BVSD's Vision for Sustainably Literate Graduates
As stewards of the planet, a sustainably literate graduate:
- Recognizes and understands the dynamic interconnections and interdependency of ecological, economic, and social systems.
- Possesses knowledge and skills necessary to critically evaluate the potential positive and negative consequences of personal and collective actions on the natural and human environment.
- Uses this knowledge to make conscious choices and create solutions which support a healthy and vibrant life for present and future generations.
BVSD believes that sustainability should become a fundamental aspect of how it educates students and how district staff members carry out their responsibilities. To this end, the district will strive to integrate sustainability both in curriculum and extra-curricular opportunities for students, as well as staff development and training. The district already has many programs and practices in place that in some form address sustainability in the curriculum. These programs range from the CU Science Discovery program and Eco-Cycle programs to environmental field trips (e.g., Sombrero Marsh), and construction trades classes.
On this page you will find a list of some of the partners offering environmental sustainability programming in our district. The matrix below provides an overview of the topics, age level for which the program is offered and cost of each program. Click on the name of each organization to learn more.
*Please note, program offerings are continually changing. This matrix provides a snapshot of some of the programs available.
The district also maintains education standards that are updated every seven years by topic, offering opportunities to integrate concepts of sustainability.  Click here to view a document with Sustainability connections in the existing BVSD Curriculum (these standards are in the process of being updated to the new state standards). For questions about the science curriculum contact Sam Messier.
Sustainability Education Task Force
In the Spring of 2011, BVSD’s Office of Sustainability and Curriculum and Instruction created a Task Force with the purpose of providing recommendations for integrating sustainability into BVSD curriculum. The formation of this Task Force was a strategy outlined in our Sustainability Management System (SMS). The SMS is supported by BOE policy, and outlines a vision and path for achieving district-wide sustainability.
The Sustainability Education Task Force met four times in early 2011 and was comprised of teachers, BVSD staff and local and state environmental education experts. The efforts of this Task Force were designed to coincide with BVSD's alignment of District standards to the new State standards, beginning in the summer of 2011.
The goals of the task force were the following:
- Address overarching questions: What should a BVSD student know about sustainability by the time they graduate? What should this look like on a K-12 continuum?
- Identify opportunities and discuss options for integrating sustainability into the BVSD curriculum.
- Provide recommendations for updating BVSD Curriculum Essentials Documents to include concepts of sustainability.
- Provide recommendations for more training and resources for staff in concepts of sustainability, while leveraging the expertise of community partners.
Click here to see the results and findings of the task force.
Populations for whom the organization offers programs: "E" - Elementary, "M" - Middle, "H" - High, "T"- Teachers
$ = costs money
$* = costs
money
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| Recycling |
E, H |
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E, M |
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H |
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| Zero Waste |
H |
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H |
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Renewable
Energy |
E |
E, M |
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H |
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Water
Conservation
/Pollution |
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E
(4-5) |
E, M |
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E, M, H |
E, M
(4-5) |
H |
E, H |
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E, H |
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| Weather |
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E, H |
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E, H |
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E, H |
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Household
Toxins |
E, H |
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| Pollution |
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E, M |
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E, M, H |
E, M
(4-5) |
H |
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| Rainforests |
E, H |
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Forest
Protection |
E, M |
E, M |
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E, M |
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H |
E, H |
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E, H |
E, M |
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E, H |
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| Composting |
E, M |
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E, M |
E |
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Resource
Conservation |
E, H |
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E, M |
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E, M, H |
E, M
(4-5) |
H |
E, H |
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E, H |
E, M |
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E, H |
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| Litter |
E |
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H |
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Ecosystems/
Ecology |
E |
E, M |
E
(4-5) |
E, M |
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H |
E, H |
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E, H |
E, M |
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E, H |
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Population
Growth |
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E, M |
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Organic
Farming/
Gardening |
E |
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E, M |
E |
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H |
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Colorado
Ecology
(plants/
animals) |
E |
E, M |
E
(4-5) |
E, M |
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H |
E, H |
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E, H |
E, M |
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E, H |
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Climate
Change |
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E, M |
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H |
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M, H |
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E, H |
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Wetland
Ecology |
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E, M |
E
(4-5) |
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E, H |
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E, H |
E, M |
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E, H |
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Natural
History |
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E, M |
E
(4-5) |
E, M |
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H |
E, H |
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E, H |
E, M |
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E, H |
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| Geology |
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E, H |
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E, H |
E, M |
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E, H |
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| Sustainability |
M, H |
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E |
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H |
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| Astronomy |
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H |
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E, H |
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Winter
Ecology |
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H |
E, H |
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E, H |
E, M |
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E, H |
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Outdoor
Education |
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E, M |
E
(4-5) |
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H |
E, H |
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E, H |
E, M |
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E, H |
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Support
Resources
Available |
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E, H,
T |
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E, H,
T | |
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