Collegians Get Fired up at Frosty 2015 Eco-Summit

CFACT Group

CFACT students and staff braving the cold in Biwabik, MN

Students from around the nation gathered in frigid Biwabik, Minnesota this past weekend to learn, share, and make plans to spread CFACT’s message to their college peers this coming spring semester.  Although the temperatures rarely climbed above zero, the frigid environs did little to cool down the energy and enthusiasm of all those in attendance. The students came from colleges and universities located in states from across the nation, including California, Virginia, Louisiana, North Dakota, Texas, and Minnesota (just to name a few).

“It was great to learn about important issues like fracking, energy, and global warming,” remarked Levi Gourdie from Butler University, “and learn the facts I need to bring the climate change debate to my campus.”

This year the Eco-Summit included several special speakers who discussed a plethora of different topics. CFACT’s executive director Craig Rucker and Marc Morano, editor of CFACT’s award winning website ClimateDepot.com, discussed and debunked many popular misconceptions and myths about the climate change movement, while climate scientist Dr. Roy Spencer dived into the science at the heart of the climate change debate.

CFACT Speakers

The CFACT Eco-Summit hosted a variety of fantastic speakers

CFACT policy analyst Paul Driessen focused on the impact climate change policies have on the developing world, and highlighted many of the consequences millions of individuals would face if these misguided policies are implemented. Fracking advocate Karen Moreau also discussed the impact energy policy has on individuals and the United States. The students also watched the movie Fracknation, which seeks to show the facts about fracking, and dispel many common myths about the fracking process.

CFACT Work

CFACT students planning events for next semester

Workshop presentations were also given by Collegian staff members. Field staffers Michael Fellner and Justin Myhra focused on student activism and campus outreach, and CFACT’s Christina Norman taught students how to connect with media and maximize their presence in the news.

In addition to learning about climate change, energy policy, and campus activism, the students also had the opportunity to experience the great outdoors.  Despite frigid Minnesota temperatures, several students and staff braved the cold to enjoy the beautiful ski trails of Giants Ridge.

CFACT Ski

CFACT students and staff having fun on the slopes

The Eco-Summit impacted each student in a unique way.

University of North Carolina sociology major Jared LaSage said “It is great to see organizations like CFACT standing up to intellectual tyranny. The science behind any scientific issue should never be settled, and it is great to see CFACT leading the charge to ignite debate on the issue of climate change.”

Another student, Anders Koskinen from the University of Minnesota, said “Fracknation is an excellent example of the triumph of professional class journalism over the classless liberal propaganda machine. It is great to see that people still care about the truth enough to fight for it.”

At the end of the conference students were pumped up and ready to spread CFACT’s unique message of free market solutions to today’s environmental issues across the nation as they returned to their campuses.