Sustainability Commitee Organizes Earth Day Workshop Series

We will go out to Cat Rock Park with a bingo card of birds to spot, and people will look around for said birds. Each bird will also have a card that gives identification information and what their role is in the ecosystem. 

We will discuss healthy and sustainable eating through a vegan diet and baking a vegan food item (likely cookies or something easy). We will discuss these ingredients and how they might be better for the planet.

We will examine concentrations of particular chemical species in water samples collected from Cat Rock and/or around campus. We will also discuss municipal water treatment, what constitutes a hospitable environment for aquatic life and differences between the two. 

We will do a walking tour of CSW's campus to explore how our buildings and grounds are using and exploring the concept of Nature and its role in education. We will "read" the campus for the messages and meanings of "Nature" by considering the geography and architecture that we partake in everyday. 

We will partake in an outdoor prayer circle. We will walk together to a quiet outdoor space, share some experiences about walking/being in the wilderness, connecting with the planet, then form a circle and meditate, then walk back and share while we are walking. 

We will explore a case study in green building, sustainability, education, and community empowerment: Long Way Home in Guatemala.

Using natural dyes (perhaps a nut dye, a root dye, and a plant dye), we each will dye one item (preferably an item that participants bring themselves – a t-shirt or even a piece of fabric will work  – items will be provided if needed). 

Do the neighborhood surrounding the CSW campus proud and join us in helping pick up trash littered along Lexington Street!

We will learn about watersheds in Massachusetts and the work being done to restore the Mystic River Watershed. We will discuss the threats to urban watersheds and how we can all help. We will try counting migrating herring and learn about other new and ongoing community science projects.

Learn first hand the experiences of Garry Charlier, who had a 20 plus year career in international development at the World Bank. He will explain how and why the World Bank was created and what sustainability looked like in terms of his work. He will lead a Q&A about the World Bank's mission and definitions of sustainability and he will share some case studies.

Learn to evaluate companies through the lens of corporate sustainability and 'go fishing' to find out how you and others make decisions regarding environmental resources. 

Using maps of Lincoln, a Codman Farm representative will share the way that the animals move throughout the community. We will also learn about the Codman Farm’s story and philosophy.

The head of Land’s Sake’s education program will speak on seed saving and how that helps with local food systems. We will also learn about the important role of food sustainability in communities.

With a rich background from traveling around the world and teaching science and environmental sustainability. Anny will speak on what science teaches us about the role of (trees in Haiti) of nature, wildlife, biodiversity, etc. and the importance in understanding, and practicing conservation. 

CSW’s composting service, Black Earth, will lead an exploration of composting's importance in Massachusetts and an understanding of where your food scraps ultimately end up. We will engage in a Q&A for practical tips and insights on sustainable waste practices.

In September 2022 the City of Boston released its first Urban Forest Plan that aims to grow the city’s urban forest equitably. David Meshoulam, Executive Director of Speak for the Trees, Boston, will introduce the idea of tree equity and discuss its critical importance in a rapidly changing climate. He will also discuss how Speak for the Trees has been examining how the distribution of trees has been shaped by race, politics, and history, and works to grow the city’s forest as a tool to build resilient communities. Participants should bring a pen or pencil and a notebook.

During the spring break, 13 of CSW students had the opportunity of visiting Japan. Throughout their journey, students actively documented the sustainable infrastructure and practices observed in Japan. Through this workshop, students hope to share this unparalleled experience with the CSW community. What’s the similarities and differences, and what we can learn from Japan!