Natural Technology and Ecological Design

This class is taught in public and private high school as an elective. Students learn about environmental solutions by designing ways to make their school more environmentally intelligent. The first part of the course focuses primarily on learning theory and design principles, and then the students begin implementing building projects based on those principles. Students further the implementation phase and summarize their learnings by publishing their vision of sustainability on a website, writing an extensive paper, and presenting to various interests groups.

Students design and implementing many of the following areas of sustainability:

water catchment systems, Permaculture gardening, straw bale construction, drip irrigation system, native Xeriscape landscaping, composting toilets, solar energy, and an organic cafeteria.

The course utilizes the following curriculum resources:

· The Shape of Change by Creative Change Educational Solutions

· Natural Capitalism by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins and Hunter     

  Lovins

· Sustainable Planet edited by Betsy Taylor and Juliet B. Schor

· Personal Expertise

· Speakers

· Onsite Practicum

Our next generation needs our support in creating a flourishing environment, vibrant community and an equitable economy.  The purpose of this course is to give students an understanding of the importance of their decisions, as each of our choices affect the environment.  Of particular interest are the impacts on our water, land, energy, waste handling, and natural resource utilization.  Through this course, students will understand the outcomes and impacts that their choices have on nature and society.  Additionally, students will gain an understanding of how businesses and individuals can utilize natural resources at a renewable rate and transform waste into a resource for new products.

Schools hire Earth Care International to design and teach this course. Earth Care International is a 501-c-3 headquartered in Santa Fe. Earth Care International is dedicated to educating youth to become ecologically literate leaders. Their extensive knowledge and dedication in this area make them the ideal organization with whom to collaborate on this exciting project. The two individuals from Earth Care International who will be teaching this course are Taylor Selby and Christina Dollhausen. Christina has an undergraduate degree in Ecology from The University of Minnesota and has over 5 years experience in youth environmental education. Taylor is getting his Masters in Environment and Community from Antioch University and ran the Organic Teen Garden at EcoVersity at Santa Fe.

As a result of the course, students will gain in-depth knowledge about the connection between current human activity and environmental issues and will educate their peers about real solutions that will carry our next generation towards a healthier society; and develop leadership around these issues. By retrofitting an existing school into a more ecologically sustainable one, students will demonstrate that they can make a difference. Our students will engage other students in Santa Fe about sustainable development issues through workshops, demonstrations sites and other forums.

The need to create this course for young people is both very timely and very needed for the following reasons:

1. There is significant student interest in learning about sustainable solutions in response to the many economic, ecological, and social challenges we now face.

2. Employment opportunities now require detailed attention to environmental and social issues.  We believe this demand will continue to grow, thereby affording employment opportunities to the participants  and helping the economic development of Santa Fe.

3. There is a dire need for our future generation to design a society and world that is integrated with nature, one that is designed without waste.

4. Sustainability addresses Monte del Sol’s mission of developing community leaders by serving the public good in ways that are explicitly dedicated to economic viability, environmental integrity and social equity.    Sustainability demonstrates continued social relevancy at a time of increasing public scrutiny.

5. Experiential education boasts an 80% retention rate of what is being taught. Youth will gain crucial knowledge through designing and transforming their school into a “green school.”

Impact and Evaluation

Each class directly impacts 20-30 students attending the course as well as other students, parents and teachers as they see their school transform into a model of sustainability. Students will present their learnings to city council, urging councilors to adopt these practices citywide.

In order to evaluate the effectiveness of this program, we will evaluate the students’ knowledge at the beginning and at the end of each semester. We will analyze the results and make appropriate changes to be certain that our desired outcomes are reached.  Effectiveness will also be evaluated by evaluating the presentations students make to city council, legislators and other interest groups.  On-going assignments and culminating web sites and papers will also be evaluated as they would in a regular high school course.  Finally and more importantly, effectiveness will be gauged by how much “greener” their school becomes.

For Photos from the 2003-2004 school year please CLICK HERE!