This capacity-building activity supported three tribal college and university (TCU) mini-­grants to initiate student phenological and meteorological observation projects in support of climate change research, to document impacts of climate change and development of indigenous geography curriculum.  Students made observations of culturally and/or traditionally significant plants to generate data sets for use in climate change impact assessment of these plants and plant communities. The activity contributed to the larger national efforts of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian’s “Indigenous  Geography” curricula, by engaging with students at tribal colleges to explore the linkage between the “seasonality” and “living world” themes. The program promoted the education of the students by introducing them to two national observation networks: the USA National Phenology Network  and the  Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network. Data collected as part of these fellowships followed the protocol of these networks and, as such, contribute high-­quality data to the networks.