UCS teacher among select group invited to share ideas on teaching energy and sustainability

Karen Forsyth, a UCS teacher at Bemis Junior High, was among the 70 middle school teachers that Honeywell selected from ten countries and 42 states to receive scholarships to Green Boot Camp, a five-day interactive workshop that provides new ideas and tools to teach energy and sustainability to students. 

Teachers participate in hands-on workshops to build rain barrels and wind turbines, and gain information on energy efficiency, renewable energy technologies, and calculating greenhouse gas emissions to enhance their curricula. 

"Green Boot Camp lived up to its description and more," Forsyth said. "Communicating with teachers from all over the world about their unique ideas and lessons will only improve the learning in my classroom. I was truly honored to be chosen as a scholarship recipient.”

Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the company’s corporate citizenship initiative, launched Green Boot Camp in 2009. To date, 210 teachers from around the world have attended, each bringing unique perspectives on sustainability challenges and opportunities from their local regions. 
Green Boot Camp is sponsored by Honeywell, and is part of a collaboration with San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) and the California Center for Sustainable Energy. 

The workshop took place June 24-28 in San Diego, California at the SDG&E Energy Innovation Center, a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certified facility, and the Bayside Community Center. 

“Energy, water, air quality, and habitat conservation and restoration are among the most important issues facing our global community,” said Paul Orzeske, president of Honeywell Building Solutions. “Green Boot Camp enables us to work closely with teachers to give them the tools to help ensure future generations understand the importance of sustainable energy practices.”