Few leaders wishing to engage their followers on climate issues have access to polling, marketing, or communications research. Effective engagement must be informed by and evolve with the public attitudes that we aim to influence. ecoAmerica shows how research-derived climate communications can engage mainstream Americans with positive messages. We provide values-based message frames along with specific communications learnings before walking participants through an assessment of effective and ineffective message frames and messages, creating a hands-on environment where participants can deconstruct climate communications and begin to apply lessons to their own approaches to communicating about climate adaptation impacts, policies, and programs.