Sustainable Futures: A Series for Teachers on Integrating Outdoor Education, Place-Based Learning, and Environmental Justice
Oct 22, 2024 10:00AM—May 06, 2025 2:00PM
Location
Northern California Location (to be announced)
Cost Early Bird Pricing for Members (Available until September 29) $3,000 members; $2,530 group-rate 3+; $4,725 non-members
Categories Curriculum & Pedagogy, Hybrid, In-Person, Ongoing Program, Teachers
Sustainable Futures: A Series for Teachers on Integrating Outdoor Education, Place-Based Learning, and Environmental Justice
SESSION 1: October 22, 2024 | 10:00am - 2:00pm | Location TBA
CHECK-IN: November 19, 2024 | 3:30pm - 5:30pm | Virtual
SESSION 2: December 10, 2024 | 10:00am - 2:00pm | Location TBA
SESSION 3: January 21, 2025 | 10:00am - 2:00pm | Location TBA
CHECK-IN: February 11, 2025 | 3:30pm - 5:30pm | Virtual
SESSION 4: March 25, 2025 | 10:00am - 2:00pm | Location TBA
SESSION 5: May 6, 2025 | 10:00am - 2:00pm | Location TBA
ABOUT THIS ONGOING PROGRAM
Sustainable Futures is a year-long professional development series that equips Grades 3-12 teachers from various disciplines with the tools and strategies necessary to integrate outdoor education, place-based learning, and environmental justice into their curricula. This series is structured around five in-person sessions and two virtual check-ins, designed to foster collaborative learning and practical application in classroom settings.
Participants will begin the series by exploring foundational concepts of sustainability and environmental justice, focusing on how these can be effectively woven into different subject areas using a solutionary framework. Subsequent sessions will delve into the development of interdisciplinary units, with a special emphasis on engaging students through hands-on, project-based learning methodologies. Throughout the year, participants will collaboratively design and implement an interdisciplinary project centered on sustainability and place. They will benefit from ongoing peer feedback and exchange ideas to enhance their initiatives. The program culminates in a showcase where educators will present their projects and, ideally, highlight their students' achievements and learnings.
Participants will:
- Deepen their understanding of key sustainability concepts, including ecological integrity, social equity, and economic health, as they apply to education
- Learn how to incorporate principles of environmental justice into their teaching, ensuring students understand the interconnectedness of social and environmental issues
- Design and implement interdisciplinary, solutionary units that blend sustainability with core academic subjects, enhancing relevance and engagement for students
- Foster a sense of place and connection between students and their community
- Collaborate, plan, and execute a unit or project, receiving feedback and celebration from their colleagues. (Ideally, teachers come with at least one other staff member from their school site)
- Expand their professional networks, connecting with other educators (and school sites?) passionate about sustainability, which can lead to ongoing collaboration and support
- Consider how their school building and campus might be integrated more as a teaching tool
AUDIENCE
3rd-12th Grade teachers of all content areas. Ideally, teachers come with at least one other staff member from their school site; facilities staff, sustainability coordinators and or administrators curious or excited about sustainability work are also encouraged and welcome to attend.
SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
ABOUT THE FACILITATOR
Cheney Munson
Obsessed with ideas of literacy, education, climate change, and environmental justice for the last two decades, Cheney taught middle school ELA for eight years, and ever since has been a staff developer for The Reading and Writing Project at Teachers College Columbia University. He works in grades 3–12 with ELA, science, history, and (sometimes) math teachers. He is currently a senior staff developer and their resident Sustainability Education Specialist. Cheney founded The Climascope Project, which aims to work shoulder-to-shoulder with teachers to infuse climate change, sustainability, and environmental justice into existing curricula with practical and inspiring PD and easy-to-use resources. He prides himself on meeting teachers and students where they are and aligning climate literacy goals with school-wide goals around literacy, history, science, math, school culture, and pedagogy. He consults for Ted-Ed as their climate curriculum designer and is a PhD candidate in Sustainability Education at Prescott College. When not thinking about climate advocacy and literacy, he’s playing bluegrass and cooking in Oakland.
Cancellation Policy
Life happens. We understand that there will be times when you cannot attend a workshop that you have registered and paid for. We strive to be as helpful and flexible as possible when things out of your control happen. Please visit our FAQ page for detailed information about our cancellation policy and answers to frequently asked questions about enrollment and membership.