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PROJect -Re- GeneRatIOn

Designed to inspire, empower, and activate life-long learners in the reimagining and regeneration of our home: Earth.

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Our world as we know it is on the cusp of significant change. Our home is ‘burning’ and natural systems are failing at an alarming rate. However, the Earth is resilient and can heal itself if given a chance.

 

People, industry, and government throughout the global community must work together in the regeneration effort.  Education plays a powerful role in this movement, not only as a means to develop understanding around climate change, but as a place of action.

 

Project -Re- Generation offers students the opportunity, avenues, space, tools, time, and guidance to engage in creative and meaningful place-based climate action that would benefit the local community while contributing towards the larger goal of the regeneration of our home, Earth.

What is Project -Re- Generation?

Project -Re- Generation (ReGen) is an immersive place- and project-based learning experience designed to inspire, activate, and empower youth to become engaged community members through regenerative action. Students learn by doing: exploring and connecting with their local environment, built and natural alike; engaging with community experts; and working collaboratively on an authentic project of their choosing. These regenerative projects will seek to restore and rejuvenate systems through practices such as rewilding, redesigning, rebuilding, reducing, reusing, repairing, and restoring.  

 

ReGen is inspired by two innovative programs: Undergraduate Semester in Dialogue at Simon Fraser University and LEAP Academy at Green School Bali. Although half a world apart, these programs are both rooted in a shared learning approach that places emphasis on experiences, community, and action. ReGen blends aspects of both Dialogue and LEAP while bringing to life its own character, which focuses on regenerative and climate-action community projects.

How does it work?​

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By engaging in real-life sustainability projects that are community-based, participants will build an understanding of the principles of sustainability while flexing the critical skills increasingly essential to thrive in our ever-changing world. Along with being adaptable and thinking in systems, specific emphasis is given to the ‘Four C’s’: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. 

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So let’s look at that learning process in a bit more detail… 

 

 

The beginning of the program is dedicated to exploring key concepts, such as sustainability, the circular economy, and systems, as well as orienting the students to Thetis Island and its many nooks and crannies of awesomeness. We will also spend time developing our mini ReGen community as it will be essential to working together on the project. In the second week we will invite Thetis Islanders to pitch their project ideas to the group. We welcome all types of projects, but they must all share the common aim to improve Thetis Island’s adaptability and resilience to climate change through regenerative approaches. After selecting a project, students will be guided through the design process of project ideation and planning, implementation, and review. As part of this, we will seek and work alongside community members who will help us realize our projects. Lastly, students will be asked to contribute to the site blog where they will share multi-media posts that reflect their experiences. 

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Check out one of our design projects, The People's Apothecary Garden, from our summer 2020 program, and listen to the group's podcast series, the ThINCpod on our blog.

FAQ

What is the time commitment?

The spring program is 8-weeks long (April 6 - May 27), Monday - Thursday, and approximately 5 hours per day.



How much does the program cost?

There are no costs associated with the program other than supplying one's own lunch/snacks and getting to and from Thetis (we will provide on-island transportation). Free travel on the Chemainus to Thetis Island ferry is granted to students with a valid student ID. Students without a valid student ID may request a letter from the school they are registered with.



How will we work within Covid restrictions?

Although it is difficult to predict what the Covid landscape will look like come April, if by then restrictions around social gatherings relax, families are comfortable, and Covid guidelines allow, then we will proceed under protocols at the time. These protocols may include physical distancing from guests, outdoor community events only, use of masks in some situations, and as always, frequent hand washing. If we absolutely cannot meet up in person, we are open to hosting a modified virtual version of the program where students can develop their personal projects with the guidance from a facilitator and feedback from their peers.



What is expected of students?

As this is a collaborative endeavour it is essential that all participants are committed to the entirety of the program. Participants will also be expected to be respectful of one another, guests, and the facilitators. Students / pairs / groups may be asked to complete tasks related to the project and overall experience, but most of this will be done during program hours. Over the course of the 8-weeks, each student will be asked to complete a minimum of 3 multimedia reflections that will be posted to the site blog.



How big is the group?

Up to 12 students



What is the age range?

The spring 2021 program is open to youth ages 12 - 15 years old



What exactly are 'multimedia reflections'?

Over the course of the program, students are asked to reflect on their experiences and post them to the site blog. As it is not everyone’s cup of tea to write essays, these blog posts can take on diverse forms, from poems and photo journals to podcasts, vlogs, stories, and infographics. They can also be done individually or in small groups. These “assignments” provide an avenue for reflection, help keep the Thetis Island community abreast of what the ReGen group is up to (because that is pretty key for communication!), and serve as a learning portfolio in which students may refer to at a later date.



Who are the facilitators?

Charlotte Fesnoux is the lead facilitator for Project -Re- Generation. Charlotte is a certified teacher and has been engaged in the development and implementation of immersive project-based learning programs since 2018. Charlotte is passionate about nature and learning. To see her full bio, please see the ThINC, ‘About us’ page. A co-facilitator will be hired and trained before the beginning of the spring session. Co-facilitating allows the facilitators to bounce ideas off one another, help each other out, and is fun.



How do I get to Thetis Island?

Thetis Island is a small Gulf Island just north of Salt Spring. To get to Thetis, take the ferry from the Ferry Terminal in Chemainus, east of the Trans-Canada Highway and north of Duncan. It is a 30-50 minute ferry sailing. All students attending the program from off-Thetis will likely be traveling as a group and will meet up with the program facilitator at the ferry terminal on the Thetis side.



If you have any additional questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch!

charlotte@thetisislandnatureconservancy.org

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To apply to the Spring 2021 session, please print the attached PDF, fill it out, scan it/take a photo (PDF preferred), and send back to the following address: charlotte@thetisislandnatureconservancy.org

 

Application deadline: February 15th, 2021

 

Limited space, max 12 students

info@thetisislandnatureconservancy.org

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The Portal, 254 North Cove Road, Thetis Island

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Copyright @ ThINC 2020