sustainability program structure and approach
Goal: teach participants how to design and execute a sustainable community-based project
Approach: joint program between local residents and visitors. Each group will: 1. Participate in an ongoing project and science lessons 2. Measure and survey impact of project 3. Perform needs assessments to identify problems (and their causes) 4. Brainstorm ideas for solutions to one of the identified needs/problems 5. Evaluate project options in the community and identify best one 6. Design education program (including key lesson plans) and hands-on project; estimate project cost, plan execution, establish metrics of project impact and success. Future groups and local teams will execute approved projects. | 
|
March 2012: drinking water for portobelo, panama
Results: Local and visiting participants will be paired together to take part in project design from start to finish. While getting experience working on an existing project, each group will develop a new community-focused project and an education program to increase community awareness. The communities receive a direct benefit. They will identify the most important problems and participate in solving them. Local workers will be hired to work on the project using program tuition and external grants. The end result is communities with sustainable projects they own and participants who gain valuable experience in sustainable global development.
Program fee: $1,200
The price of the program includes all lodging, meals, local transportation, activities, and project materials. Participants are required to provide their own flights to/from Panama City, Panama (airport code PTY) as well as insurance for the duration of the trip. A nonrefundable deposit of $200 is required to confirm a spot.
Participants are strongly encouraged to fundraise toward the cost of the program. Future Scientist will provide a page for online contributions once a deposit is received.
Participants must be at least 18 years old; at least a basic level of conversational Spanish skills is a plus.
