Sustainability Workshops
Shadowcliff's Workshops are unique. No where else can an individual or organization personally expereince the operating principles of the natural world free of day to day pressures, explore the impact of our individual and collective choices, and leave with a strategic plan for sustainable change…all at an affordable price. Workshop participants come for the education, the collaboration, the planning...but they leave inspired for the journey, ready to act and prepared to make a difference.
These workshops are about the next steps. They are strategic planning experiences as we learn together to make better decisions as individuals and organizations. Sustainability is NOT about the environment, it is about making decisions that are good for people, the economy and the environment. Shadowcliff workshops are about change. We incorporate a fresh approach to systems thinking as well as the behavior research reflected in such writings as Switch, Nudge, and Fostering Sustainable Behavior.
Sustainability is about a systems-wide set of thought processes that include:
- Skill in connecting economic, social and environmental “dots” that impact business, community and government
- A trained eye in uncovering downstream, and upstream “unintended consequences”
- A knowledge of what has worked and failed in previous implementations
- An in depth understanding of the design principles that have sustained Nature and natural systems for billions of years
History
Shadowcliff has led sustainability workshops for nine years – as long as virtually any other organization. Depending on attendees’ needs, these workshops have focused on sustainability education, action-planning , sustainable building design, air quality issues, by-product synergy, climate action plans for municipalities and counties, energy efficiency and sustainable sanctuaries. Shadowcliff has hosted these workshops for corporations, utilities, regional planning commissions, city governments, municipal climate action task forces, non-profits, faith-based organizations and other entities. We have even provided leadership training for the Environmental Protection Agency!
Faculty
Shadowcliff’s core staff and invited faculty are experts in sustainability education, planning and implementation. They each have on-the-ground experience with corporations, communities, non profit groups and governmental agencies. They are skillful facilitators who combine deep reservoirs of sustainability content with extensive experience in assisting groups to design and create change. Beyond skills and expereince, they each have a passion for this important work!
Setting
Shadowcliff’s setting is both unique and inspiring. The western range of the Rocky Mountains provides the perfect environment for experiencing the natural world; better understanding the impact of our individual and collective choices; and for setting a course of action that leads to sustainable implementations. Seldom do we have the opportunity to learn in a collaborative setting that models nature’s principles and at the same time enjoy and expereince the beauty of the natural world up close and personal. Come for the work and the education, but leave informed, inspired and ready to create change.
Approach
At heart, Shadowcliff workshops are about change that leads to sustainable behaviors rather than just less-bad actions. Through collaboration with attending organizations, Shadowcliff designs and delivers workshops around each organizations’ critical challenges, including:
- · How do we reduce or change our energy and water use, transportation impacts, purchasing decisions and supply chains?
- · How do we educate our communities, our employees and constituents?
- · How do optimize our efforts to reduce our costs by intentionally addressing overlapping social, economic and environmental issues?
- · How do we apply Nature’s design principles to our situation and, in the process, solve multiple problems, approach zero waste and/or increase efficiency?
These questions do not lend themselves to boilerplate responses. They cry for collaboration and often for outside leadership. They require the personal involvement of our people, the staff of municipalities, the employees of our companies, the membership of our faith communities and the teachers, students and administrators of our schools, as well as the experience of others who may be a few years ahead of us on the journey toward sustainability.
In response to these questions, we incorporate a fresh Triple Bottom Line approach to systems thinking, as well as a focus on human behavior research reflected in such writings as Switch, Nudge, and Fostering Sustainable Behavior..
New in 2011!
Shadowcliff is expanding the reach of its sustainability workshops. We have listened to local governments and businesses asking for 1) ongoing support in the implementation of their strategic planning after they leave Shadowcliff, and 2) the possibility of "distance training" on site in their home communities or organizations.
Ongoing Implementation Support
It is now possible to include implementation support with the action planning that has always been a part of our Shadowcliff workshops. Sustainability education, strategic and action planning, measurement....and now implementation support all in one package. Participate in a Shadowcliff Workshop, expereince the application of triple bottom line approaches to your unique challenges, and enjoy the benefit of Shadowcliff Faculty working directly with your organization to implement the changes you design.
Distance Training
Shadowcliff’s setting is a critical part of the training and inspiration that attendees receive. There is no way to duplicate the impact of this Shadowcliff expereince. Nevertheless, with the objective of bringing the Shadowcliff expereince closer to you, Shadowcliff faculty members are available for on-sitetrainings. We know that these experiences do not replace the Shadowcliff Workshops, but they will move your organization closer to its sustainability goals.
Call or email Robert J. "Bob" Mann at 970-627-9220 or rjm@shadowcliff.org to design a workshop or create a workshop and implementation support package for your organization.
Some of our workshops are open to individuals, although the focus may be on a specific business, organization or community. Call or e-mail us to learn which workshops are open to individuals.
2012 Sustainability Series Workshop Dates
Call or email to secure a date for your organization.
Strategic planning and systems based approaches to a triple bottom line applying nature's designs and sustainability principles.