Community partnerships help extend the reach of SCNs’ ecological sustainability efforts and create opportunities to share knowledge, resources and experiences with others in our local community. Recently, the Office of Ecological Sustainability collaborated with New Pioneers for a Sustainable Future on several initiatives focused on education, hands-on action and community engagement.
New Pioneers took the lead on an invasive speciesworkshop at Nazareth, with support from Melissa Varelas of the Office of Ecological Sustainability. Fifteen participants learned to identify common invasive plants and discussed effective removal methods and the best times of year for management. Participants then headed outdoors where they identified bush honeysuckle, autumn olive and privet. Together, they removed invasive plants and learned how to carefully apply herbicide to cut stumps to help prevent regrowth.
Melissa also assisted New Pioneers in working with students from My Old Kentucky Home Middle School in Bardstown as they prepared to attend a local town hall. Students explored sustainability issues affecting their community, including data centers and solar energy, by practicing discussions with community leaders through role-playing. Melissa pretended to be a cattle farmer, a representative from a solar company, a non-profit worker.
The collaboration is also continuing this fall, with the Office of Ecological Sustainability and New Pioneers currently planning a one-day student camp at Nazareth focusing on environmental education and hands-on learning.
These efforts demonstrate the value of working alongside community organizations and schools. Through partnerships such as these, SCNs can share resources and expertise, expand opportunities for environmental education and action, and strengthen relationships that support the well-being of our communities and all Creation.