Summer Institute for Middle and High School Educators

July 19-23, 2010 at Simmons College, Boston, MA 

 

At the CELF Summer Institute, teachers and administrators will learn how to give students the knowledge and skills to develop an environmentally healthy, economically sound and socially just world.

Participants focus on integrating sustainability content and pedagogical principles into standards-based curriculum. We explore strategies that make sustainability learning real, relevant, engaging and inspiring.

Eligible for 67.5 PDPs –OR– 3 graduate credits.

Costs:

$595 for full 5-day institute with guided curriculum development

$495 for 3-day participation covering content and pedagogy
$50 off* per person for schools sending 3+ participants
$100 discount* if not signing up for 1 year subscription to Creative Change's Curriculum Resource Center

Click to: REGISTER NOW       REGISTRATION EXTENDED THROUGH JULY 2, 2010

Connect Core Concepts and Your Curriculum

At the CELF Summer Institute, you will:

  • Gain a greater understanding of the global issues affecting our planet, including social, environmental and economic factors.
  • Learn about foundation concepts including systems thinking, interdependence, the commons and community.
  • Use the ecological footprint as a framework for understanding sustainability content, developing critical thinking skills and engaging students by measuring environmental and social impacts individually and globally.
  • Deepen your knowledge in specific content areas in guided grade-level break-out sessions on topics like:
    • Ecological economics and economic worldviews
    • Renewable energy
    • Product Life Cycles and Sustainable Design
    • Population
  • Develop a curriculum makeover, independently or in grade-level groups, with expert guidance. Spend two days redesigning a curriculum unit specific to your needs so that it includes sustainability education. Receive individualized instruction in computer labs. Get answers and feedback from presenters, who will also share lesson plans and curricular materials for out-of-the-box use.
  • Engage in carefully-crafted learning activities that enable teachers to experience key concepts as learners, and that model methods they can use with their students.

Be part of the Massachusetts Education for Sustainability (EfS) Curriculum Pilot*

Participants will have the opportunity to contribute content to the MA EfS Curriculum Pilot. Curriculum developed by educators at the Boston Summer Institute will be piloted at Boston Latin School in the 2010-2011 school year as the first step towards statewide adoption of a MA EfS Curriculum.  The Campaign for EfS curriculum is being spearheaded by the teachers and students of BLS Youth CAN.

*Participants working on content for the MA EfS Curriculum Pilot may be eligible for scholarships.  See registration page for more details.

After completing the Institute, participants will be able to:

  • Apply systems thinking to pedagogy and curriculum
  • Identify access points for sustainability within existing curriculum
  • Create unit “make-overs” through the lens of sustainability

Get Ongoing CELF Support.  

Participants receive ongoing support and feedback beyond the week of the Institute. Summer Institute graduates are automatically registered for access to our curriculum partner's nationally-recognized online Curriculum and Resource Center*

 

Site includes:

  • Individual assessment tools
  • Full courses with complete student booklets
  • Multimedia support tools
  • Search feature to download ready-made individual lessons by age, discipline, topic and more.  Teachers can download lessons to create a customized unit complete with student materials.

    *except for those who opt out of the subscription-based Curriculum and Resource Center.

Program Highlights 

  • Graduate credits or PDPs available
  • Free Parking
  • Expert-led break-out sessions

    Jane Hirschi, Executive Director, CitySprouts

    Lisa Hodes, Director US markets, Gold Standard Foundation

    Grant Kristofek, President, Kristofek Engineering & Design Consulting Group

    Lisa Scolaro, Science Curriculum Coordinator, Cambridge Public Schools

    Lina Yamashita, Program Coordinator, Primary Source

    Tour of Green Roof on Simmons School of Management by Steve Gusmini, Director of Building and Grounds

    Youth Activism Multimedia Presentation by Alan Palm, Alliance for Climate Education

  • Breakfast daily

CELF’s Program
Partners

The Boston CELF Summer Institute for Middle and High School Teachers is offered in collaboration with:

Creative Change Educational Solutions: Michigan-based CCES is a nonprofit organization providing curricula and programs to prepare learners for academic and career pathways in a sustainable society. CCES develops research-based tools, curricula and projects built on a foundation of democratic education and equity.

Simmons College: Simmons is a highly respected small university located in Boston with a cherished history of visionary thinking and social responsibility.

Boston Latin School Youth Climate Action Network: The oldest school, the newest thinking.  Educating for Sustainability. 

 

Co-sponsor:

 

Learn About
CELF Outcomes

See exciting curriculum concepts developed by participants in the Summer Institutes»

CELF Summer Institute inspires one of first programs to build environmental literacy teaching skills in an undergraduate teacher certification program»

 

Summer Institute online registration»

 

For further information or questions regarding the Institute, please contact sarahmills@celfeducation.org

Copyright 2009. Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation. All Rights Reserved. CELF-taught is a Service Mark of CELF.