Environmental Education

Background - The Opportunity

As a ‘Transition Town’ group PACT recognises the very real environmental challenges which we all are starting to face on issues such as energy supplies, food security, economic uncertainty, climate change & extreme weather etc.

While these effects are already becoming evident, they are likely to become ever more significant in the years ahead, so that the world which the next generation is growing up into may well be very different to that of today.

Education and awareness raising at all levels forms a vital part of the transition agenda, in order to ensure young people recognise & understand this scenario, gain the necessary skills to cope with the environmental challenges ahead, and themselves help develop and implement effective solutions.

Project Proposal

PACT aims to engage with local schools and further education institutions in the Eden Valley area to ensure sustainability issues are adequately and appropriately covered as part of the curriculum. Subject to funding this would take the form of employing a part-time Education Project Officer for an initial period of 1 year, to work in the following areas:

• Review & assess existing curricula on sustainability-related issues

• Engage with local schools to promote the sustainability agenda, supplementing existing lessons

• Develop simple lesson plans on environment-related topics which can be used by local schools

• Include lesson plans on the existing PACT website, as part of a growing resource of educational pages

• Act as a classroom assistant to help implement these lesson plans at several pilot sites

• Work with local schools to initiate at least 3 pilot projects for pupils and students, for example possible school vegetable gardens, food mapping, waste & resources projects, green energy etc.

Benefits / Deliverables

The proposed project would provide broad benefits across the local community, through ensuring that the sustainability agenda is appropriately covered for young people in the Eden Valley area, and helping the process of reskilling for the future challenges which we will all face.

The project would have the additional benefits of promoting local links between different establishments on environmental education, and create a resource of teaching material which would be available for future use.

Projected Costs

Initial project costs of Project Officer part-time 1-2 days per week for 1 year at £25k p.a. pro rata.

Estimated additional costs for administration / research / resources / travel of £2k.

Potential Partners

Local schools and further education establishments

Eden District Council

Cumbria County Council

Existing community groups working with the education sector

Local businesses

 

Background - The Opportunity

As a ‘Transition Town’ group PACT recognises the very real environmental challenges which we all are starting to face on issues such as energy supplies, food security, economic uncertainty, climate change & extreme weather etc.

While these effects are already becoming evident, they are likely to become ever more significant in the years ahead, so that the world which the next generation is growing up into may well be very different to that of today.

Education and awareness raising at all levels forms a vital part of the transition agenda, in order to ensure young people recognise & understand this scenario, gain the necessary skills to cope with the environmental challenges ahead, and themselves help develop and implement effective solutions.

Project Proposal

PACT aims to engage with local schools and further education institutions in the Eden Valley area to ensure sustainability issues are adequately and appropriately covered as part of the curriculum. Subject to funding this would take the form of employing a part-time Education Project Officer for an initial period of 1 year, to work in the following areas:

• Review & assess existing curricula on sustainability-related issues

• Engage with local schools to promote the sustainability agenda, supplementing existing lessons

• Develop simple lesson plans on environment-related topics which can be used by local schools

• Include lesson plans on the existing PACT website, as part of a growing resource of educational pages

• Act as a classroom assistant to help implement these lesson plans at several pilot sites

• Work with local schools to initiate at least 3 pilot projects for pupils and students, for example possible school vegetable gardens, food mapping, waste & resources projects, green energy etc.

Benefits / Deliverables

The proposed project would provide broad benefits across the local community, through ensuring that the sustainability agenda is appropriately covered for young people in the Eden Valley area, and helping the process of reskilling for the future challenges which we will all face.

The project would have the additional benefits of promoting local links between different establishments on environmental education, and create a resource of teaching material which would be available for future use.

Projected Costs

Initial project costs of Project Officer part-time 1-2 days per week for 1 year at £25k p.a. pro rata.

Estimated additional costs for administration / research / resources / travel of £2k.

Potential Partners

Local schools and further education establishments

Eden District Council

Cumbria County Council

Existing community groups working with the education sector

Local businesses