Any theory of sustainable development must be grounded in an understanding that the human economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the natural environment.
—Bullitt Foundation
The Sustainable Schools Project
A Professional Development Program
on Transforming our School Ecologies
in Elementary and Secondary Education
The Sustainable Schools Project prepares for the future by re-imagining and re-designing classroom, school, and community ecologies to be contributors to abundance, health, vitality, and long-term durability.
New this year, this project will guide schools and districts to review and revise their practices in terms of their environmental impact. Engagement must be fully democratic, participatory, critical and whole systems-minded, and inclusive of local and cultural perspectives.
Our approach speaks of nested ecologies rather than a single ecology of anything. Any single ecology is multi-part in nature and internally indivisible so that longevity and reproduction is ensured. The essential elements are physical, bio-environmental, and human-cultural.
Coming Soon: Introduction to The Sustainable Schools Project
THE SUSTAINABLE SCHOOLS PROJECT
Breidablik Elementary School Planning Retreat
July 15-17, 2008
9:30am - 4:30pm
Global Source Education invites members of the Breidablik community to join us for three days of professional learning about how to assess a school's sustainability
practices and ecological footprint by engaging educators, school staff, students and operations at curricular and practical levels.
Evidence of global warming and environmental depletion is widespread. We are witnessing the destruction of many essential and deeply interconnected ecologies. We rightfully should be daunted by the scale of the crisis. Yet we can take heart in the opportunity to address the crisis in our schools. Global Source offers unique perspectives on identifying local resources, solutions and guidance for taking steps toward implementation.
At the July planning retreat, educators will join with community resources to explore a variety of methods for schools to develop as sustainable living and learning centers that conserve energy and accommodate climate and resource transitions with competence and confidence. As a curricular activity, teachers and students will work to initiate a series of planning steps and evaluations.
This summer's Breidablik retreat at will be followed by a year-long design and implementation phase.
Global Source will offer community workshops to introduce the opportnties and challenges of sustainable school practice and operations. Global Source will continue to work with selected pilot schools.
Guiding Questions
Given the urgent need for a sustainable future, what are the roles of our
K-12 schools?
How can we re-design our schools ecologically, collaboratively, and
systemically to achieve resource abundance?
Can we find the fun(ds) for doing this?
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How can we engage our school communities in answering these questions?
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How do we see schools serving as “the commons” ?
Program Itinerary
JULY 15-16
- 9:30am-12 noon Morning session with Core Team
- 12-1pm Working lunch Core Team
- 1-2 pm Core Team Work
- 2-4pm Community Focus Group
- 4-4:30pm Fishbowl wrap up: Core team and Focus group
Day 1: Raise Awareness: Create Vision and Culture of Curriculum
Explore visions, learn concepts and skills, and review opportunities for
sustainable development. Utilizing films, discussions, guest speakers, and small group collaborations for a day of stimulating insight.
Day 2: Build Knowledge: Practical Demonstrations
Turn concepts and imagination into practice regarding the underlying contexts and conditions for school sustainability. Identify and assess school assets.
Explore how to deepen social, economic, civic and ecological values.
JULY 17
9:30am-12 noon Morning session with Core Team
12-1pm Working lunch Core Team
1-4:30pm Core Team Review and Debriefing
Day 3: Foster Engagement: Program Design and Curriculum Framework
Apply structure to your visions for sustainability. Using practical design techniques, participants will apply their learning to their respective schools.
Facilitated by Ed Mikel and Jonathan Scherch from Antioch University Seattle, and
Jonathan Garfunkel,
Founder and Managing Director of Global Source Education
2008-09 Project Year
Summer: Planning Retreat
Fall: Observation & Assessment
Winter: Design
Spring: Implementation
Summer: Reflections and Renewal
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This three-day planning retreat will take place
at Breidablik Elementary School, Poulsbo, WA
July 15-17, 2008
Please contact us for more information and reservations 206-780-5797
If you wish to have more information, or wish to participate please contact us
Clock Hours are available (additional cost)
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Our 2008 Summer Planning Retreat will initiate dialogues and investigation to identify specific school needs and community and resources.
Assessments and solutions will be based on whole systems thinking while addressing specific topics such as energy conservation and waste management.
- We will learn to evaluate how a physical ecology based on
managing resources and waste can actually create abundance.
- We will explore how networks and organic processes found in nature can inform our human endeavors
and relationships.
- We will examine how diversity contributes to the health of the whole system and is not simply
a source of conflict.
- We will look at the why and how, seeking actions that go beyond identifying what is happening
or missing.
- We envision individual schools and districts playing an active role in evaluating
their local needs and resources and developing projects and priorities for sustainable practices as
part of classroom curricular activities.
- We will initiate a cycle of thinking and acting in ways that are healthy and enduring,
in order to reduce the ecological footprint of schools.
