Event Name/Course Title: Impact of Climate Change on Traditional Winter Occupations

Date and Time: 11/12/2024 6:30-8:00

Format: Presentation and Discussion via Zoom

Event Description: 

Using examples from the winter of 2023-24, this presentation will describe how the lack of snow in parts of Minnesota impacted occupations such as snow removal, ice skating, sledding, cross-country and downhill skiing, and snowmobile riding at the individual and community levels. A warm, nearly snowless and iceless winter impacts individuals’ ability to earn a living as well as recreational opportunities. While direct impacts are felt immediately, there are ripple effects and longer lasting economic (e.g. loss of wages, decrease in tourism dollars, higher home insurance rates) and health impacts (e.g. vector borne diseases for humans and animals, heat related illnesses) as well.

Speaker Credentials and Biographies: 

Karen M Sames, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Karen is Professor Emerita in Occupational Therapy at St. Catherine University for many years. She is the author of the textbook Documenting Occupational Therapy Practice as well as chapters on documentation in The Occupational Therapy Manager and Willard and Spackman’s Occupational Therapy. She has served three terms as MOTA President, and has a long history of advocacy work on behalf of the profession in Minnesota. She has also served as AOTA treasurer, AOTA Nominations Chair, MN Rep to the RA, and other roles within the American Occupational Therapy Association. In 2023, she was recognized by MOTA with a Lifetime Achievement Award for enriching the occupational therapy profession through her leadership in advocacy, education, and scholarship.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will: 

• Describe the link between climate change and engagement in everyday occupations.

• Discuss how climate change has impacted their own participation in winter occupations.

• Identify ripple effects of climate change on human occupations.