INITIATIVES
Since 2015, GOMI’s primary focus has been our CBS Pilot/Adopter Site program. Each site has teachers, students, conservationists, scientists and other stakeholders throughout the Gulf of Maine collaborating to address climate issues in their communities. K-12 and university level teachers, with the support of their institutions and community partners, design and teach a Gulf of Maine Studies Course in their classrooms, emphasizing science literacy and experiential education.
Our pilot site, at Kennebunk High School, MA has been an award-winning success. The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment honored our Kennebunkport teachers and site partners with their prestigious Visionary Award in 2019.
To understand more about the work we do with students, read Pam Morgan's "Perspectives on Teaching and Learning in a Time of Climate Change".
Adopter
Sites
Each site heads its own project, relevant to its specific ecosystems and community partners. Classes partner with university courses to conduct research in the field, lead their own research projects with input from the community, or learn about the intersections of science and stewardship through hands-on projects and data management.
To learn more about some of our partners across different sites.
We currently have four active CBS Adopter Sites, each promoting local environmental activism as well as Gulf-wide collaboration.
The GOMI Climate Café awakens and engages collective intelligence through conversations about questions that matter. The GOMI Café goals are to:
• Help students develop dialogue skills, e.g. advocacy, empathy, inquiry, deep listening
• Create opportunities for students to practice these skills in conversations with peers, families, and communities
• Prepare GOMI students to become engaged citizens of their community as they act on behalf of the environment
“The GOMI students could not have been more thoughtful in designing their presentation, which was thoroughly effective, and the skillful manner in which they engaged in the ensuing discussions was exemplary. It was a wonderful opportunity for the students to engage with the larger community on this critical issue.”
- A recent host .
Climate
Café
In a Time of COVID-19
Though COVID-19 represents a huge challenge to our community, we have found ways to pinpoint opportunities for growth and development.
Since May 2020, we have worked with our teachers and come up with a plan to expand inter-site collaboration. Ongoing conversations in the world of environmental education have brought to our attention the assets that distanced learning technologies and techniques have to offer, especially when trying to connect youth across the Gulf of Maine.
Using distanced learning technologies like forums, group video calls, remote mapping, and social media will ensure that the students we serve have an equal and more expansive exposure to environmental careers, topics and modes of advocacy. Students of different backgrounds will be able to connect directly with each other and with experts in their community on how to tackle the crisis of Climate Change and inspire each other to be better environmental stewards.
As we move through this moment of crisis that COVID-19 presents, we will take these lessons with us to bolster our programming going forward.
Projects
Each year, GOMI works with the teachers at new and adopter sites to support project development. Teachers are encouraged to develop their own curricula in keeping with CBS requirements. As we work to bolster inter-site collaboration and conversation, we work together to build pilot projects that can be adapted to future sites.
To learn more about our ongoing project development, check out each project page. There you will find documentation of the process, teaching and educational materials, and other related services.