Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Introduction
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Environmental Education for Congregations Environmental Education This toolkit was first produced Hennepin County Environmental Services in 2008 in collaboration with The county works with community partners For additional copies: This toolkit may be downloaded Congregations Caring for Creation to promote environmental stewardship. for free at www.hennepin.us/ and the Alliance for Sustainability. Our mission is to protect the environment CommunityPower. Organizations Elements of this toolkit were first and conserve resources for future generations. in Hennepin County may order a published by Hennepin County Learn more about our programs at printed version of the toolkit Environmental Services in the www.hennepin.us/environment. by contacting Hennepin County Environmental Education Toolkit for at 612-348-4168. Community POWER Early Childhood Family Education Since 2001, hundreds of community groups in Programs and the Environmental January 2011 Education Toolkit for Community the Twin Cities metro area have actively engaged Groups (both can be found at their audiences in environmental education www.hennepin.us/CommunityPower.) and action through the Community POWER (Partners On Waste Education and Reduction) Contributing writers include program, sponsored by the Solid Waste Manage- Erin Bowley, Tammy Dunrud, ment Coordinating Board. These community Sharon Gagner, Sean Gosiewski, groups have educated more than one million Tony Hainault, Ellie Jones, Mary Karius, Andrew Leith, people and have helped more than 30,000 Stacey Lijewski, Sandra Nussbaum, people take positive actions for the environ- Kristin Pierskalla, Alisa Reckinger, ment. Many of the activities and resources in Patty Born Selly, Angie Timmons this toolkit were created, tested or improved and Ami Voeltz. through Community POWER projects. To learn more about Community POWER, visit www.rethinkrecycling.com/grants. Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Introduction ................................................................................ 1 Environmental Education Toolkit: Contents Getting started .........................................................................3 Calendar ...................................................................................7 Menu of activities ......................................................................9 Environmental activities by topic Reducing waste ................................................................11 Recycling ..........................................................................21 Toxicity reduction ..............................................................27 Energy conservation and climate change ..........................35 Protect water resources ....................................................45 Faith-based environmental resources .....................................53 Additional education resources ...............................................55 Special events ideas ...............................................................57 Service learning project ideas .................................................59 Environmental resources for internal operations ......................61 Evaluation questions for behavior change ...............................65 Appendix: Activities and sample handouts ..............................67 2 ...................................................... Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Table of Contents Introduction Many faith traditions around the world This toolkit serves as a comprehensive Note: The advice and ideas in this devote a portion of their worship to resource for congregations who wish toolkit are designed for any faith- honor the Earth and the resources it to actively respond to environmental based community that seeks to provides. Through belief and practice, issues that currently affect our families address environmental problems varied religious traditions attribute a and communities. Information on the facing society. The term “congre- sacred and holy quality to the natural following five topics on which religious gation” in this toolkit refers to environment, recognizing humans’ total groups can focus their environmental any organized faith-based group. dependence on nature’s processes. In education and action is provided: reverence and gratitude for the Earth, reducing waste, recycling, toxicity congregations and religious communi- reduction, energy conservation and ties today gather together and mobilize climate change, and protecting water to preserve the environment for future resources. generations. Environmental awareness and religious reverence for nature go hand-in-hand — living simply, caring for the environment and leaving a legacy for the next generation accomplishes both goals. Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Getting Started ........................................................................ 3 This toolkit is How to Build a team organized to help use the toolkit • Work with others who are com- you follow two mitted to helping the environment. Familiarize yourself Share the responsibility and the principles for with the content effort. fostering sustainable The toolkit has five chapters • Contact clergy and staff from your behavior change: organized by environmental congregation and its board to enlist their support in forming a topic: 1. Build community. “Green Team” (or whatever name This toolkit assumes that you • Reducing Waste you choose). They may suggest are encouraging others to learn • Recycling the names of other congregation about environmental issues and • Toxicity Reduction members who may want to get take actions that make a differ- • Energy Conservation and Cli- involved. ence. It is easier and more fun for mate Change • Gather a small group of people people to jump into something • Protecting Water Resources (three to eight and it is helpful new when they see others getting Each chapter has essential to have both a staff and a board liaison) to serve as a Green Team. involved and have an opportuni- background information, sta- ty to share experiences and ideas. Consider structuring your team as tistics and Hennepin County’s a group of volunteers who are part 2. Make it easy. free resources for that topic to of an existing congregational com- Give people the tools they need help you get up-to-date on the mittee (for example a Social Con- to take action today. issue. The Activities section of cerns Committee), or you might This toolkit will help you inspire, each chapter offers ideas for recruit representatives from several educate and actively engage others. involving others in learning committees (e.g. buildings and grounds, worship/ritual, educa- We know people are more likely and taking action. tion, youth, outreach, etc.), or you to stay committed to new prac- might form a new type of group. tices if they have encouragement Educate yourself to try them for the first time. In • Host an introductory event in which your congregation could addition to sharing lists of things In order to teach and organize bring in a guest speaker or show to do, use the Activities in each others, you will need to be a movie on the environment and chapter to help people take the familiar with the important faith. Then, gather the names of first step. issues. Sources on the Internet people who attend and invite them Resources to learn more about moti- offer overwhelming amounts of to a brainstorming session for your campaign. If possible, invite a staff vating sustainable behavior change: information and misinforma- person from your congregation to • www.cbsm.com tion on environmental topics. be at the initial meeting to help The community-based social This toolkit limits the back- move things forward more quickly. marketing website has strategies, ground information to the most articles and case studies to foster relevant and accurate for our sustainable behavior. region. Most of the information • The Psychology of is contained in the Introduc- Sustainable Behavior. tion to each of the chapters or A handbook introducing research- in handouts provided in the based tips from psychology to help in efforts to empower sustainability– Appendix. Lists of Essential www.pca.state.mn.us, click on “Living Background Reading, Addition- Green,” then “Educators.” al Resources and Websites are also provided in each chapter. 4 ......................................................... Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Getting Started Gather needed resources Free information and resources: Communicate effectively, • Rethink Recycling positively and accurately • Call us for help getting started. We RethinkRecycling.com can connect you with volunteers Build on existing structures, from other congregations who have • Community POWER RethinkRecycling.com/grants meetings, communication strategies, done projects similar to yours and assist you in ordering handouts and • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency events and seasons to launch your setting up trainings or presentations. www.pca.state.mn.us program. Be consistent and perse- • Reduce.org vere with your message. Create an • Hennepin County Environmental www.reduce.org accepting atmosphere around your Services, Community POWER • Sustainable Communities Network efforts. Networks Project for Congregations www.nextstep.state.mn.us www.hennepin.us/community power Behavior change can happen • Do It Green! Minnesota 612-348-9352 with small steps or large leaps, but www.doitgreen.org [email protected] all