Success Stories in Religious-Environmental Education

Everything in nature provides a teachable moment, if you just take the time to pay attention

Trinity Presbyterian

ChurchEast Brunswick, NJ

Successes in Religious-

Environmental Education

Trinity’s Religious-Environmental Mission Statement formed …

“We, as a family of faith, believe that it is the responsibility of all to Care for God’s

Creation through environmental

education, conservation and

community outreach”

This is not the church’s institutional Mission Statement, but that of the Green Team

Educational Classes held for Adults

- Pollution (3 sessions) - Environmental

Justice (3 sessions) - Sustainability (3

sessions)

Suggested Components of a Religious Environmental Lesson Plan

Outline for Adult Ed. Classes (for 1 hr sessions)

Education Classes for Children and Teens

HEIFER INTERNATIONAL Christian Education committed entire

Sunday School year on Heifer International:

Youth and Teens prepare and hold Heifer Worship

Service

Fund-raising effort

Raised over $5000.00 to purchase an ARK full of

animals from Heifer.

Pastor kisses a pig to celebrate Fundraising Success!!!!

Held a Heifer Fair

Each class had a table to focus on different aspects of Heifer International

Had a Petting Zoo

Intergenerational Mission Trip to Overlook (Heifer) Farm in Massachusetts

$10,000

The Ramah Green Camp Initiative (GCI) strives to make Ramah Camps more environmentally sound through improving infrastructure and providing education. Current efforts include encouraging institutionalized recycling programs, implementing awareness campaigns, and developing educational material to be used during the summer. A National Green Team, with representatives from each camp, has been created to further these efforts and explore future programs in the camps.

Directors Commitment to CGI

• As leaders of Jewish camping communities, we wholeheartedly commit to teaching, modeling and nurturing behaviors and attitudes that uphold the values of ecological stewardship inherent to Judaism.

• Whereas we as humanity are growing evermore aware of our interdependence with the natural world, we resolve to prioritize deeds that respect and care for the ecosystems of our planet.

• We will move toward building infrastructure that promotes sustainability and supports healthy lifestyle practices in our daily lives.

• Understanding that our children are our future, we will hold sacred the privilege of educating them to grow into caring, responsible members of the community who will embrace the connection between Jewish tradition and living a balanced existence.

• We, the undersigned, assert ourselves to the task of renewing creation by endowing our children with knowledge, awareness and appreciation, with the goal of empowering them to make wise and healthy choices that will have a positive influence on the environment.

Top Ten Ways to Green a Ramah Camp• Sign the Directors Environmental Commitment

• SIMPLE ACTION – Lead by Example, be a דוגמא אישית

• Train staff to be environmentally conscious. They are the best eco-emissaries. • Form a Camper-Staff Green Team • Remember Ba’al Taschit – DON’T BE WASTEFUL (remember this for all programming)

– Encourage the use of reusable water bottles (drinking bottled water is like drinking crude oil) – Make fewer copies and use half/quarter sheets when possible – Turn off running water not in use – Turn off lights and electrical appliances not in use – Reduce the amounts of disposable goods used in camp, especially in the Hadar Ochel.

• Offer Environmental Education

• Initiate an Awareness Campaign (see catalogue of Green Ramah items)

• Institutionalize a Camp-wide RECYCLING Program

• Purchase Green Items

• Evaluate Camp’s Food Decisions

• Start a Small Organic Garden

• Install Water Saving Technology• Reduce Energy Usage

Additional “teachable moments” at Trinity Presbyterian

Church…

Environmental Justice Actions…Special Guest Speaker: Dr. Mark Robson, Prof. of Entomology, Dean of Agricultural and Urban Programs , Rutgers U. School of Environmental Studies and Biological Sciences.

Dr. Robson spoke to us about some of his world studies on Environmental Justice Issues that effect all of us in the world community, both here and abroad.

New Brunswick EnvironmentalHealth and Justice Tour

Our pride a joy…Our new butterfly garden

Our garden has been certified by the National Wildlife Federation as a wildlife habitat

Many local community members have visited the church to see the garden

Butterfly Garden Dedication

Birdhouses added

Additional Actions throughout the congregation…

• Ran 2 totally vegetarian dinners per year• Eco-tips are in the church bulletin weekly• Developed bulletin board as means of keeping

congregation informed• Posted local farm markets and stores which

carry local and/or organic foods in NJ

What lessons have we come to understand more clearly during this process?

Caring for God’s Creation is not an option, it is a responsibility.

Christ calls us to be his hands and feet in the world, to spread his love, and to do his work in the world. This includes caring for the gift of creation!

Caring for Creation is easier than you think, if you just take it one step at a time and stay focused

One person CAN make a difference

Resources for Religious-Environmental Education Materials

- GreenFaith - Tevva - “The GreenDeen” – new Islamic source - Thoughtful Christian - Web of Creation - Presbyterians for Earth Care - Cokesbury - Heifer International - PC(USA) = Blessed Earth - Story of stuff - Terra Cycle - National Council of Churches - also can use things such as EPA and adapt to Religious Education

Joining together to Care for God’s Creation