Conservation filmmaker Christi Bode peels back the layers of Colorado's K-12 climate and water education in her latest PBS documentary, Thirsting for a Future. This 30-minute film takes an honest look at how we're preparing youth for today’s climate crisis through the lens of students, educators, and decision-makers across the state.
Climate and water education plays a powerful role for K-12 students in Colorado, yet not every student has access to it. While the state academic standards require some elements, local school districts ultimately decide what is taught in the classroom. Learning opportunities for youth depend heavily on community support.
Bode has been chasing water across the West for the past decade, covering topics including wildlife conservation, wildfire preparedness, Tribal water access, the future of agriculture, river restoration, and much more. Her desire to develop a youth-centered story stemmed from a growing concern about the environment today’s kids are inheriting. Following the film, she will facilitate a panel with student advocates in Durango to discuss climate education in our community.