YOUTH and the VOICE of a Sustainable Future in Education Education for SUSTAINABILITY (ESD): From a Local to Global Perspective Lyle A. M. Benko Co-Coordinator RCE Saskatchewan President: L*A*M*B* Environmental & Educational Consulting (Inc.) SIDRU Seminar: University of Regina Wednesday, November 23, 2011 ED 215

OVERVIEW of SIDRU Presentation: 1.Introductions: 2.The VOICE of YOUTH Today: 3.Youth and ESD from a LOCAL to Global RCE Sk. Perspective 4.St. Catherine School ESD Example (Elementary): Mr. Lee Garinger & Students 5.Youth Engagement in Sustainability (YES): ( High Schools ): 6.Youth Consortium: (Post-Secondary) Jon Yee RCE Sk. Youth Coordinator (via SKYPE) 7.ESD and Pre-Service Teacher Education: Dr. Xia Ji, Faculty of Education U of R 8.DISCUSSION and QUESTIONS 9.Closure

The VOICE of YOUTH Today: “Every child is born a naturalist. Their eyes are, by nature, open to the glories of the stars, the beauty of the flowers and the mystery of life”. (Anonymous) * What do YOUTH understand about the connections between: nature, their local social, cultural, economic and environmental world; from a local to global perspective? (Sustainability)

Regional Centre of Expertise Saskatchewan The Saskatchewan Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (SK RCE on ESD) seeks to transform education for sustainability in our region. RCE Overview

RCE (defined): Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development RCE Initiative Developed by the United Nations University (UNU)‏  RCEs advance the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD; ) RCEs are networks of formal, non-formal, and informal educational and other institutions mobilized to deliver and research ESD at regional (sub-national) and local levels RCEs advance the DESD by translating its global objectives into regional contexts RCE Overview

RCE Overview

Connect Locally, Regionally, and Globally for ESD: YOUTH connecting from the local to global Understanding of ESD Education for Sustainable Development RCE Overview

Regional Centre of Expertise - Saskatchewan Environmental Learning and Sustainability in Canada defines the three types of education as follows: Formal Education : Education through the school systems from kindergarten to the end of high school as well as some aspects in colleges and universities. Non-formal Education : Public awareness activities by organizations outside of the school system (eg. Environmental Street Theatre). Informal Education : Educational activities provided by media (eg. documentaries on radio and television) RCE Overview

Regional Centre of Expertise - Saskatchewan Underlying Features of RCE Model : Education as an ongoing process that includes both formal and informal education Centrality of institutions of higher education (IHEs) in ESD ESD programs must be locally relevant and culturally appropriate Enable collaboration among local organizations engaged in ESD and between global RCEs Integrating knowledge for ESD RCE Overview

Regional Centre of Expertise - Saskatchewan Focus of RCE on Regional Sustainability Issues : Goal of integrating environmental, social and economic perspectives simultaneously This integration is accomplished by: Identifying challenges of sustainability faced by a region Examining how each learning activity initiated by the RCE addresses particular sustainability challenges Integrating what is learned back into traditional disciplines (e.g., use of local examples in science, mathematics, etc.) RCE Overview

Regional Centre of Expertise - Saskatchewan Transformative Expectations/ESD Outcomes of SK RCE : Literacy and access to quality basic education for all within the region Identification of key issues of sustainability and sustainability projects in the region Open networks for knowledge sharing Public awareness about sustainability in the region Ongoing opportunities for collaborative work on ESD projects Integration of sustainability into formal education curricula RCE Overview

Local to Global YOUTH Perspectives 1.St. Catherine School ESD Example -Mr. Lee Garinger and Students (ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS) 2.Youth Engagement In Sustainability - YES (HIGH SCHOOLS) 3. Youth Consortium - Jon Yee (RCE SK YOUTH Coordinator) : *Via SKYPE from Calgary* 4. ESD and Pre-Service Teacher Education --Dr. Xia Ji: Faculty of Education; University of Regina

Important ESD Links and Resources Regional Centre of Expertise Saskatchewan (RCE Sask): United Nations University: Institute of Advance Studies Bonn Declaration: Guide for Sustainable Schools in Manitoba Measuring Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours Concerning Sustainable Development Among Tenth Grade Students in Manitoba: Developing a Pan-Canadian ESD Framework for Collaboration and Action – Background Paper: Education for Sustainable Development Council CANADA (ESD Canada): Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF): Sustainability and Education Academy: (SEdA): Education for Sustainable Development: An Expert Review of Processes and Learning:

Discussion & Questions 1. “Where are we now with the “voice” of our YOUTH and ESD in Saskatchewan?” 2. “What will the future hold for teacher education and ESD in the Faculty of Education at the U of R? (PACS)” 3. “What is our personal and professional role with ESD ?” 4.“ What did we hear from our YOUTH today?”

CLOSURE ‘In the end, we conserve what we love. We love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught” - Senegalese Poet: Baba Dioum