In School

Only a generation ago, "environmental education" was a slim part of most schools' curricula, tucked away as part of ecology classes or touched on during a field trip to the great outdoors. Today there is a bold new movement, “Educating for Sustainability,” underway in school systems across America. In San Rafael, California students from Marin Academy established an organic garden for a nearby community in need; in Madison, students from Spring Harbor Middle School collect stream data to help with local restoration efforts.

This movement is spontaneous and evolving.  It takes on many different aspects, but at its core it is about establishing an education rooted in nature, so that children learn to understand the consequences of their choices, and know and care deeply for the places where they live.  It is not simply about ecological preservation, it is about engaging students in powerful ways that are raising test scores and making positive changes in our communities.  Learn about what Sustain Dane is doing to move this work forward in our community or read about the actions schools can and are taking to embrace Educating for Sustainability.