Coastal community infrastructure, such as this coastal road, is vulnerable to many climate change impacts including flood- ing from storm events and sea level rise (photo by Nikki Pirtel). and figures) is something that I am proud to show to anyone willing to learn about the risk-based evaluations. I hope that the work done in this internship will grow into a much more substantial program and help Connecticut become a leader in climate adaptation. Additional internship responsibilities included website updating and offering recommendations for a role-playing exer- cise that will occur in a new Climate Corps related class during the upcoming semester. These activities helped me reflect on past, similar experiences so that I could make any changes to proposed material to avoid previous problems I had encountered. Finding links to put on the Adapt CT website (through UConn’s Center for Land Use Education and Research, CLEAR) helped bring out my creative side and allowed me to delve into topics that really interest me. Although attending meetings (except with the Westbrook town planner) and conducting a field site visit were not a part of my official obligations, seeing people and infrastructure in person really tied everything in the internship together. By seeing the people, along with their proper- ties and other assets, that will be most negatively impacted by climate change in the future, my work felt much more important knowing what I did this sum- mer may have a positive influence in time. Talking to members of shoreline commu- nities from various backgrounds also made me realize that the climate will leave people of all classes vulnerable to events such as sea level rise, storm surge, flooding and tropical storms/hurricanes. Overall, this was more than just a summer job, rather a learning experience teaching me the ins and outs of local government, how input from the public affects an administration’s policies and the importance of maintaining natural landscapes within man-made ones. Climate Corps Class The class, Climate Resilience and Adaptation: Municipal Policy and Planning, was offered in the fall semester of 2017-2018 academic year and focused on local, practical issues and impacts arising from climate change. Extension’s Juliana Barrett led the course but it was team-taught by Climate Corps team mem- bers and outside experts. Students who complete the fall course are then eligible for the spring practicum course, led by Extension’s Bruce Hyde. The practicum builds upon the ongoing work of Hyde and Barrett, who form the CLEAR/Sea Grant climate team and have been working with towns for several years, including organizing a series of workshops called the Climate Adaptation Academy. The Climate Corps is funded primarily through a three-year Academic Plan grant from the UConn Provost’s office. The Extension Internship program is funded through the Office of the Associate Dean for Extension and Public Engagement. More information on the Class can be found online at climate.uconn.edu, visit the Climate Corps section. “With my help and the aid of future interns, the municipality can prepare for the impacts already being seen from climate change while simultaneously saving money. “ TOOLS & TRAINING 2017 HIGHLIGHTS OF EXTENSION 25