Educating Long Island for a Sustainable World

Southampton Graduate Campus extends an invitation to Long Island high and middle schools for a distinctive education program, October 22, 2004. The United Nations has declared the years 2005 - 2015 as "The Decade of Education for Sustainable Development". To take advantage of this moment, this conference will expose students to path breaking approaches to sustainable living on Long Island. Long Island has a cherished history of being in the forefront of activities to protect the environment. This event will enhance Long Island's reputation as a place where people are concerned about their relationship with the natural world and our quality of life. This conference will be the beginning of an exciting decade of international activity and we look forward to working with you to create a space for Long Island students to nurture their creativity and commitment to build an interrelationship with the natural world.

We plan an outreach to all Suffolk and Nassau schools and wish an attendance of approximately 300 people. The day is being designed around experiential activities whether out on Shinnecock Bay in the college's boats or on nearby walking trails. These activities will certainly be pleasurable, but they will also be educational. We are carefully selecting activity coordinators to ensure that students are exposed to Long Island's best and brightest. Activities will address a broad range of issues, including climate change, energy conservation, health, social diversity, social equity, food, agriculture, housing, open space, and recreation.

We are asking that each school send from 2 to 6 student representatives plus a faculty chaperone. Activities will begin at 9 a.m. and extend to 8 p.m. Lunch and dinner will be provided. We request that student involvement be limited to student leaders with environmental or governmental concerns. We welcome your input, so please share with us your thoughts, concerns, or resources that can help us with this regionally significant event. Updates on the conference will be posted Mid-May on our web site, http://www.631enviroed.org.