Civic Environmentalism

Winter semester course at Hunter College
During January of 2008, the Institute took a leadership role in the creation and execution of the course Civic Environmentalism. The course which was co-taught by the Institute’s Director and Outreach Coordinator aimed to educate students on both the latest in climate change science and politics, and how they can effectively move towards changing the status quo. Reading and lesson content varied from the words of early naturalists such as Aldo Leopold and Henry David Thorough, to contemporary critics of environmental politics such as the founders of The Breakthrough Institute. The course included an active participant component in which students worked in preparation for upcoming Focus the Nation events at Hunter College.

Click here for the sylibus [PDF].

College Now

Summer course on Nature and Environment of New York City
CISC participates in the College Now program, a collaborative effort between CUNY and the NYC Department of Education designed to help prepare high school students for college-level coursework. College Now offers eligible students the opportunity to take college courses for credit, free of charge. During the summer of 2007 CISC staff members Anita Shoup and Lee Hachadoorian co-taught a College Now course on the physical and human environment of New York City. Twenty three students from prestigious schools such as Stuyvesant, LaGuardia, and Hunter High School used the city as a laboratory to learn about issues such as urban sustainability, global climate change, and habitat loss. Students enjoyed field work in Central Park, Pelham Bay Park, and the Hudson Valley. The students uniformly expressed enthusiasm for the course, and many said they would recommend the program to their friends and teachers. The College Now administration has responded with plans to offer the course during the academic year, as well as again during Summer 2008.

Click here for the sylibus [PDF].