Sustainability Education Case Study: Proctor, MN Public Schools

Creative Change worked with the Proctor, Minnesota Public Schools over a four-year period (2003-07) to help the district make sustainability an integral part of learning for all students. During this time, Creative Change supported teachers and the district leadership team with staff development, curriculum resources, and technical support with grant-writing and planning. The district also participated in a strategic planning initiative supported by the EPA via a grant to Eastern Michigan University.

Examples of Proctor's accomplishments:

* Erected wind turbine in 2006

* Implementing new curriculum focused on renewable energy.

* Teachers from across the district have revised units to integrate greater use of sustainability themes and community resources. Examples: stream and snow studies utilizing real-time data in partnership with the university; annual maple syrup production from the school forest; development of walking trails and learning stations in the school forest, where older students mentor and teach younger ones; creation of new summer program focused on Lake Superior recreation, heritage and ecology.

* The high school business marketing team won 1st place in an international student marketing competition. Their project: a market analysis of consumer demand, opportunities and barriers to green home construction and renovation in northern Minnesota.

* District and community collaborate on a semi-annual Earth Fair. In 2007, over 1,000 students prepared projects on topics ranging from energy to local food systems. 2,000 community members attended.

* Staff participated in an exchange program to Russia to share information on environmental, arts and intergenerational programming.

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