Dispatches from the Field & Project Summaries
Washington
February 22, 2010
On January 13th we had the pleasure of 
presenting to the students of St. Andrew Nativity School. The philosophy of the school alone is enough to spread the message of creating sustainability in a community, and yet they continue to make additions to their diverse goals. St. Andrew is dedicated to helping low income students achieve their full potential. As part of their expansion, St. Andrew invited the 
GLP tour to represent some sustainable practices they were experimenting with. Unique challenges were uncovered as one student explained that, after learning about the rules of recycling, her dad could only afford one trash can, so the entire pizza box would get recycled, as opposed to the whole thing being trashed. As we left we were notified that the students had also
started a recycling project and would be donating the rewards to the mission of GLP! As we talk of sustainability and travel to areas that are working on different issues, each is valuable and teaches us; enriching our experience and confirming just how important the message of sustainability is for both the earth, each other and our relationship to one another. Many thanks St. Andrew Nativity School!
Kids can be a great inspiration to us all. Because of one student’s hard work, we were able to visit 
The Option Program at Seward (TOPS). A young man in Ms. Binder’s class wrote a paper on sustainability and thought it would be a good idea to have us come share the message with his classmates. Thanks to the wonderful parents and teachers of Seattle, all of the kids were very aware of sustainable issues and had already been participating to help the 
environment in their own communities.
The John Stanford International School is an award winning public elementary school in the Seattle area. Offering a dual-immersion language program to all students, John Stanford addresses issues of cultural sustainability in and outside of the classroom. We met with 380 K-6th graders and talked with them about sustainable projects in South America. All grade levels actively participated in the conversation and were excited to continue learning. Thanks to the staff at John Stanford being such gracious hosts!
Although we were booked throughout Seattle, we still caught some time to check out pockets of the city. And speaking of sustainability, we found a gem, Theo Chocolate. “The only Organic, Fair Trade, Bean-To-Bar Chocolate Factory in the United States.” Theo Chocolate is the perfect example of a sustainable business, and after taking a tour and eating tons of yummy samples we were hooked!
The Seattle Girls School was our next stop and we were a bit surprised. After meeting Wendy and setting up our equipment, the girls walked in and starting spewing personal facts about Kyle and I. How do they know all this, we thought. It ends up, that our brief experience actually reflected the skills these girls had learned. Being in an environment that teaches girls to be agents of change, to be confident, speak out against injustice and to be solution oriented. Thus, they had done their research on us and on GLP and were fully engaged in learning about sustainable practices and questioning techniques. Way to go Seattle Girls School!
We ended January on a great note presenting to 400 2nd-5th graders at Lawton Elementary School. Talk about motivated, although they were just beginning their transition into a “green” school, Lawton’s students were excited to have us there and eager to answer our questions. When asked what they use to help soil become rich with nutrients, one young student shouted “poo!” Of course we all had a laugh and someone followed him up by saying “composting”. These kids were truly amazing!
Oregon
February 22, 2010
The first stop in the New Year was Newport, 
Oregon at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Some people may know of this aquarium because it is famous for housing the orca whale from the movie “Free Willy.” The aquarium lies right on the water in a quaint forest with trails that meander between the organic shapes surrounding each tank. Each species at the aquarium also represents the local wildlife
of the area, thus creating a unique bond between the visitors and their surroundings.
Wow, it’s no joke that the Pacific Northwest is the place for rain…and you can tell when you’re not a local because you’re the only one to use an umbrella! After a few days we settled into the weather and made our way to Laurelhurst Elementary. You have to hand it to teachers these days, when they are passionate, their students truly benefit. We visited Laurelhurst for two days, each day presenting to 
multiple 6th & 8th grade classes. Thanks to Tracy, her classes started a composting project and are helping to develop new sustainable initiatives!
Over the weekend we had the chance to visit some local hot spots. Our “must see” was Multnomah Falls. It’s more than 600 ft. tall and is just the beginning of a beautiful trail that leads through bright green moss covered trees along
the river with fall after fall, each one more exquisite than the last. We were also lucky enough to get a local tour from our friends and take a canoe ride through the farmlands in Hillsboro.
Moving on, we were very fortunate to get the unique experience of presenting at Bridlemile Elementary School. As part of a collaborative school effort, Bridlemile began conducting “Green Team” as an afterschool program. Run by parent volunteers, each week children from Kindergarten through fifth grade 
gather to learn about and participate in sustainability issues for their school and community. This was a great group of students who exemplify how beneficial it is to have several age groups working together!
Our next visit was with Skyline Elementary School. As you can imagine, they are located on the top of a large hill, which takes multiple switchbacks to get to, and is surrounded by beautiful farm country. Skyline was unique due to the PTA’s involvement. After applying for, and receiving a grant, Skyline hired a green coordinator to establish sustainable practices in the school and integrate a sustainable curriculum. After meeting the coordinator, talking with the students, and having the press at the school to document their success in sustainability, I’d say we could all look up to Skyline!
California
February 22, 2010
On the way to the coast we had to get our last 
fill of the desert and stop in Joshua Tree National Park for the weekend. Such beautiful scenery and an awesome place to take adventurous hikes. The site of Joshua Trees and large granite monoliths throughout the park gave us the sense that we were on a different planet. And can you believe, in the middle of the desert on a hike called 49 Palms there was 
an oasis with huge palm trees? I must admit, I hit my chest like Tarzan and let out a howl.
After passing through the impressive 5,000 Tehachapi wind turbines, we arrived in San Diego the next day and thanks once again to family, were able to stay right on Pacific Beach! Not only were we happy to 
leave our jackets behind and burry our toes in the sand, but also to find out that when it comes to sustainability, California schools have jumped on the bandwagon.
Our first stop was Southwest High School. An hour before their field trip, we had the pleasure to present to several of Hector Arias’s classes. Mr. Arias has been introducing the importance of sustainability by providing his students 
with hands on experience. Along with other community groups, these students had participated in the Tijuana River Project. They took samples of river water, picked up 6 tons of trash and wrote their congressmen in order to confront the issues at large.
The next stop was eye opening. The school was Herbert Hoover High and the class 
was Business Environment. These high school students were focusing on career placement and preparing for senior internships, as opposed to continuing education. Their teacher, Maria Contreras, invited us to present, not because their school was “green” friendly, or because they were proud of their compost bin, but rather because she felt that no matter 
one’s economic background, ethnicity, or even business interest, that providing children with a broad perspective and showing them the vast opportunity that exists, they will one day be great contributors to their surrounding communities.
Thus far we had been on the road for 6 weeks and had yet to meet our teammates so there wasn’t any time better than the present! Thanks to Jen, Kyle and I had a place to lay our heads for another night. We arrived to open arms as Jen welcomed us and 
we settled in for the night. The next evening Jen cooked up a feast for the crew and one by one everyone arrived…everyone but our fearless leader that is! Over homemade pizza, hummus and other goodies, Jen, Laura, Rebecca, Nicholas, Kyle and I began sharing our stories of how we came to be fans of Green Living Project. Three cheers for a team of passionate, dedicated and fun loving people!
Good to have friends in small places, that’s how the saying goes, right? Yet again we needed a place to crash and our friends, the Darton’s, needed some 
help moving in. We spent the weekend in L.A. with them, ate a delicious friendsgiving dinner and admired the life of a struggling musician and his bona fide nurse/artist wife.
The next week Laura came through once again as the team machine, and rounded up a few presentations at the University of Redlands. We presented to an Environmental Studies class and the SEA campus group. Redlands has integrated sustainability into the university’s curriculum,
which is demonstrated through their energy center reducing the campus’ carbon footprint by nearly 30% and through other projects such as developing a community farmers market.
Our adventures continued, just before we headed north we stopped to see a good friend at FOX Studios and got a personal tour. Way to go FOX for supplying 
compostable plastics in your cafeteria! As we traveled up the coast we stopped in Santa Cruz, camped in Big Sur, admired the elephant seals and sea otters, and hit up a lighthouse hostel!
The last stop in CA, but certainly not least, was at Laguna High School outside of Sacramento. Eric Johnson and his students undoubtedly win the award for outstanding achievement when
it comes to implementing, teaching and learning sustainable practices through science! Through GETA (Green Energy Technology Academy), students study the technology of renewable energy. We were fortunate to sneak a peak at some of their projects like building portable solar power stations, wind turbines and turning algae into electricity!!! If that’s not enough, the students also participated in a 
drive, raising money by avoiding buying bottled water, and instead donating the money in order to build a well for students in Kenya. Laguna High is the perfect example of how we all can think globally and act locally!
Arizona
February 22, 2010
Although there was only one stop to make in 
Phoenix, it was well worth the drive!
On November 12th we visited Jennifer Cole’s history class at Desert Edge High School. The students were well prepared having learned about sustainability because of their new building, which will be the first school in AZ that is LEED certified and uses solar panels to conserve energy. Nothin’ like taking advantage of your natural environment!
That night Kyle’s cousin, Weston, was nice enough to put us up for a night and even treat us to yummy Ethiopian food.
CRMS
December 17, 2009
About half way between
Salt Lake and Carbondale, our first destination at the Carbondale Rocky Mountain School, we stopped to fill up and noticed that our just purchased used vehicle, was smoking and emitting a horrible smell. Having just inspected the car and repaired some questionable areas we were sure this was a fluke. The car cooled down and we proceeded. Not long after we stopped again. The car was over heating. A mechanic was not able to find anything wrong but mentioned that there was mysteriously oil and coolant 
covering the entire belly of the car. We were told to replace a cap and be on our way.
In the nick of time, sun setting, cold nearing and clock ticking, we met with Linda waving us into the parking lot at CRMS. We couldn’t have arrived on a better evening to join the school. They were holding their annual “Garden Dinner,” serving the entire school, staff and parents with a delicious meal all made from their hard working hands!
The Trailhead
December 17, 2009
As you may have 
suspected, the car needed a little help. The next day as it was being repaired our rental car got us through the aspens, over Independence Pass and straight through to the Trailhead.
Keith, Evelyn, and their precious, furry friend, Prana, were there waiting with welcoming arms. Since taking over ownership of this small, local outdoor retail shop, The Trailhead, five years ago, 
Keith and Evelyn have been heavily involved not only in spreading the word about outdoor activity, including their famous 54 14,000 ft. peaks, but also making sure that the town and wilderness area of Buena Vista continue their traditions of living sustainably.
Having learned of our recent car trouble,
long drive back into town and time restraints, Keith and Evelyn opened up their home to us as well. That evening we stayed up chatting and they recommended that we check out an area of town that had beautiful terrain and a new walkable, sustainable community. Kyle and I were psyched to check out the world-renowned kayaking area and enjoyed an early morning walk along the Arkansas River. As things would happen in a small town, we ran into Dustin and Katie, founders of South Main, the new development we heard being spoken so highly of. Whether you’re looking for a place to settle down or a great vacation spot, check out 
this innovative, sustainable development at www.southmainco.com.
To say the least, Buena Vista is a leader in sustainability, outdoor adventure and lasting friendships!
Sierra Designs
December 17, 2009
Who knew?! Snow 
in October! Colorado had definitely surprised us, but we couldn’t have imagined ski resorts would be opening before Halloween! Kyle was naturally a little desirous to hit the slopes 
Thankfully Sierra Designs lent us a hand. We were greeted by Sue Edmiston’s warm smile and immediately were given the tour; Design, Women’s apparel, even the repair 
shop let us take a peek. After they showed us their creative process, we showed them what GLP is all about. Of course being the outdoor enthusiasts that they are, they had more challenging questions than the teenagers we were used to presenting to, but at the end of the day we were all happy to be working together to promote sustainability
initiatives, and Kyle and I were happy to know that we would stay warm in our down sleeping bags in the cold nights to come!
New Mexico
December 17, 2009
In Santa Fe, NM, if the 
city building regulations are not enough of a reminder of living in an environmentally friendly community, then its’ community members are there to set the example. We stared the week arriving at The Wildlife Center in Espanola, pronounced Es-pan-ola, not to be confused with the Spanish pronunciation Beginning their own education program this year, the Wildlife Center works to promote wildlife conservation.
Just down the road in Santa Fe, we hit the Travel Bug, a local coffee and travel bookstore. Of course it wouldn’t be our style to arrive without difficulty. After our GPS routed us to the old address, we arrived as the clock struck 5pm. Knowing our luck, we had heard that NM time was a bit slower than others, but not this night! Everyone was early and already listening to a backup video in the off-chance we didn’t show. Luckily the audience was just happy we were there and with plenty of participation and interest they remained captivated for our presentation. The funny thing about Santa Fe was that we continued to run into audience members throughout our stay. We bumped into each other while biking and site seeing, proving this is a community that walks the walk and talks the talk.
While we were there, 
our awesome host, and old childhood friend, Piper, treated us to her very own BackroadPizza. With our bellies full we headed toward Las Vegas, New Mexico that is. Or so we thought…
As we got off the highway we drove by the overpass and ran into a toll booth looking barricade with the word “MEXICO” across the top. I have to admit that we were stumped for a second, and then saw the “movie set” sign!
That night we met Ben at Highlands University and were honored to present in their beautiful historic theatre. Ben, along with other students at the university are busy working to spread the word of sustainability through their many campus groups, movie nights, and green week every spring. Highlands was a great venue and surrounded by a small community with a hometown feel.
After camping at the Storrie Lake State Park and warming up in the local, natural, and free hot springs, we were on the road again…
Navajo Preparatory School
December 17, 2009
Getting out of the cold, 
or so we thought, we hit Great Sand Dunes National Park on our way to New Mexico. Passing large solar fields on the road reminded us of the enormous potential of wind and solar energy and are grateful that we are on a tour promoting sustainability.
By the time we got to the Navajo Preparatory School in Farmington, NM we were not surprised that not only 
had we brought the snow with us, the amount of which they hadn’t seen in over a decade, but their electricity had gone out as well! Not to worry we thought, we’ll wait. In the meantime we got a great tour of the school from several Navajo students. Kevin Keeley, the science teacher who invited us, had been busy. He helped in starting several green initiatives including “The Energizers,” a student group
focused on sustainability. During our tour we saw their greenhouse, garden, grow boxes and were introduced to their newest building on campus which is LEED certified. Helping these Navajo children make a connection between their Navajo backgrounds and their futures, “Keeley” as he is affectionately referred to, consistently ties sustainability lessons to the surrounding reservations and the present politics involving local coal plants. Hearing the kids talk about their ancestry, their current education
and walking through the schools’ traditional Navajo Hogan, really resonated with us; whether it is around the globe or in our daily lives, sustainability is not a new concept, but rather an idea, capturing the essence of life and to preserve that for generations to come.
Gearing Up
December 17, 2009
As you can imagine 
anyone traveling across country, or at least the western region of the United States covering 7 states, over 5,000 miles and thousands of people, we had a long journey ahead of us!
After having packed up our goods and having put them in storage, letting go of most of our material possessions, and holding back the tears as we bid our awesome, little Boston Terrier, Luna, farewell we picked up our Subaru and started working, hitting three schools in the first week throughout the Salt Lake area. Kyle and I felt confident we were prepared for the journey ahead having already presented to120 audience 
members from ages 11-18, geared up from our trusty Keen, Gregory and Timberland sponsors, and best wishes from family and friends, our challenges were behind us, only the open road and adventure on the horizon!
Reading this you may be all the wiser and can foresee our near future…Dun, dun, dun…
The day before we hit the road our computer crashed… the computer that held all of our newly updated programs for our presentation. After staying up all night trying to troubleshoot, Kyle found a specialty store that would reboot it first thing in the morning. Without a second to spare, we hit the road in the early morning.