Q. What qualifies you to be an expert on teaching Climate Change to children?
A. Since 1976 I've been in over 2,000 elementary and middle schools in 41 states and 12 countries with a one day instructional program that is highly respected. Now I have thoroughly tested and refined my new program, Climate Change is Elementary. Our evaluations show that teachers, students, parents and administrators all appreciate the program.
Q. Do you have a program for teaching others to deliver Climate Change is Elementary?
A. That is our focus now. We are developing a training program to empower teams of two or three people to deliver the program, including getting their own bookings. They will be sub-foundations of our parent foundation. Training will start in Fall 2009.
Q. Can someone actually expect to make a living with this program? How much can they expect to earn?
A. I get a contribution to my foundation of $1,500 for one day in a school. Your team might start at $500 for the first ten schools as an introductory offer until you feel you are worth $1,000, then raise your fee until you are worth $1,500 or even more. We don't have a fee, it is a donation.
Q. What is a typical day like?
A. The day is grueling. It starts with a teachers meeting for 20 minutes before school where I tell them the objectives of the program and make sure they know the schedule for the day. Then I take the kids one grade level at a time (up to 75 kids per class) in the gym. Each grade gets a separate class geared just to them. They hear great children's music about the environment as they come into the gym. They see exciting slides and get to play games that let them become penguins or polar bears, or elephants or frogs or trees and critters in the rainforest. Then we have an assembly at the end of the school day with music and activities too, and they get to see into the future of energy. They end up taking a pledge and becoming environmental heroes. That same evening their parents come in and together they create a Family Sustainability Checklist which they all pledge to follow.
Q. What is the expected outcome of your program?
A. For kids it is to give them a sense of awareness and ownership of the future of the natural world. Our theme is "No Fear, No Guilt - Lots of Fun and Hope." For individual teachers it is intended to start the discussion of Climate Change in their classroom. For schools in general it is to take the brunt of any community opposition to tackling these difficult and potentially politically sensitive topics. For families it is to help them begin to take meaningful action to reduce their energy and water costs and usage.
Q. How do you apply to become a representative of Climate Change is Elementary?
A. Everyone needs to submit a resume and an application. There is a standard profile instrument to fill out, just to make sure we don't put square pegs in round holes. Applicants need to form their own teams so we will be setting up a method for contacting one another through FaceBook and/or LinkedIn. Then you make your team and apply together.
Q. What will training consist of?
A. Trainees will observe a school program. They will be given a complete video record of a day in a school including the evening program for parents. They will receive a manual that details how to deliver the program. They will attend a two day training course conducted by Dave Finnigan who has developed this program. They will learn how to promote the program to schools, how to book and schedule the program, how to relate to the school personnel, the do's and don'ts of school programs, how to collect the money, how to send it in to the Foundation account, and how to get paid by their foundation account.
Q. What will our business name be?
A. You are on your own to create your own program using your own business name, but are given the permission to claim "Certified by Climate Change is Elementary."
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