Bow Valley Sustainability Hub - Current Educational Offerings

Winter, 2007

Household EcoTeam Program and The Natural Step for the Real Estate Industry. Both programs are described in detail below.  For more information, or to register, please contact us.

Household EcoTeam Program, January 30 to April 24
Now taking registrations

The Natural Step for the Real Estate industry, February 7 to April 4
Now taking registrations

Program Descriptions

The Household EcoTeam Program

A Program Empowering North Americans to Create Earth-Friendly Lifestyles

"The major cause of the continued deterioration of the global environment is the unsustainable patterns of consumption and production, particularly in the industrialized countries. Developed countries must take the lead in achieving sustainable consumption." UN Agenda 21

What is the Household EcoTeam Program?

The Household EcoTeam Program will assist you in translating your desire to do the right thing into a program of environmental action that will make a difference! Five or six households – an EcoTeam – meet seven times over a three-month period and use a step-by-step workbook to create a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle. Choosing from a series of practical actions, the team supports one another to reduce waste, use less water and energy, buy "eco-wise" products and encourage others to get involved.  More than increasing awareness, the EcoTeam Program enables people to change the way they live – measurably. Typically, participants will achieve the following resource savings:

• 40% less garbage sent into the waste stream
• 32% less water used
• 12% less energy used
• 18% less fuel used for transportation
• $255 saved through more efficient use of resources . . .

All while improving the quality of life right where they live!

As a program bonus, the Bow Valley EcoTeam Program will include participation in the Save-A-Watt initiative.  All EcoTeam members in 2006-2007 programs will be provided with Blueline PowerCost Monitors to help with their energy planning.

What do the EcoTeam members commit to?

• Attending the seven session programs (90 minutes to two hours every two weeks), or, if they have to miss a session, meeting with the team leader to bring themselves up to speed with the rest of the team;
• Doing the EcoTeam homework, which involves about two hours between meetings devoted to reviewing a topic chapter (garbage, water, energy, transportation, consumption) from the supplied EcoTeam workbook and developing an action plan for the topic under consideration; and
• Be willing to lead one of the meetings on one of the topics, using a supplied facilitator’s guidebook to that topic.

The Natural Step for The Real Estate Industry

"The Natural Step is a clear voice in the commotion." Leif Johansson, CEO Volvo

What is The Natural Step for the Real Estate Industry?

The Natural Step for the Real Estate Industry is the second in a series of "blended" learning courses about sustainability and The Natural Step offered by the Bow Valley Sustainability Hub. The Natural Step is an award-winning international program that teaches individuals, businesses, organizations and communities about sustainability and how to develop action plans that will lead them towards a sustainable future. In 2002, the Canmore Town Council unanimously adopted the program as the approach it would follow in its quest for greater sustainability.

The Natural Step for the Real Estate Industry is based on a new Natural Step online learning course entitled Sustainability: Step by Natural Step. As offered by the Hub, the training features a cominbation of face-to-face meetings and online learning. During the course, participants will learn just what sustainability is, experiment with tools that will allow them to develop sustainability visions and action plans, and explore how they can work together to make Canmore a more sustainable community. By registering, participants will automatically become members of the Bow Valley Sustainability Network. Upon completing the course, they will receive certificates that can be displayed in their businesses.

The time participants commit to the course will vary depending on how much hands-on planning they want to do. Those taking the course primarily for awareness will need to commit 10 to 12 hours, with approximately half of the time devoted to on-line learning. Those participants intending to do the work needed to develop a basic sustainability vision and a business action plan will want to set aside approximately double that time. To accommodate the busy schedules of local real estate agents and realtor, the course will be offered in comfortably paced bites. The course is structured around 90-minute face-to-face meetings once every two weeks, with individual on-line learning between meetings. Further pencil-and-paper work will be needed for those wishing to develop a business action plan. 
    
Courses are limited to a maximum of 20 registrants, each of whom will receive one-on-one support throughout the course. All course materials and the license for Sustainability: Step by Natural Step will be provided at a cost of $50.00 (approximately a $100 savings).

Calendar:

• Wednesday, February 7 - 12:00 to 2:00 pm. Session I: Orientation and Introduction to Sustainability.
• Friday, February 9 - 4:00 pm.  Alternate session for anyone unable to attend the Wednesday Session.
• Wednesday, February 21 -12:00 to 1:30 pm. Session II. Baseline Evaluation
• Friday, February 23 - 4:00 pm. Alternate session for anyone unable to attend the Wednesday Session.
• Wednesday, March 7 - 12:00 to 1:30 pm. Session III. Creating a Sustainability Vision.
• Friday, March  9 - Alternate session for anyone unable to attend the Wednesday Session.
• Wednesday, March 21 - 12:00 to 2:00 pm. Session IV. Down to Action - Team Exercise
• Friday,  March 23 - 12:00 to 2:00 pm. Session IV Alternate - Team Exercise.
• Wednesday, April 4 - 12:00 to 1:30 pm. Course wrap-up. Graduation and Next Steps.

Learn more about The Natural Step’s Online Course, Step by Natural Step.