Systems Thinking for Youth Climate Education and Civic Action in Chesapeake Bay

SYSTEMS THINKING FOR YOUTH CLIMATE EDUCATION
AND CIVIC ACTION

Introduction to the Compass Tools
FREE Virtual Workshop Series
for Educators in Chesapeake Bay Region

December 4 & 11, January 8 (4-6 PM EST)

Course Overview

Are you looking to embed climate education in your curriculum? Do you want to empower your students to take civic action to address climate change? How can you be a leader of the climate education movement in your community?

Compass Education is pleased to offer a three-part virtual Introduction to the Compass Tools workshop series this winter for educators across the Chesapeake Bay area on ‘Systems Thinking for Youth Climate Education and Civic Action.’

This highly interactive workshop series will introduce participants to the fundamentals of systems thinking and teach them to use the versatile systems thinking tools, The Sustainability Compass and the Systems Iceberg, to integrate sustainability and climate issues into their work. Participants will leave this series with a plan to use systems thinking to integrate climate education into their work or engage their students in civic action for sustainability.

Any classroom educator or school administrator currently working in the Chesapeake Bay area is eligible to apply. We especially encourage educators working in public or government schools with limited access to professional learning funds to apply.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Criteria we will consider include:

Availability to attend all workshop sessions
Demonstrated passion for learning about climate and civic education
Commitment to trying an activity, learning, or action plan using systems thinking tools by March 2026. (Visit our website to see examples!)
Expressed financial need

Apply to participate in this Introduction to the Compass Tools workshop today! It is FREE! Application will be reviewed on a rolling basis and all decisions will be made by December 4.

Special opportunity:

Participants who complete all workshop requirements will receive:

$50 stipend
1:1 consultation with a Compass Facilitator
Free recourses to integrate sustainability and systems into any curriculum and every class level

Download Flyer Here

This workshop series has been made available through funding provided by Chesapeake Bay Trust and in partnership with Mid-Atlantic Affiliate Network for Environmental Education (MANEE).

Learning Outcomes

Certifications

At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to apply for one of 20 free spots in our online certification workshop ‘More Systems Thinking Tools for Sustainability in the Classroom’’. This course contains 6 hours of additional content on systems thinking tools and sustainability and includes a 1-1- meeting with a Compass Facilitator to discuss their learning or action plan. Completing this course leads to ‘Compass Practitioner’ Certification- a globally recognized certificate in education for sustainability.

What will you take away from this workshop?

• A shared language for whole faculty or school conversations about sustainability and systems and framework for reflecting on issues systemically.
• Powerful conversations making sense of complex issues.
• Lesson ideas that educators can use in their classrooms the next day, next week or as soon as they’re ready!
• Useful tools that can integrate sustainability and systems into any curriculum and every class level.
• Access to our database of educator sourced lesson plans.
• Connection to a global movement of educators for sustainability education.
• The opportunity to apply for additional free learning and certification as a Compass Practitioner.

This workshop was well planned and implemented with a high level of professionalism. There was a great balance of instruction and practice, while also providing relatable examples and tools, which can be used long after the class finishes. This workshop has really made me feel more comfortable with looking at big, complex issues, alongside my school community, in order to affect change.

This course provided valuable tools for considering sustainability and climate change through systems thinking. By examining the natural and societal structures that affect human behaviors, we educators are better prepared to break down these large concepts into actionable pieces with students.

This workshop has been a great opportunity to share ideas and inspire my own work to keep implementing and pushing for the implementation of sustainability in our teaching subjects and methods. I loved that, even though the focus was climate education and civic action, it wasn't exclusive, and that the tools learned can also be implemented in various subjects and can be used to innovate the pace in our classes. Everyone who participated was passionate and eager to participate, which made the exchange so much richer and interactive. I learned a lot, and truly enjoyed our workshop days!

This workshop expanded my way to approach a complex topic with other people. It's a practical and fun way to dive deeper with curiosity and get a bigger view, that allows us to find solutions and actions more accurately. I can't wait to share it!

One of the workshop's most enriching aspects was interacting with educators from diverse backgrounds and regions. Sharing experiences and perspectives with colleagues worldwide enriched the learning process and fostered a sense of global solidarity in addressing climate and sustainability challenges. Overall, I walked away from the workshop feeling inspired and equipped to immediately integrate systems thinking tools into my middle school classroom. I'm confident that the insights gained from this workshop will enrich my teaching and empower my students to become informed and proactive agents of change in creating a sustainable future. I wholeheartedly recommend this workshop to any educator looking to deepen their understanding of systems thinking and make a positive impact in addressing climate and sustainability issues.

This Compass workshop was one of the best workshops I have taken over 30 years in education. The content and the facilitation presentation was lively, informative, and engaging throughout. I liked how the facilitators honored everyone's ideas and questions.

Facilitator

Nicole Swedlow

(Executive Director, Compass Facilitator)

Nicole Swedlow is the Executive Director of Compass Education, a global non-profit supporting education for sustainability through training in systems thinking practices. As a consultant, she is passionate about helping schools and businesses integrate sustainable principles with a strategic, inclusive and conscious approach. Nicole’s work in nonprofit leadership and sustainability as Director of the nonprofit organization Entreamigos, has been recognized by the United Nations, as a finalist for the Global Equator Initiative, as a breakout speaker for the World Economic Forum, and by the Dalai Lama, as a 2014 Unsung Hero of Compassion. Nicole has a Masters Degree in Education and Global Change from the University of British Columbia.