In this time of environmental and economic uncertainty, and need for exceptional leadership, the Redfish School of Change is preparing to take its first sixteen participants in the field, for the future.
GreenLearning Canada, Pearson College, the University of Victoria and Shell have teamed up to launch a unique, experiential field school in environmental education.
“The Redfish School of Change is designed for young adults who have a passion for finding solutions to environmental and social challenges,” says Nadine Raynolds, Director of the School of Change. “The program will help them develop the capacity and confidence to lead their communities on the issues that matter most to them.”
This intensive six-week field school, accredited through the University of Victoria’s School of Environmental Studies, takes participants from the mountains of the Slocan Valley to the west coast of Vancouver Island. Students visit innovative sites and engage with experts in the field of environmental and social justice. They backpack in Valhalla Provincial Park and paddle the Fraser River from Hope to Vancouver. They build skills and develop strategies to bring back to their communities, where they receive six months of post-program support as they follow through on community action projects.
“The demand for experiential programs has skyrocketed in recent years,” says Eric Higgs, Director of the School of Environmental Studies at University of Victoria. “We are thrilled to partner with GreenLearning and Pearson College to offer this unique program.”
The Redfish School of Change grew out of a shared passion for social and environmental change and experiential education, as well as a strong belief in the capacity of young people to lead. Founding sponsor Shell Canada has made it possible for the first semester to run this spring.
This unique field school will offer its first semester in southern British Columbia from May 18 to June 26, 2009. Ruth Whyte of Pearson College notes, “This will be six weeks of learning, traveling, wilderness exploring and spending time with amazing educators, activists and other change-makers across the province.”
Students can now apply at www.schoolofchange.ca
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For more information contact:
Nadine Raynolds
Director – School of Change
GreenLearning Canada
redfish@greenlearning.ca
250-358-2164