And, as religious communities become more engaged with issues of environmental degradation and injustice, they are driven to deeper reflection on the conceptual dimensions of the resources and obstacles to environmental responsibility that lie within their own intellectual traditions.

Those working in educational and research institutions play many roles in deepening our response to this time of planetary crisis and opportunity:

• Scholars, teachers, and students seek to learn how the world works, and about what is right, making their schools, colleges, universities, and camps alive with wonder, curiosity, and love for this world.
• Scientists bring the public’s attention to the sometimes hidden wounds we are inflicting on creation.
• Students, impatient with their elders’ slowness to respond, call for change and initiate it themselves in their communities and on their campuses.
• Teachers and environmental educators in schools and camps nurture wonder and curiosity about the natural world in children, along with a sense of responsibility.
• Faculty, administrators, and physical plant managers find ways to make their own institutions more environmentally responsible in their purchasing, energy use, landscaping, and waste disposal practices.
• Religious scholars and educators explore the connections between faith and the environment, and the role of religious leadership in bringing about a more just and sustainable world.

Educators and scholars in many settings and from many perspectives and disciplines can contribute. Together, these teachers and learners help us all to find the wisdom and the knowledge for living rightly on this earth.

Schools:

• The Program Bank of the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Live can be searched by the Religious/Day School category under “Facility” or by specific age ranges under “Target Audience.”
• The National Catholic Educational Association offers suggestions, resources, and links to help schools provide a healthy and safe environment for their staff and students.
• The Summer 2004 (PDF) issue of To Teach, a newsletter for Catholic educators, is on the theme, “Be Stewards of God’s Gifts.” It suggests activities and resources to help teachers, principals and school boards promote stewardship and foster appreciation for God’s creation.
• Many educational resources for congregations can also be used in religious school settings.
• The National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM) has developed a resource titled Catholic Youth: Care for Creation and the Poor (http://climate.nfcym.org) which builds on the Catholic Climate Covenant’s St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation and the Poor and helps youth to make the connections between environmental stewardship and social justice in light of Catholic social teaching.
• Through the Cool Schools Program, Eastside Catholic School in Sammamish, Washington challenged their school community to shrink its carbon footprint and exceeded their goal - potentially reducing annual CO2 emissions by 54,700 lbs. And the students, teachers and staff of Immaculate Conception Regional School took up the challenge to reduce their annual carbon footprint by 24,556 lbs through everyday behavior changes.

Church Camps:

• The “Outdoor (Camp)” category, under “Facility” in the COEJL Program Bank, includes a “Counselor’s Guide to Jewish Environmental Practices at Camp,” outlining the basics of environmental teaching at a summer camp, as well as learning activity ideas.
• Resources for environmental education at church camps include "Creation for Kids: Nature Games and Activities for Church Camps,"Outdoor Ministry Centers and Environmental Education by Mark D. Burkhardt, and "Goals of Nature Study in the Church Camp Setting".

Higher Education: Colleges, Universities, Seminaries and Divinity Schools:

• A number of Catholic higher education institutions have established Sustainability Offices/Institutes/Initiatives/Centers/ Councils/Websites
  • Aquinas College
  • Boston College
  • Canisius College
  • The Catholic University of America
  • College of the Holy Cross
  • Creighton University
  • Duquesne University
  • DePaul University
  • Georgetown University
  • Gonzaga University
  • Loyola University Chicago
  • Loyola University Maryland
  • Madonna University
  • Manchester College
  • Regis University
  • Seton Hall University
  • University of St. Francis
  • St. Mary’s University of Minnesota
  • St. Michael’s College
  • Stonehill College
  • Thomas More College
  • University of Portland
  • Wheaton College
  • Xavier University
  • University of Notre Dame
  • Molloy College
  • Santa Clara University
  • College of St. Benedict St. John’s University
  • St. John’s University
• Colleges can offer additional environmental study opportunities to their students through programs such as those offered by:
  • Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies
  • Creation Care Study Program
  • Internships through the Office of Sustainability at the University of Notre Dame (http://green.nd.edu/research/internships/)
  • Research through the Office of Sustainability at the University of Notre Dame (http://green.nd.edu/research/research/)
• Sample syllabi for religion and environment courses are available from:
  • The American Academy of Religion
  • The International Society for Environmental Ethics
  • The Web of Creation
  • The Wabash Center Guide to Internet Resources for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion
• Classroom, research, and professional development resources for faculty and students are available at:
  • Forum on Religion and Ecology
  • For bibliographies and information on past scholarly conferences, see the Scholarship pages of this website for:
    • The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life
    • The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
    • The National Council of Churches — U.S.A.
    • The Evangelical Environmental Network
    • Ecumenical and Interfaith Efforts
  • For information on faith and environment initiatives in higher education, see the Education pages of this website for:
    • The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life
    • The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
    • The National Council of Churches -- U.S.A.
    • The Evangelical Environmental Network
    • Ecumenical and Interfaith Efforts
• Resources for making campuses more environmentally responsible include:
  • "Take an Energy Survey of the Campus" in the COEJL Program Bank
  • The National Wildlife Federation's Campus Ecology program
  • A list of Campus Environmental Stewardship Programs compiled by Brown University
  • Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future
  • International Institute for Sustainable Development -- Sustainable Development on Campus
  • The Cool Schools Program, which "aims to motivate students, teachers, and school districts to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions schoolwide."
  • Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (http://www.aashe.org/)
  • Catholic Colleges, Universities Take Steps To Go Green by Mandi Stirone of Catholic News Service talks about how 24 Catholic colleges and universities have joined the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, and how many schools are utilizing such resources such as Campus Greening Initiative and Campus Climate Challenge, and entering competitions such as RecycleMania.
• Campus environmental groups are sponsored by:
  • Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life
  • Restoring Eden
  • A Rocha -- U.S.A.
• A Faith and Eco-Justice Fellowship is offered every other year by the National Council of Churches, for leadership training for emerging practitioners engaged in faith-based environmental work.
• God’s Creation Cries for Justice. Climate Change: Impact and Response from JustFaith Ministries was developed with the USCCB-endorsed Catholic Coalition on Climate Change.  This eight-session module considers Catholic teaching on climate change and environmental stewardship, and focuses especially on the themes of prudence, poverty, and the common good.  The module reflects on how climate change will continue to impact the poor at home and abroad, draws out arguments for and against action, and demonstrates—through both faith and science—the hazards to poor people of doing nothing.
• Investigate the core teachings and ideas of the religious traditions represented by the Partnership.
• See how particular environmental issues have been addressed by the Jewish and Christian religious communities.
• Explore the intellectual resources that the Partnership groups have been developing through publications and conferences, as well as those that are being developed by others,
  • The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life
  • The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
  • The National Council of Churches -- U.S.A.
  • The Evangelical Environmental Network
  • Ecumenical and Interfaith Effort