renee.kaspar@verizon.net
Youth and Education for Sustainability Camp Retreat
Meeting Notes – December 27, 2004
Attendees:
Carol Gorelick cgorelick@notes.interliant.com
Renee Kaspar
David Oliver (Detroit student)
Caitlin Smith (Detroit student)
Amber ?ch?? (Detroit student)
Jim Ross (observatory-director)
Linda Terroni (Detroit teacher)
Planned Agenda
Introduction: Why we are here? – Renee
Agenda:
· 12:05 -12:15 Check-in
· 12:15 -12:20 Review Agenda
· 12:20 – 12:30 Purpose – Review/Discussion/Adoption
· 12:30 – 12:40 Review Concept (has everyone read it?)
· 12:40 - 1:00 Value Proposition – Brainstorm—Why is this a good idea?
· 1:00 – 1:30 Next Steps Discussion—who by when
o Steering Committee
o Time for Camp (1, 2, 3 weeks?)
o Age Range
o Selection process
o Location, venue (we have some connections with Duke or Cornell or Detroit)
o Program curriculum
o Number of students we will host
o Infrastructure requirements
o Costs to run the program
o Sponsors
Actual Discussion:
Introduction to Carol
· involved with SoL as research member and Trustee.
· Involved with youth through a primary school in Cape Town South Africa
· business school professor
· personal goal to create a Youth & Education branch of the Sustainability Consortium
Why are you here?
David: We are all willing to back up Renee
.
Renee-Others willing to participate in camp but not on this call-- Jeremy (Ford), Paula (Slumberger-SEED project), Dean from Dean’s Beans (fair trade, agriculture, coffee industry), Joe Laur (Sustainability Conference organizers)
Jim –description of “Observatory”—75 years old, solar observatory, 1st to take motion photos of sun. We all met here. We connected through Ken Roberts and the Sustainability Consortium (we suggested Ken attend the conference). Sustainability part of observatory. Work at the observatory is extracurricular for students... Volunteers help to expand education/ knowledge in the classroom through REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE. It’s a way to give k-12 students real world experience that can’t be gotten at school.
John Iras--Iris (former principle of school, 37 years business, associated with Observatory for 12 years.—on board). Observatory was originally U of Michigan—bridge builders, amateur astronomers built 3 towers. It was the first research facility at U of M. They did film on the development of the sun (over 40 years)—no where else has this been done. We have applied digital technology to bring research into the 21st century—open door policy. K-12 and university education= mission of Observatory. Partnered with discovery channel, Johnson space center. Make sure we are preparing people for work force. “Out of box thinkers” as young people are unusual today—need to have this for future.
Renee asked: # students involved in Observatory—level, age, model of operation.
John –number 20-150 depending on who you solicit for participation. 4 community centers (urban underserved population)—interesting CORE and backgrounds for work at the camp.
The model is based on:
6 hats De Bona—project based---thinking model that empowers young people to take an issue to next level….You have to DISCOVER answers. Socratic model of discovery, increase preparation for students. 50-100 kids go through the Observatory summer camp. Art, astronomy, chem. Lab, technology (observe sun) and they have capability to deliver content all over country. Web site being worked on.
Jim Ross—experience in 3 industries (automotive) using these systems thinking principles—graphics arts, automotive, HDTV. Rich heritage—out of box thinking, intellectual capacity, automotive industry….Few are invited to sit at this table—you have to have an open mind. We need to make sure that we are research based to be successful in the 21st century.
What do you know about SoL?
Caitlin- From conference I learned that from a sustainability perspective we are not prepared. Significant learnings: 1st day prep with Jamie Cloud—fishing game, 2nd learning from Dean—fair trade (brought that home with me). Most memorable—they actually talked to us. Shared, helped us, we asked questions and they answered... TREATED US AS PEOPLE. Building on each other’s ideas.
Interests
· 2 young folks want to become hydroponics farmers and have bed and breakfast
· 1 student working on his own invention for alternative energy using self contained kinetic energy
Students’ concept for SoL:
To bring people from around the world learning how we can help each other move into the 21st century (reason for hope). Get more creativity into SoL.
Suggestion: hold it at Observatory—they have a farm and can plan many experiences. Oakland University dorms can provide housing.
SoL Background-Carol
See: www.solonline.org
Note: Observatory has a web site—blog (chat room)—you can pass on information in an instant. They will set up the blog for this committee.
www.comsc.blogspot.com
Check-in
What would you like the camp to be?
David Oliver—I’d like interaction between students (students in project team and camp participants)—because it’s key for students to have a good memory of meeting people, interacting and take back [content] to spread wisdom. Scope and shape activities each person would be doing.
Caitlin- Going to see people from around the world (if possible). Interacting, knowing what they do at home—daily life.
Amber-Put a new face on the world—perception of Americans.
Linda-Participating since first Earth Day in 1969. Helping build alternative energy housing since 1978. Children should be exposed to project based learning and experience necessities of environmental concerns as it impacts us around the world.
Renee-excited to create a space for young people to interact with government, business, and so young people learn skill sets to make projects come into fruition. Also to have adults learn from young people what they have forgotten.
John Iris-do you have capacity to get video conference capacity? It would increase our ability to communicate—body language, commitment understood. We have video conferencing equipment. We have partnered with for profits….at minimal cost to have video events.
Most looking forward to general public understanding how sophisticated K-12 learners are compared to teachers. Teachers are not as prepared technologically as students are. Focus bringing public education and students around world to that realization. Funding sources need to know that it is not only technology but professional development that is necessary going forward. Young people will showcase talents to the rest of the world….switch paradigm for k-12.
Carol- story of Annual meeting where young person said “you won’t be here in 50 years we will—why don’t you include us directly in the meeting? My desire is to integrate government, ngo, education, youth and corporates for mutually desired outcomes...
Jim- from the point of view of Presence, I see the camp as a fresh canvas and we get the opportunity to paint it. These young people practice the tenets of SoL even if they don’t know it explicitly. They want to DO it and learn and experience it. They will be supported by Observatory…SoL event added awareness (broadness)—to issues at the crux of their understanding as young adults. The camp should be something engaging—young people involved in design if not development. Design is synthesis of environment around us. Development is the process control.
Process Check (20 minutes)-Renee
1. Purpose
2. Scope Issues
3. Next call
Review Purpose (as written)
John—Overall purpose—right re: SoL--appropriate
Linda—Second and keep it open
Caitlin--Not just social issues. It should also include the environment
David-About smaller schools that need to learn (10 years behind the business world).
John –“Schools that Learn”---tell us that smaller environments are better learning environments. It is NOT about money but purpose under which schools operate. State mandates versus learning how to think is a detriment to sustainability. You get sustainability through teaching thinking.
Renee—purpose based on David’s thoughts—small school model but not only selecting students from small schools.
Caitlin—small schools mean learning communities not physically small schools.
John-effectiveness increases exponentially in small environments.
Camp Purpose
· Diversity—area, cultures, religions to come together to share what we do, why and how it makes us feel. Create controversy that we can learn from.
· David Oliver’s grandfather—you are missing the point of the young people….they don’t want old guys with old ideas. They want young people with fresh ideas to build from. I am 64 learned more from young people than everything else on earth. Don’t want big wigs coming to take over the place. They want youngsters from other parts of the world to pick brains. Note: from Jim-Grandpa Oliver—has taken David to the Observatory for a year—He [Grandpa Oliver] co-creates with the young people. The Observatory is devoted to making sure that young people have opportunities.
· Intergenerational diversity is desirable at the camp.
Request—one Detroit participant co-lead camp with Renee (Carol can be facilitator, advisor). This student will represent youth on the Steering Committee. All the students can actively participate but this person will be the “spokesperson”.
Availability for next call—early January.
Action Items
1. Look up meaning of Iris. Is it really wisdom?—John Iras
2. Keep doodles and share—all students
3. Reports on research—opportunities for future get cites from John Iras.
4. Send e-mail’s and get blog for Observatory-Renee
5. Research better communication modalities-Renee/Carol
6. Schedule next meeting-Renee
7. Look at next steps in original proposal email. Provide guidance with rationale—Detroit sub-committee
8. Review purpose once more-all
9. Identify co-leader (student)-Detroit sub-committee
