Such positive, inspiring, highly informed, data-based and comprehensive content. Not just science-y stuff, as many anticipated. There’s an entry point for all participants.
Andrea Caruso, US Science
Jaimie Cloud at DA workshop, August 2022
On October 2-3, DA will offer Jaimie Cloud’s Introduction to Educating for Sustainability. This workshop was first held at DA in August 2022, when some 45 members of the community attended. It’s back by popular demand! The first day is for a general audience, including parents, administrators, and teachers. The second day goes deeper into curriculum and will be most valuable for educators. Individuals or groups from other schools are invited to at a cost of $250; there is no charge for DA-affiliated participants.
Through simulations, presentations, and hands-on activities, workshop participants will learn about the mindsets and enduring understandings that support sustainability. The focus is NOT on environmental crises and the long list of bad choices that have caused them. Nor is it about tips and tricks for improving recycling. It addresses the underpinnings of sustainability and how they can be incorporated into any subject at any level of schooling. It is positive and empowering.
Register by September 25 to join us for this event.
Here are some of the comments about the August 2022 workshop.
I learned a lot about human behavior and different mindsets and economics.
Brian Zhou ’23
Janna Cloninger ’25: Until this workshop, I hadn’t realized how focused I was on UNsustainability, and it has been really helpful for me to be able to shift that thinking… Another big eye-opener… was the realization that sustainability has to do with every single aspect of life, and so when you begin to learn about how to shift into a sustainable mindset, you begin to learn better ways to think, learn, and conduct yourself in life.
Tara Eppinger (US Faculty): It was thought-provoking, inspiring, and interactive. I felt like I walked away with so many ideas that I could immediately implement.
Miller Roessler ’24: Education is the most important role in making a shift towards sustainability. Kids can create change and are the future generation that will be left with the power of how Earth will end up. Thus, in order for kids to create change we need to educate them about sustainability, so they can make their own decision on how to be sustainable on Earth.
There is hope — but we have to do the math, get creative and develop social contracts for the good of the planet.
Melody Butts, Staff
Kathy Pierce (MS Administration): a good mixture of learning, small group conversation, movement, large group sharing.
Sanju Patel ’23: Education for Sustainability changed the way I thought about education, and showed me the power of changing mindsets.
Michael U-S (Head of School): A fresh, thoughtful, broadly-applicable approach to a topic that can sometimes seem trite or tired. A healthy mix of lecture, Q&A, small-group conversation, large-group discussion, and activities. An approach that is positive and empowering but not Pollyannaish or starry-eyed. [Jaimie Cloud’s] deep experience shines through!
Sloan Nueurnberger (PS Faculty): Jamie Cloud fully and successfully convinced me that education is critical in making the shift toward sustainability. I was so impressed with the students… and their knowledge and concern about sustainability.
Educating for Sustainability is an antidote to despair!
Amelia Fay ’25
