Poetics of Place - June Newsletter

Questing News

1. Mass Audubon Launches Quest Program
The April - July issue of Connections: A newsletter of Mass Audubon, highlights this new program in “It’s All About the Quest,” written by Suzan Bellincampi. Learn more about Mass Audubon Quests by visiting: www.massaudubon.org/quests

2. Heritage Quest Program planned for Pennsylvania
The Heritage Conservancy of Doylestown, PA received funds from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to develop a “Heritage Quest” program along Pennsylvania’s Rt. 113 corridor. Spanning 30 miles between the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, this region is an important transportation and cultural corridor for the Germanic farming communities surrounding Philadelphia.

3. Canalway Quests on the Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway
Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CUVA) and its Ohio and Erie National
 Heritage Canalway (OHER) partners proposed a $20,000 Quest project to the National Park Service's "Parks as Classrooms" program. Their proposal - ranked #1 in the NPS's Midwest Region – will launch a 
quest program in Northeast Ohio. Steve will 
facilitate a planning meeting with Canalway partners; and run trainings for staff and volunteers. Working in pairs, participants will create 20 quests: 15 in CUVA and 5 in metroparks linked to CUVA by the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail.

4. Questing in Maine!
Individuals teachers, community groups, and families have been slowly bringing Questing to Maine over ten years, but now a NOAA-funded program though the Quebec-Labrador Foundation will offer a Summer Institute for regional educators. Fee is waived for 4th-8th grade teachers in the Muscongus Bay school districts. For more information contact Anne Stires: (207) 563-7456

5. Summer Workshops
I serve on the faculty of the Center for Whole Communities; and CWC has some wonderful public programs scheduled for Summer 2009:

Whole Thinking Workshop, July 7-9
With Peter Forbes and Stephanie Kaza
An intensive workshop to help diverse leaders create new coalitions and approaches to address broad environmental and social change.

Whole Funding Workshop, July 28-31
Peter Forbes and Kaylynn Sullivan TwoTrees
In difficult economic times, philanthropists are having to examine more than ever their focus and approach in order to carry out their mission. Come to explore what “transformational grantmaking” – seeing and addressing the whole – could look like today.

Finding the Story Workshop, August 12-14
Anushka Fernandopulle and Peter Forbes
This workshop will help us support one another to find our voice, to use shared language and to harness the power of story, not only in our lives but also in our leadership.

These programs will be held at Knoll Farm, in Vermont’s Mad River Valley. For more information on curriculum, faculty, accommodations and fees, or to register, visit www.wholecommunities.org .

6. Questing at the 2009 LTA Rally in Portland, Oregon
Come learn more about Questing in Oregon!
Workshop Title: Connecting People and Places with Questing
Session Day, Date & Time: Wednesday, October 14, 10:30am – Noon
For more information: www.lta.org

7. Outdoor Classroom Funding
The Nature of Learning Grant Program supports “Outdoor Classroom Programs:” Learn more about applying at:
http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/rfp_item.jhtml?id=250300012
Grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded to schools, nonprofits, and local groups partnering with a National Wildlife Refuge to provide community-based environmental education.
Deadline: June 15, 2009

8. This Place Matters
This Place Matters is a campaign of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, sponsored by Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, and is an online program to showcase the diverse places that matter to all of us. People from across the country are honoring their favorite places and making a call to protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to all of us.
http://www.preservationnation.org/take-action/this-place-matters/

9. Upcoming Events Calendar

Questing Workshops in Poland
@ Polish Environmental Partnership Foundation
Krakow, Poland
6/28 - 7/3

Half Day “Introduction to Questing”
@ Forest for Every Classroom
Woodstock, VT
7/14

One Day Questing Workshop
@ Tolowa Dunes State Park
Crescent City, CA
8/8

Two Day Questing Workshop
@ Heritage Conservancy
Doylestown, PA
9/24- 25

“Introduction to Questing”
@ Land Trust Rally
Portland, OR
10/14

With best regards from Thetford Center, VT!

Steve

Steve Glazer
POETICS OF PLACE
Connecting People & Places
www.poeticsofplace.com
steve@poeticsofplace.com