Wildfires are a natural part of California’s ecology. But climate change is making them larger and more destructive.
Learning how to live with them is essential. A symposium coming to Chico State will focus on how we can become more resilient and less vulnerable when faced with fire.
The This Way to Resilience Symposium aims to provide people with practical strategies to create more adaptive communities.
Mark Stemen teaches environmental science at Chico State and is an event organizer. He said adaptation takes a village.
“To be resilient is to be a community. As I often say in a disaster your neighbor is your first line of defense and so if we can build up our neighbors and our neighborhood and those relationships we’re going to be much better in the times as we move forward,” Stemen said.
The event will feature experts in wildfire preparedness and response. There will be workshops and interactive activities, and opportunities to connect with students, faculty and community leaders.
He pointed to one novel teaching tool that will be showcased at the symposium: a game.
“It’s kind of like a board game. You have chance cards … you roll dice,” Stemen said. “And then you get cards that have different things on them that help you learn, for example one of the cards is you’ve got your prescriptions … you lose a turn unless you’ve written them down and can call the pharmacy and then play on.”
The free event will be held March 27th and 28th on the Chico State campus. Registration is required.
