| Course Number: | EDU 5710 S02 |
| Instructor: | Aubrey Nelson, M.Ed. |
| Location: | In-Person at the Rockywold Deephaven Camps, Squam Lake, Holderness, NH and online. |
| Dates and Times: | Jun 22 - Oct 15, 2026. June 22 10am-5:30pm, June 23 9am-5pm; June 24 9am-5pm; June 25 9am-5pm; June 26 9am-3pm |
| Credits: | 3 Graduate Credits |
| Tuition: | Tuition is set by and payable to VEEP/NHEEP |
The 2026 VEEP/NHEEP Summer Institute is open to all educators and will explore the question, “How will we integrate real-world learning, joy and action into curriculum to GENERATE meaningful engagement, agency and climate solutions in our schools & communities?” In cooperation with the Institute for Humane Education and drawing from their Solutionary Framework, this year’s Summer Institute dives into student-driven instructional practices and problem-based, purposeful and “solutionary” learning. Teachers will experience this approach themselves, conducting observations and investigations, engaging in the engineering process, defining specific issues and designing evidenced-based solutions. We will play and explore with hands-on equipment, model our understanding, and play games aimed to make climate learning accessible, meaningful and hopeful. Participants will be “figuring out” rather than “learning about,” and finding ways to personalize climate learning to their specific classroom context.
This program is interdisciplinary and universally relevant. While STEM education might feel like a natural fit for the subject matter, and many of our case studies and data will be focused in VT or NH, our approach focuses on best practices and philosophies that extend well beyond New England (N’dakkina) and beyond science teaching. VEEP/NHEEP educators and participants will engage in systems, creative, critical and strategic thinking and highlight opportunities to work collaboratively across disciplines and communities. Through an energy audit and action project at the beautiful Rockywold Deephaven Camps, we’ll practice finding local and relevant phenomena and model opportunities for community partnerships so that participants can adopt and employ similar techniques for any age group, subject or locations.
The course will empower teachers to develop strategies to engage with best-practices in climate learning, including developing student agency and action. In addition to the expertise provided by VEEP/NHEEP, we will also be joined by Educators from the Institute for Humane Education, who have found that their Solutionary Framework helps teachers of any subject integrate solutionary, real-world learning and find entry points to generating purpose and action. Youth Climate Leaders will also join us, and will speak about their motivations to engage with climate solutions, the transferable skills and other learning they feel that they have gained through participation in climate action work, and other recommendations for engaging youth.
Summer Institute provides time and space to plan, design, recharge, engage and connect with other educators in a beautiful place. Ongoing support and resources are also part of the experience. Participants can connect with VEEP/NHEEP educators during the school year for anything from in-class workshops to action project consultation to a technical question about climate or energy to personalized professional development. Participants will also share ideas and discover sustaining relationships among their cohort of ambitious educators.
This program is interdisciplinary and universally relevant. While STEM education might feel like a natural fit for the subject matter, and many of our case studies and data will be focused in VT or NH, our approach focuses on best practices and philosophies that extend well beyond New England (N’dakinna) and beyond science teaching. VEEP/NHEEP educators and participants will engage in systems-thinking and highlight opportunities to work collaboratively across disciplines and communities. Through an energy audit and action project at the World Fellowship Center we’ll practice finding local and relevant phenomena and model opportunities for community partnerships so that participants can adopt and employ similar techniques for any age group, subject or locations.
The course will empower teachers to develop strategies to engage with best-practices in climate learning, including developing student agency and action. In addition to the expertise provided by VEEP/NHEEP, we will also be joined by Educators from MindSpark Learning, who have found success using problem-based learning to prepare students for the modern workforce, and Youth Climate Leaders who will speak about their motivations to engage with climate solutions, the transferable skills and other learning they feel that they have gained through participation in climate action work, and other recommendations for engaging youth.
Summer Institute provides time and space to plan, design, recharge, engage and connect with other educators in a beautiful place. Ongoing support and resources are also part of the experience. Participants can connect with VEEP/NHEEP educators during the school year for anything from in-class workshops to action project consultation to a technical question about climate or energy to personalized professional development. Participants will also share ideas and discover sustaining relationships among their cohort of ambitious educators.
Audience: Teachers with an earned Bachelor's Degree of any grade or subject looking to integrate real-world problem solving and climate learning
Course Goals: Figure out how will we integrate real-world learning, joy and action into curriculum to GENERATE meaningful engagement, agency and climate solutions in our schools & communities.
Course Objectives:
June 22-26: In-person Intensive Institute Week of Hands-on Learning
After June 27th: 5+ contact hours of Project Consultation; Independent Post-Institute Assignments
Costs for required readings may not be included in the course tuition. Please contact VEEP for more information.
Pre-Institute
Institute for Humane Education. “An Overview of the Solutionary Framework (in K-12 Education).” YouTube, 6 Feb. 2026, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppbYxFcVBt8
Institute for Humane Education. “Student Reflections on Solutionary Projects (Then & Now).” YouTube, 6 Feb. 2026, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aKGTAFlATI
Johnson, Elizabeth Ayana. “How to Find Joy in Climate Action.” (2022) TED Talk. https://www.ted.com/talks/ayana_elizabeth_johnson_how_to_find_joy_in_climate_action?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare
“Project-Based Learning: Teaching Guide.” Boston University Center for Teaching and Learning. https://www.bu.edu/ctl/guides/project-based-learning/
Schwarz, C., Passmore, C., & Reiser, B. (2017). Helping Students Make Sense of the World Using Next Generation Science and Engineering Practices. Chapter 3: ‘Toward More Equitable Learning in Science.’
Sobel, D. (2007). Synergy Learning. ‘Climate Change Meets Ecophobia’
Post-Institute (After June 26)
Neill, Tiffany. “Hands-On Learning: At One Louisiana School, ‘Phenomenon-Driven’ Curriculum Is Boosting Students’ Confidence & Learning Skills” (2023). The 74. https://www.the74million.org/article/hands-on-learning-at-one-louisiana-school-phenomenon-driven-curriculum-is-boosting-students-confidence-learning-skills/
“How to Be a Solutionary: A Guide for People who Want to Make a Positive Difference.” (2021). Institute for Humane Education.
Sanson, A., Van Hoorn, J., & Burke, S.E.L. (2019). “Responding to the Impacts of the Climate Crisis on Children and Youth.” Society for Research in Child Development. https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cdep.12342
Windschitl, M & Thompson, J. “The Modeling Toolkit: Making Student Thinking Visible with Public Representations”(2013).
(603) 493-7225
This course requires registration with VEEP first. Please click on the Register Now! link below.