Astronaut to speak at EcoSchools workshop
Ontario EcoSchools have a goal in mind for graduates: “By the end of Grade 12, students will acquire knowledge, skills, and perspectives that foster understanding of their fundamental connections to each other, to the world around them, and to all living things.”
The Greater Essex County District School Board is proud of their accomplishments in running one of the most active and successful EcoSchools environmental stewardship programs in Ontario to help their graduates attain this goal.
In 2011, 58 schools received provincial certification through Ontario EcoSchools with 22 attaining gold, the highest level available. Of the 76 GECDSB schools, Public Relations Officer Scott Scantlebury feels that “all of our schools are participating at a level to achieve certficiation” but a heavy administration load to apply prevents some schools from completing the process.
While it’s nice to have that certification, it doesn’t prevent schools from participating. Scantlebury said that getting schools to participate has been an easy sell, “This is one that has really been wholly embraced across the board.” He said that students, faculty, and the board know that being environmental is the right thing to do, but the financial return that they have seen has been an added benefit.
“Everything we spend returns with more savings,” said Scantlebury, citing cost savings on energy and waste removal bills as just two of the benefits. “People see the actual financial benefit.”
Each January the GECDSB brings the schools together for the EcoSchools Workshop. Scantlebury said that “each school is mandated to maintain an EcoSchools team” and the core group of each team (four to five members) will attend the 2012 workshop on Thursday, January 12. About 600 people are expected to attend, including teachers that lead the programs, custodians, and students.
A steering committee creates a wishlist for speakers each year and then shortlists a few selections.This is the sixth year for the workshop and keynote speakers for 2012 will be award-winning photographer and documentarian Camille Seaman, and Canadian astronaut Colonel Chris Hadfield.
Scantlebury said that Seaman is “tremendous” and mentioned that her TEDtalk posted on YouTube was part of the reason they pursued her as a speaker. He was pleased to be able to book Hadfield too, “We’ve been hoping to get a member of our astronaut program for a number of years.” Hadfield is preparing to return for a long-duration mission on the International Space Station.
While the scheduled day of workshops and seminars is limited to participating schools, the public is welcome to attend for the keynote speeches.
The 2012 GECDSB Annual EcoSchools Workshop will take place on Thursday, January 12, at the Ciociaro Club (3745 North Talbot Road, Oldcastle). The morning keynote address at 8:45 a.m. will be delivered by award-winning photographer and documentarian Camille Seaman. The focus of her work is the fragile environment of the Polar Regions. The afternoon speaker will be Canadian astronaut Colonel Chris Hadfield, who will join the conference via the internet at 1:45 p.m. Colonel Hadfield first travelled into Space in 1995 and is preparing to return for a long-duration mission on the International Space Station.
See Camille Seaman’s TEDtalks excerpt here:
