive Director of Duke Farms, plus refreshments, a buffet dinner, live music and networking.

Day 1: Case Studies in Climate Success

MON., OCT. 27, 8 A.M. – 5 P.M., DINNER AND KEYNOTE PRESENTATION 6:30 – 9 P.M.

8 a.m. – 9 a.m. – Breakfast and Welcome

9 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. – Program One

⚡ Energy and Decarbonization

Cultural institutions are stepping up as climate leaders by reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to renewable energy. In this panel, Phipps Conservatory, Duke Farms, New York Botanical Garden and The Morton Arboretum will share how they are implementing ambitious decarbonization strategies, offering lessons learned from real-world successes and challenges.

10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. – Program Two

🌍 Climate Interpretation and Engagement

How can institutions engage with the public on a changing climate? This panel presentation brings together The Climate Museum, the Natural History Museum of Utah, and Bernheim Forest to highlight creative approaches to interpretation and engagement that will inspire audiences to participate in climate solutions.

12 p.m. – 1 p.m. – Lunch

1 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. – Program Three

♻️ Breakout Focus Areas: Waste, Climate Research, Nature-Based Solutions

Breakout tracks offer participants an opportunity for a focused conversation on specific areas of climate action. Each session begins with a short presentation from a subject expert, followed by a facilitated, round-table discussion to support knowledge sharing and problem-solving. Round one will feature presentations and discussion on the following areas:

• Waste Management and Staff Engagement – with the National Aquarium
• Climate Research – with University of Akron Field Station and the Organization of Biological Field Stations
• Nature-Based Solutions – with The Morton Arboretum and Mt. Cuba Center

2:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. – Program Four

🌳 Breakout Focus Areas: Sustainable Finance, Conservation and Climate, Facilities Management

Round two of breakout focus areas will feature short presentations from subject experts, followed by facilitated, round-table discussions to support knowledge sharing and problem-solving on the following subjects:

• Sustainable Finance and Investment Strategies – with Phipps Conservatory
• Conservation and Climate Action – with Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
• Facilities Management – with Duke Farms

4 p.m. – 5 p.m. – Program Five

🌱 Youth Climate Advocacy

Amplifying youth voices is critical to advancing the climate movement and driving action within communities. In this panel and audience Q&A session, hear directly from youth climate leaders at Phipps as they share their experiences as advocates and changemakers.

5 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. – Living Buildings Tour

Join Phipps Conservatory’s interpretative specialist, sustainability manager, and director of facilities and sustainability for an in-depth, behind-the-scenes green buildings tour of the Center for Sustainable Landscapes, Exhibit Staging Center, Nature Lab, and Production Greenhouse Facility and learn about strategies for net-zero energy and water.

6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. – Dinner and Keynote Address

The evening will conclude with a sit-down dinner in the Special Events Hall and keynote address from David W. Orr, the Paul Sears Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies and Politics Emeritus at Oberlin College, and present Professor of Practice at Arizona State University.

Day 2: A Deep Dive Into the Future

TUES., OCT. 28, 8 A.M. – 4 P.M.

8 a.m. – 9 a.m. – Breakfast and Welcome

9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Program One

🌻 Essence as Compass: Guiding Climate Action with Purpose and Presence

This session, curated by Sonja Bochart and Natalie Shutt-Banks from LENS, invites participants to explore the power of working from essence—connecting with the unique core of who they are and what truly matters. In a time when climate action can often feel reactive or overwhelming, returning to essence offers a way to move with greater clarity, coherence, and purpose. From this foundation, our actions become more regenerative, our strategies more aligned, and our potential for lasting impact more fully realized.

10:45 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Program Two

🍃 Regenerative Thinking: Tools for Leadership

This thought-provoking workshop introduces a living systems way of thinking that looks at the interactive dynamic nature of relationships through a lens which allows all of your stakeholders — from donors and visitors to employees and the natural world itself — to co-evolve and reach their greatest potential.

12 p.m. – 1 p.m. – Lunch

1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Program Three

✅ Climate Action Workshops

In this final session of the Symposium, participants will choose from a menu of facilitated climate action workshops in order to help catalyze climate action planning and implementation at your institution.

• Forming a Climate Action Resiliency Plan – led by Environment & Culture Partners
• Climate Interpretation for the Guest Experience – led by Natural History Museum of Utah and The Climate Museum
• Becoming Your Community’s Climate Resource / Civic Engagement – led by ASTC’s Seeding Action Network.

2:40 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. – Share and Reflection

3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Reconvene and Farewell

Your $150 admission ticket includes full symposium admission and all food and beverages. The Climate Toolkit Symposium is immediately followed by the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums Annual Conference, also in Pittsburgh – we encourage interested attendees to extend their stay and join both events.

Questions? Contact alampl@phipps.conservatory.org or call 412-622-6915, ext. 6752