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Register now: Student Sustainability Leadership Retreat

An off campus weekend to bring together eco aware students

Location

Off Campus

Date & Time

February 10, 2017, 7:00 pmFeb 12, 2017 7:00 pm

Description

Friday Feb 10th to Sunday Feb 13th we will come together for a UMBC student weekend retreat to connect, discuss and explore in order to develop skills, tools, and actions that leverage change.

Thorpewood Lodge in Thurmont, MD is 24 acre beautiful nature retreat and lodge in the Catoctin Mountains, 1 hour west of Baltimore with a number of sustainability features, including composting toilets, groundwater irrigation, and more.

Why You’ll Love It:

- Gain and practice tools for staying sane and motivated when facing the challenging work of making a difference

- Learn about driving purpose driven action when facing frustrating inertia

- Cultivate skills to bring together people in our community who want to make a difference and deepen collaboration

- Develop relationships, partnerships and alliances across campus organizations and leaders 

- Hike and explore mountain pine forests, campfires, reflections alongside deep, meaningful explorations.

Register Online:
https://docs.google.com/a/umbc.edu/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehqn03ssDV97HF02AwvgjUl9TkZQVxLLoZaR96sGnJp8HJBw/viewform
Contact: sustainability@umbc.edu
Image may contain: one or more people, tree, outdoor and nature
Detailed Description:
Using a highly interactive format, at this retreat we will examine practical, state-of-the-art concepts in leadership, with a focus on the unique challenges of sustainability facing our world. Students will examine the essential components of leadership, including vision, communication, strategy, organization, synergy and strategy. Recognition of barriers and risks and how to work around them and the restricted conditions under which leadership is actually exercised will be revealed.
Students will also practice self-reflection and become familiar with advanced tools to improve their leadership ability. The retreat will review of leadership case studies and a practical, ‘real-world’ vision development project. We will also be discussing campus sustainability barriers and opportunities, exploring a deeper understanding of campus greening successes and challenges, and developing more partnerships and collaboration in order to strengthen, grow, and amplify the environmental movement on campus.

Logistics:
There is no cost to attend. Food will be provided, you will be asked to help prepare simple meals. Carpooling should be organized amongst attendees by posting in this event: https://www.facebook.com/events/236296256780094/ 

Register Online:
https://docs.google.com/a/umbc.edu/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehqn03ssDV97HF02AwvgjUl9TkZQVxLLoZaR96sGnJp8HJBw/viewform
Contact: sustainability@umbc.edu

Guest Facilitators:

Paul Kazyak is a retired environmental scientist (former senior scientist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources) and experienced leader who has taught graduate courses for 20 years at JHU and led a number of initiatives around sustainable, food, education, as well as involving young people in taking action to protect the environment. He has earned the National Educator of the Year Award from the National Association of Science Educators. http://advanced.jhu.edu/about-us/faculty/paul-kazyak/

Macey Nortey works in UMBC Student Life in the OCSS office. Macey is a graduate of Youngstown State University where she received her Bachelor’s in Public Health and Master’s in Health and Human Services. As a transfer student Macey aims to bring uplifting energy to the adult learners community. Macey will continue her studies at UMBC in the Emergency Health Services Master’s program with a research focus on the public health impacts of climate change.

Tanvi Gadhia is the Environmental Sustainability Coordinator at UMBC and reports to Vice President Lynne Schaefer. She is a 2009 graduate of UMBC, with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and an M.S. degree in Environmental Science and Policy from Johns Hopkins University. Tanvi Gadhia worked as a community organizer for clean energy in Baltimore with the Maryland League of Conservation Voters prior to becoming UMBC’s first Environmental Sustainability Coordinator. Prior to this, Tanvi worked on research, advocacy and litigation for the Center for Food Safety and Technology Assessment in DC and national outreach with the Union of Concerned Scientists’ Food and Environment Program. Tanvi also worked with Navdanya Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology in India in efforts to protect the rights of indigenous populations and seed sovereignty. As a naturalist at Oregon Ridge Nature Center and environmental educator at the Audubon Society she also developed outdoor experiential learning programs.

What to Bring: 
Sleeping bag, Sleeping pad/air mattress, Snacks to share, A notebook & pen, Change of clothes/ PJ’s, Warm layers & outerwear to explore the outdoors, Homework/fun stuff for breaks/evenings. Indoor accommodations and ingredients for vegetarian meals will be provided, and we will prepare food together.


Image may contain: one or more people, tree, outdoor and nature