1. Results of the 2008/09 Solar Oven Challenge

The students who participated in our annual Solar Oven Challenge built, tested and baked with more than 100 solar ovens this past year! Whether they followed the construction plans provided at re-energy.ca, or designed their own ovens, they were excited to watch their food cook and then taste their creations.

Participants had a lot to say about the experience:

"It was fun building the oven. We thought it was really cool that you could cook in a box! Cooking with solar heat is a great way to use renewable energy."

"We found that the solar ovens heated up pretty quickly to about 350°F...
All in all, this entire project was a fun use of science class — better than taking notes and with tasty snacks as a bonus."

"It was really exciting to see the students discussing their projects with the younger students who came out for their recess break while we were testing."

Here are the 2008/09 Solar Oven Challenge finalists!

Honours with Distinction

• Banded Peak, grade 7, Bragg Creek, AB
  Teacher: Craig Churchill

• Don Valley, grade 7, Toronto, ON
  Teacher: Jonathan Smith

• St. Mark, grades 3 to 6, Mississauga, ON
  Teacher: Anne Paquin

• Royal Canadian Montessori, Whitby, ON
  Teacher: Dawn Deane

• Crestwood, 5 students in grades 4 to 6, Medicine Hat, AB
  Teacher: Audrey Pavelich

Honours

• Christ the King, grade 4, Whitehorse, YK
  Teacher: Stephanie Haines

• St. Rene Goupil/St. Luke, grades 4 and 5, Thornhill, ON
  Teacher: Lisa Falconi

• Fletcher's Creek, grade 7, Brampton, ON
  Teacher: Mary Neely

• Vaughan, grade 7, Vaughan, ON
  Teacher: Julie Paiva

• Hunter's Glen, grades 4 and 5, Scarborough, ON
  Teacher: Barbara Myers

• Timberlea, grade 7, Fort McMurray, AB
  Teacher: Michelle Kulmatycky

Honourable Mention

• St. Bonaventure, grade 7, Toronto, ON
  Teacher: Gina Gorgolewska

• Jasper Place, grade 10, Edmonton, AB
  Teacher: Elwin Worobec

• SATEC, grade 9 group, Toronto, ON
  Teacher: D. B. McCowan
• St. Margaret's, grade 4 group, Victoria, BC
  Teacher: Lauren Hudson

• Post Academy Homeschool, 2 students, Calgary, AB
  

To see the individual submissions and more photographs, visit the re-energy.ca website after June 23rd, 2009.

2. Redfish Now in the Field

After much preparation, GreenLearning's unique field school — the Redfish School of Change — is now underway. Sixteen participants and their three instructors, all featured here at Little Slocan Lodge in the West Kootenays of British Columbia, began their six-week journey on May 18th.

Nadine Raynolds, Director of the Redfish School of Change, reports:

The group of students really is amazing — they are working very well together, learning from the various activities, field trips and guest speakers. All the planning and preparing is paying off with wonders. And, we are indeed living and learning together. Today I checked in with several students about what they want to do in life as a change agent. The projects they will pursue are as diverse as the group — students from a range of disciplines, geography, cultural backgrounds, and interests. Through journaling and other activities they are taking time to reflect on life and living as someone who cares deeply about community and environmental health. They are wonderful people and certainly already leaders in a variety of ways.

The Redfish School of Change is a new partnership program of GreenLearning Canada, Pearson College, and the University of Victoria School of Environmental Studies. Visit the students' blog at http://redfishschoolofchange.blogspot.com/, and learn more about Redfish at http://www.schoolofchange.ca.

3. One More Report Card...please

It is not too late to complete our annual online survey and help us evaluate our programs! Our thanks to those of you who already have. Your feedback is truly invaluable to us as we work to improve and expand GreenLearning programming. Draw prize winners for the online survey are Wayne Lui of Brampton, ON; Susan MacAlister of Calgary, AB; and Donald Costin of Chilliwack, BC. Congratulations!

We also thank those of you who took the time to participate in a phone survey. Draw prize winners for phone interviews will be notified before the end of the school year.

4. Poster Contest Winner Announced

Alexis Landsiedel of Queensborough Middle School won first prize in the City of New Westminster's environmental poster contest. In celebration of Earth Day, the City of New Westminster in British Columbia teamed up with School District #40 and GreenLearning to encourage students to take action on energy conservation. Alexis' poster, featured here, was selected from more than 170 entries by Grade 5 and 6 students on the theme, Energy: Save Today for Tomorrow.

"Through their artwork, students demonstrated their visions and willingness to change their energy habits in powerful ways," said Johan Stroman, BC director of GreenLearning. "These kinds of hopeful and empowered perspectives are what we need to meet the challenge of climate change."

5. Climate Change Camp for ON Teachers

Ontario secondary school teachers are invited to attend a unique Climate Change Education Camp, July 13 to 15, at McMaster University in Hamilton. This three-day professional learning experience is made possible by Ministry of Education funding through the Ontario Teachers Federation and with the assistance of the Educational Alliance for a Sustainable Ontario, GreenLearning Canada, and a number of other leading education organizations.

The camp will explore the issues that are relevant to our most challenging educational issue: climate change. The cost — which includes meals, accommodation and the program — is $50 for Ontario secondary school teachers. Register online by June 19 at the Ontario Teachers Federation website. Enrollment is limited.

6. Bookmark GreenLearning for the Fall

Bookmark GreenLearning in preparation for your next year of teaching! If you have not registered, click here to register now. If you have registered but have forgotten your password, click here to get your password.

7. Our Thanks

Thank you to the Ontario Ministry of Environment for supporting the Greenhouse Gas Education and Action Campaign that GreenLearning will deliver in July in collaboration with the Sierra Youth Coalition and Clean Air Champions.