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World Learning

Community Connections Visitor Exchange Plan (VEP)

Ukraine

Group Name

Educating Youth about Ecology/Environment (EYEE-Ukraine)

Program Dates

July 8-29(3 weeks)

Hosting Organization

Contact Name / Richard MacLean
Title / President
Organization / Global Education Services
Address
City/State/Zip / 1752 NW Market Street, #123
Seattle, WA98107
Website /
Phone / (206) 789-8998
Cell Phone / (206) 789-8998(forwarded daily to company cell after hours)
Email /
Airport Transfers and Emergency Contacts

Visitors should fly into Seattle (SEA) airport.

Global Education Services program staff, including Joel Staloch, the program coordinator, will meet the group at the airport.

Emergency contact person in case of delay or cancellation of visitors’ flight:

Joel Staloch

Telephone (including cell phones if appropriate):

Cell Phone (Airport Day Only): (360) 480-9432

Accommodations

Visitors will be housed in the following hotel:

City/Location / Seattle
Hotel name / Days Inn
Address
City/State/Zip / 19015 International Blvd, Seattle, WA98188
Telephone / (206) 244-3600
Fax / (206) 241-4556
Website /
Email /
Dates: / 8 July and 28 July
CULTURAL COMPONENT

The hallmark of the Community Connections program is for visitors to experience America through homestays and various cultural and community activities.This program will include site visits with intensive cultural immersion and community linkages; in addition participants will have group outings, collaborative volunteering cultural days, as well as sharing week nights and weekends with host families. Specific activities will include:

  • Day 4:Cultural Day Seattle Tour
  • Day 5: Host Family Day
  • Day 8:Park Ranger Program
  • Day 10:Visit to Olympia, State Capital
  • Day 11:Seattle Clean and Green Community Volunteering
  • Day 12: Host Family Day
  • Day 14:Cascadia Emerging Green Builders Exhibition and Social Event
  • Day 15:National Park Excursion
  • Day 16: Volunteering Community Environmental Project Participation Experience
  • Day 17:Volunteering Community Environmental Project Participation Experience
  • Day 18: Habitat Restoration Volunteer Activity and Cultural Day
  • Day 19: Host Family
  • Day 21:Farewell Barbeque with host families and traditional food

[PLEASE SEE CALENDAR FOR DETAILS OF EACH ACTIVITY]

PROGRAM SCHEDULE (Draft)

Wednesday, July 8WELCOME TO SEATTLE! Day 1

11:28 pmPick-upatSeaTacairport and transport to hotel and/or host family

Delta 741 JFK-SEA 11:28PM

Hotel Check-in:Hotel Check-in and Rest

Thursday, July 9ORIENTATION DAY Day 2

Hotel Check-Out:

9:00 amPick-up at hotel and transport to Program Headquarters w/ luggage (including hotel check-out)

Session I:Welcome Reception & Administrative Orientation

9:30 am – 11:00 am

Location: Program Headquarters

Presenters:GES Program Staff and Program Coordinator

Brief description:Administration orientation, cultural/home host orientation;

11:00 am – 12:00 pmAdministrative telephone briefing World Learning/Community Connections Program, Washington, DC

NOTE:World Learning will conduct a program orientation and administrative briefing for the visitors, and will review the materials in the orientation packet, answering any questions that the visitors may have about their program and US culture.IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE VISITORS HAVE THEIR WORLD LEARNING PACKETS WITH THEM DURING THIS ORIENTATION.Visitors should also remember to bring their passports and airline tickets, as copies of all these documents will be made at this time.

This session supports the following program goal(s):

To introduce the group to its specific program and program rules. This session will act as an overview and introduce participants to concepts they can expect during their program and allow the group to brainstorm action planning ideas and goals.

12:00 pm – 1:30 pmLunch(free lunch near Program Headquarters)

Session II:Academic Orientation & Program Goals and Objectives

1:30 pm– 4:00 pm

Location: Program Headquarters

Brief description:Introduction to program learning plan, overall schedule review, participant learning objectives & contributions, individual program goal assessment/evaluation with training staff, and introduction to debriefing/action planning sessions, methods and goals.

Host Family Introductions:

5:00 pmHost family and participant meet and greet at Program Headquarters.Host families will then transport participants to their homes.

Friday, July 10 OPENING PLENARY SESSION AND TOPIC OVERVIEW Day 3

Session I:plenary roundtable and academic overview

9:30 pm – 11:30 pm

institution:Global Education Services

Location:Program Headquarters

Presenters:Peter Steinbrueck, of Steinbrueck Urban Planning, lead moderator of roundtable plenary with invited representatives of organizations participating in the program as well as other community environmental educators.

Moderator Bio:

-Past Member of Seattle City Council (1997-2007)

-Environmental Committee Chair, City Council

-Principle, Steinbrueck Urban Planning (Architectural Firm)

-HarvardUniversity Visiting Scholar (2010)

Richard Conlin

Panelist Bio:

-SeattleCity Council President 2008-2009

-Councilmember since 1997

-Focus on making Seattle sustainable city, reducing solid waste, building neighborhoods, improving pedestrian mobility and transportation infrastructure, making government more transparent

Gabriel Scheer

Panelist Bio:

-Seattle Green Drinks Founder

-Founder and Managing Director Re-Vision Labs

-Former General Manager for Flexcar

Brief description:The roundtable will bring together a broad range of program and other Pacific Northwest community members, including youth groups, to discuss youth education in ecology and environmental education. This leadoff plenary session will give the EYEE-Ukraine participants an historical and “global” overview of the current state of environmental education, and the crucial role of youth education in preparing long-range collaborative efforts to train others about crucial environmental issues and organizing practical programs implementing change. This session will demonstrate the critical talking points and crucial issues in Seattle’s socio-cultural context that will focus our program objectives and goals. Presenters will also provide notes and information materials for participants to prepare for program sessions and to access later.

This session supports the following program goal(s):

Exposing participants to leaders and assisting them in acquiring a comprehensive and systemic understanding of how a broad range of social sectors work together in addressing ecological education for youth.

12:00 pm – 1:30 pmLunch

Session II:Introduction to Environmental Education and Roundtable Discussion

1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

institution:Global Education Services

Location:Program Headquarters

Presenters:Linda Farrell

Moderator Bio:

-Education Coordinator at WoodlandPark Zoo

-Naturalist and educator

Courtney Sullivan

Panelist Bio:

-SeniorEducationProgramCoordinatorNationalWildlifeFederationWesternRegionalCenter

-Advisory Committee Backyard Wildlife Festival

Gilda Wheeler

Panelist Bio:

-Program Supervisor, Office of the Superintendent of Public Education

-Member of US Partnerships for Education for Sustainable Development

Dr. Caryn Abrey

Panelist Bio:

-Professor of Biology, Environmental Science and Anatomy and Physiology at LakesideHigh School, Seattle

Terry O’Connor

Panelist Bio:

-Principal Consultant, Terry O’Connor Consulting

-Former Manager of Conservation Education, WoodlandPark Zoo

-Over 20 years of experience in education management, curriculum development, conservation, and behavior change strategies

Brief description:Presentation and roundtable discussion of the historical foundations of environmental education, leadership, youth outreach and substantial regional activities of this international organization.

This session supports the following program goal(s):

This session will demonstratehow this leading organization incorporates public education, political organizing, and environmental experience with membership activities and volunteering.

3:30 pm – 4:45 pmDebriefing and Action Planning Introductory Session

Saturday, July11CULTURAL DAY Day 4

9:00 am – 1:00 pmVolunteer Event

Brief description:Seattle Clean and Green event in South-East Seattle: environmental volunteering with community members participating in civic engagement organized by Seattle Mayor’s Office.

Remainder of the Day:Free Time w/ Host Families

Sunday, July 12:HOST FAMILY DAY Day 5

All day:Host Family Day

You will be spending this day with your home host(s).We encourage you to get to know one another as much as possible. Home hosts are all very active and will include you in various activities.

When it is appropriate, ask the host if you may accompany them in their daily activities to better acquaint yourself on how they live and behave.This might include: going to buy groceries, helping in the garden, sharing in meal preparations, attending a child’s sporting event or experiencing a worship service.If you have a specific interest, such as visiting a local historical site or park, or attempting your first game of bowling or racquetball, share this with your host(s).They may not be able to accommodate all your requests, but it will give your host(s) an idea of the types of experiences you would like to have while in Washington.

Feel free to ask your host(s) if you do not understand how something should be done, such as using a washing machine, an oven or setting the table.Also, feel free to ask your host(s) the reason things are done as they are in their home or in the American culture, this will help you achieve a deeper understanding of the values that shape American culture.

Your hosts want to have visitors stay with them, but please do not forget that they are spending their own time and resources to host you, and that you are a guest in their home.

As you stay with local families, please keep in mind that you may only make phone calls from your hosts’ home with the use of a calling card.Under no circumstances should you call directly to anywhere outside the local calling area.

Brief description:Possible activities with host families may include:

  • Ballard Farmer’s Market, featuring arts, crafts and fresh, local produce (free)
  • Seattle Art Museum Sculpture Park (free)
  • Neighborhood farmer’s markets
  • Ballard Fish Ladder (free)
  • Washington Park Arboretum (free)
  • GoldenGardensPark and Beach (free)
  • DiscoveryPark and Beach (free)
  • Shopping

Monday, July 13 URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITY LIFE Day 6

Session I:Collaboration of Social Sectors for Cooperative Environmental Change

9:30 AM – 11:30 AM

institution:Cascade Land Conservancy

Location:CascadeLand Conservancy Offices

Presenters:Sidney Funsinn

Presenter Bio:

-Americorps Intern for Green Cities Program

-Stewardship Americorps Volunteer

Brief description:Participants will visit the Cascade Land Conservancy to hear firsthand the steps and stages these individual leaders learned their environmental lessons, and how they became organizers and change agents. They will demonstrate how they designed and implemented “The Green Cities Program” with a 20-Year Forest Restoration Plan for the Green Seattle Partnership, and expanded this model to the Cities Partnerships.

This session supports the following program goal(s):

Exposing participants to leaders and assisting them in acquiring a comprehensive and systemic understanding of how a broad range of social sectors work together in addressing ecological education for youth.

12:00 pm – 1:30 pmLunch

Session II:Green Urban Environment: Civic Engagement, City Planning, Politics

1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

institution:King County Solid Waste Divisiont, Green Tools

Location:King County Solid Waste Division Offices, Seattle

presenters:Patti Southard, Program Manager III, Recycling and Environmental Services

Presenter Bio:

-Program Manager King County Green Tools

-Creative Director KingCounty’s Eco-Consumer Program

-Pro-Sales and Business Development ecohaus

Beth Humphreys, Project Manager, Solid Waste Division

Presenter Bio:

-Department Manger, King County Solid Waste

Brief description:Roundtable discussion and presentation on collaborative governmental agencies and systemic goal setting for sustainable citieswith KingCounty representatives of Seattle’s Green Tools Program and “The Green Cities Program”.

This session supports the following program goal(s):

Collaboration of public sectors, individuals and communities for environmental change.

4:00 pm – 4:45 pmDebriefing Session

Tuesday July 14CROSS-SECTOR COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZING AND SOCIAL NETWORKING Day 7

Session I:public education and outreach for sustainable cities

9:30 am – 11:30am

institution:Environmental Outreach and Stewardship Alliance

Location:Environmental Outreach and Stewardship Alliance Offices, Seattle

Presenters:ShannonLuoma

Presenter Bio:

-Executive Director,Northwest Environmental Education Council

-Sustainability Director, EOS Alliance

-Member, Environmental Outreach and Stewardship Alliance

-There will also be other members of the Environmental Outreach and Stewardship Alliance

Brief description:Staff moderated roundtable discussion of organizational programs, educational activities, and environmental issues in greater Seattle region in their mission of educating youth for sustainable “Green” social engagement in professional enterprise sectors.

This session supports the following program goal(s):

Session will focus on how private/public sectors cooperate to improve community life, especially in the environmental sector (Objective 4, as well as objectives 1, 2 and 3) and provide a model case study of the “multiplier effect” of youth education.

12:00 pm – 1:30 pmLunch
Session II:Citizen involvement in Urban Environmental Programs

1:30 pm – 3:30:00 pm

Institution:Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation

Location: Neighborhood Site visit and Recycling Plant

Presenters:Marcia Rutan

Presenter Bio:

-Community Recycling Program Manager, City of Seattle

-Neighborhood Recycling Program Organizers

-Washington Green Schools Steering Committee Member

Brief description:Participants will visit a project where a neighborhood organized their own recycling program, including organized sorting into categories of waste, and then visit the recycling processing facility to discuss with the manager how they work with local citizens, and the steps from curbside to processing.

This session supports the following program goal(s):

This session will focus on how private/public sectors cooperate to improve community life, especially in the environmental sector.Participants will meet with volunteers on projects, such as restoration sites and recycling programs, to experience first-hand the stages and components of program organizing and implementation, and to interact with leaders and participants working side by side. Effective learning experiences with exemplary cooperative organizations collaborating on environmental programs will demonstrate how public and private structures cooperate to improve community life. (See Objectives 1, 3, 4)

4:00 pm – 4:30 pmDebriefing Session

4:30 pm – 5:30 pmTravel to Evening Event

Session III:Social Gathering with Seattle’s Environmental Leaders at Seattle

5:30 pm – 9:00 pmGreenDrinks event

Location:TBD

Brief Description:The Seattle GreenDrinks social event reception will give EYEE participants opportunities to build connections and linkages with Seattle’s environmental leaders. (GreenDrinks is a web-based environmental networking and information service with monthly meetings; For details, see: .

This session supports the following program goal(s):

Effective learning experiences with exemplary cooperative organizations collaborating on environmental programs will demonstrate how public and private structures cooperate to improve community life. Participants will cultivate professional connections and potential partnerships for exchanging expertise, establishing cultural partnerships, and sharing information solutions for implementing programs in Ukraine. (Objective 3)

Wednesday, July 15 PUBLIC YOUTH-ORIENTED ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECOLOGICAL LEARNING PROGRAMS Day 8

Session I:Public Youth-oriented Experiential Learning programs

9:00 am – 11:00 am

Institution:CarkeekPark Environmental LearningCenter,SeattleParks and Recreation

Location:CarkeekPark, Seattle

Presenters:Belinda Chin

Presenter Bio:

-Supervisor of Educational Programs, CarkeekPark

-Employee of City of SeattleParks and Recreation

SeattleParks and Recreation and CarkeekParkLearningCenter staff (TBD)

Brief description:participants will visit the Carkeek Park Environmental Learning Center to observe a youth-focused environmental interpretive center and its program teaching local youth about ecological factors that affect local community. Participants will have a hands-on experience of a public program and urban interpretive learning space, and docent volunteers, inspiring environmental awareness and practical action in urban populations.

This session supports the following program goal(s):

Experience ecology project volunteerism, particularly involving youth (e.g. community based programs, restoration projects, pollution reduction, recycling programs, and educational activities). Participants will meet with teachers, organizers, youth leaders and project managers.They will also meet with volunteers on projects, such as restoration sites and recycling programs, to experience first-hand the stages and components of program organizing and implementation, and to interact with leaders and participants working side by side. Participants can envision and plan similar public education restoration projects in Ukraine.

Session II:Wilderness Education And Environmental Science Programs

1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

institution:North Cascades Institute

Location:North Cascades Institute campus

Presenter:SaulWeisberg

Presenter Bio:

-Executive Director, North Cascades Institute

-Founder, North Cascades Institute

-Author: From the Mountains to the Sea, North Cascades: The Story behind the Scenery, Teaching for Wilderness and Living with Mountains

-Board Member, Association of NatureCenter Administrators

-Professor, HuxleyCollege of the Environment at WesternWashingtonUniversity

Tanya Anderson

Presenter Bio:

-Graduate Coordinator, North Cascades Environmental LearningCenter

Brief description: Participants will experience an ecological architecturally-designed environmental studies learning campus with faculty and researchers, and experience components of youth-focused program curriculum organizing and implementation. Hands-on experiential learning and wilderness education will center the discussion providing a model for EYEE participants interacting with exceptional environmental educators and learners.Participants interact with leaders and youth participants for building linkages.

This session supports the following program goal(s):

Participants will meet with teachers, organizers, youth leaders and project managers.They will also meet with volunteers on projects to experience first-hand the stages and components of program organizing and implementation, and to interact with leaders and participants working side by side. (See above and Objectives 2,4,5)

Thursday, July 161) ENVIRONMENTAL BUILDING