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Educators develop sustainability pilot
Program empowers students to take environmental action
By Laura Walz | editor@prpeak.com
Powell River’s school district has received ministry of education funding for an innovative educational pilot project geared towards sustainability.
The course, called the Sustainability Toolbox, is designed to work in conjunction with the provincial government’s new climate action plan. Fourteen students, mostly from Vancouver Island with a few from Powell River, are attending the course from Wednesday, August 20 to Thursday, August 28 in Powell River.
Students will explore the many interconnections between humans and the natural world, explained Ryan Barfoot, who, along with Karin Westland, developed the program. Barfoot and Westland are sustainability and eco-education coordinators for School District 47.
“While the public sector commendably works to achieve carbon neutrality by 2010, the toolbox program is designed to act as the antithesis to the carbon lifestyle,” said Barfoot. “It’s all about embracing the enthusiasm and creativity of youth and empowering them to take environmental action in their schools and communities.”
Students will explore a range of topics, including systems theory, ecological design and environmental ethics. The more theoretical aspects will be balanced by topics like inspiring sustainable behaviour, media tools and action planning.
“It is said that you cannot love what you do not know,” said Barfoot. “The toolbox aims to connect young people with the natural world by fostering a sense of environmental empathy through outdoor experience.”
Throughout the program, sustainability curriculum will be woven into a canoe trip, rock climbing at Stillwater bluffs and many other outdoor experiences characteristic of the Powell River region.
“Participants in the Sustainability Toolbox will leave this experience with the skills and motivation to take environmental action and make concrete changes in their schools and communities,” said Westland. “This is a grassroots, solution-based approach that is designed to foster a renewed sense of hope and possibility for a more sustainable future.”
If the province sees the project as viable and worthwhile, Barfoot said, the hope is that the course would be funded in other communities throughout the province.
The course, called the Sustainability Toolbox, is designed to work in conjunction with the provincial government’s new climate action plan. Fourteen students, mostly from Vancouver Island with a few from Powell River, are attending the course from Wednesday, August 20 to Thursday, August 28 in Powell River.
Students will explore the many interconnections between humans and the natural world, explained Ryan Barfoot, who, along with Karin Westland, developed the program. Barfoot and Westland are sustainability and eco-education coordinators for School District 47.
“While the public sector commendably works to achieve carbon neutrality by 2010, the toolbox program is designed to act as the antithesis to the carbon lifestyle,” said Barfoot. “It’s all about embracing the enthusiasm and creativity of youth and empowering them to take environmental action in their schools and communities.”
Students will explore a range of topics, including systems theory, ecological design and environmental ethics. The more theoretical aspects will be balanced by topics like inspiring sustainable behaviour, media tools and action planning.
“It is said that you cannot love what you do not know,” said Barfoot. “The toolbox aims to connect young people with the natural world by fostering a sense of environmental empathy through outdoor experience.”
Throughout the program, sustainability curriculum will be woven into a canoe trip, rock climbing at Stillwater bluffs and many other outdoor experiences characteristic of the Powell River region.
“Participants in the Sustainability Toolbox will leave this experience with the skills and motivation to take environmental action and make concrete changes in their schools and communities,” said Westland. “This is a grassroots, solution-based approach that is designed to foster a renewed sense of hope and possibility for a more sustainable future.”
If the province sees the project as viable and worthwhile, Barfoot said, the hope is that the course would be funded in other communities throughout the province.
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