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EVENTS
2010 NAAEE Annual Conference
September 29-October 2, 2010
Buffalo, NY
NJ School Board Association Annual Conference
October 19, 2010
Somerset, NJ
Green Schools National Conference
October 24-26, 2010
Minneapolis, MN
BOOKSTORE
View the Cloud Bookstore for EfS units of study, curriculum, design tools and more...
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OCTOBER, 2010
IN THIS ISSUE
Our New Jersey Learns Newsletter is the perfect place to deepen your work with education for sustainability. This newsletter is a way for all of us to share inspiring thoughts, ways to take action, and hear stories of change from our leaders. Whether you're new to the field of sustainability education or looking to deepen your involvement, this newsletter will be provide support for your ongoing work.
THOUGHT FOR THE SEASON
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back-- Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now. ~ Goethe
TAKE ACTION
The Cloud Institute and Sustainable Jersey have partnered to create a Resolution to Educate for Sustainability. The resolution will be launched January 2011, and represents an unprecedented opportunity for schools to formally contribute to sustainability through education in partnership with their communities.
Read the full text of the sample resolution here.
FEATURED PARTNERSHIPS
Attention New Jersey Educators - Earthwatch Partnership
Earthwatch offers special fellowships for New Jersey Educators. And we're reaching out to all current and former New Jersey Learns participants to apply to be an Earthwatch fellow! Teachers of all subjects and all grade levels are encouraged to apply to the Earthwatch Educator Fellowship Program. As an educator fellow, you'll participate on a fully funded expedition assignment, receive a travel stipend to offset some of your transportation costs, and bring your expedition experiences into your classroom by creating and implementing exciting community action plans that reflect the knowledge gained from your time in the field.
Earthwatch fellowships enable critical partners to participate in research expeditions worldwide. Each year, Earthwatch's Fellowship Programs enable hundreds of students, teachers, conservation professionals, and corporate employees to join expeditions at little or no out-of-pocket expense. Earthwatch Fellows in New Jersey will share their experiences and new knowledge with thousands of students, teachers, and colleagues upon their return.
For more information about applying to be an Earthwatch Fellow check out their website here
The New Jersey Farm to School Network
The New Jersey Farm to School Network works with schools, farmers, advocates, food service professionals, state agencies and others in New Jersey to improve school lunches and provide nutrition education through school garden programs. The NJ Farm to School Network is now organizing a series of regional, on-site school garden trainings to take place in several cities across New Jersey this fall.
Led by instructors with experience in running successful school garden projects, these workshops will give participants ideas about how to start and sustain school gardens and how to incorporate garden education into the classroom, meeting NJ state curriculum standards. Each three hour training session will provide participants with an overview of planning for a school garden, equipment, materials and supplies needed, funding a garden, curriculum ties to the classroom, and nutrition education connections.
Registrations for the Princeton training on October 9th and the Metuchen Training on October 13th are now open online. More dates and locations will become available in the near future. Click here for more information.
VOICES OF CHANGE
 From the Field with Lori Braunstein
Approximately three years ago, I began the work of trying to make my hometown, Cherry
Hill, NJ a more sustainable place. I approached this process from the perspective of a parent and community member, as I had no experience with environmentalism or nature beyond the occasional hike in the woods. I quickly found myself in a position to speak with government officials, business owners, school administrator and local clergy about sustainability, but really did not have the tools to do so effectively. I saw a flyer for the inaugural year of NJ Learns and decided to pull together a team from Cherry Hill that consisted of myself, a member of the Mayor office and a local middle school teacher. Although I was thrilled to be accepted into the program, I had no clue what I was getting myself and my team into. The program introduced us to Jaimie Cloud and her One Day Training, which consisted of simulation games, mental models of un-sustainability and sustainability, systems thinking, story telling and more. Meeting Jaimie and networking with other communities who were thinking about sustainability, actually changed my life. From that point on, I had the language, attitude and tools that I needed to start a movement in my town. It's been three years since I first started this journey. I now find myself the leader of a community sustainability movement in my town and beyond.
I have used my NJ Learns training to engage all types of people in the sustainability conversation both in Cherry Hill and around the state. I have spoken to college students at Rutgers Camden, participated in panel discussions at statewide conferences, like NJ Clean Energy and NJ Future and am a frequent guest at local schools, community groups and more. I've been able to help lead our town through Sustainable Jersey certification, helped position Cherry Hill to win a substantial EPA Climate Showcase Grant and am currently mentoring other communities in their journey towards sustainability. I feel strongly that much of my success in this process is due to my work with NJ Learns and The Cloud Institute.
I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in three years of NJ Learns training and to bring 3 teams of community members along with me.
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