About Vermont: The Green Mountain State, home of the nation’s first “bottle bill”, highway billboard restrictions, and comprehensive land development law, has long taken a leadership role in designing, implementing, and refining innovative approaches to environmental issues. “Think Globally, Act Locally” is a Vermont tradition. In recent years, as national discussion has focused on small-scale sustainable agriculture and alternative energy options, Vermont has maintained its position at the forefront of innovation. Traditional farmers have invested in organic methods, entrepreneurs have explored new energy sources, and policy makers have devised governmental solutions. Students in this program, through on-site visits, extensive discussions, and hands-on activities, take full advantage of Putney Student Travel’s network of friends throughout Vermont. During the first week of the program, the group is based in rural Southern Vermont. For the second week, they move to downtown Burlington, the state’s largest city. Accommodations are simple but comfortable, and the group prepares most of its own meals. While students spend much of the day in activities related to the issue focus, there is time to enjoy summer in Vermont by taking a swim, a hike, or a bike ride, or attending a performance in Burlington’s vibrant downtown.

Small Scale, Sustainable Agriculture: Through site visits, discussions, and hands-on activities, learn how vegetable, fruit, dairy, and livestock farmers are rethinking growing techniques to be more environmentally friendly and to appeal to the expanding market for locallysourced products. Work with farmers, artisan bakers, cheese-makers, and organic vegetable farmers as they prepare for a weekly farmer’s market, and help them on market day. Learn how Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs) and city gardens are making fresh, local produce available to people living in developed areas. Meet the entrepreneurs behind the Center for an Agricultural Economy whose innovations in small-scale farming have brought the tiny village of Hardwick to national attention. Enjoy a localvore dinner at a small restaurant, and lend a hand in planning and cooking a meal of local products for the group.

The Alternative Energy: Vermont’s electrical energy is produced by facilities ranging from single-home solar arrays to the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. Through site visits and extensive discussions, learn from local experts about state of the art developments in solar electric and hot water, small-scale hydro, wind power, and “cow power” bio fuel. Visit Vermont Yankee and talk with engineers about safety and spent-fuel disposal. Hike to a ridgeline for a guided visit of a wind farm. Since conservation is the most environmentally friendly power ‘source’, visit high-tech LEED buildings, and learn about the much replicated Efficiency Vermont program. Meet with politicians and advocacy groups to discuss efforts to overcome our addiction to fossil fuels, and explore how change can be implemented efficiently and fairly.

Final Presentation: Throughout the program students work on preparation of a final presentation which summarizes their experiences and outlines ways in which they can take leadership roles in future green initiatives. On the final Saturday of the program, families are invited to come to Burlington to attend the Farmer’s Market in the morning, the group presentation in the afternoon, and a dinner prepared by the group in the evening. The program ends on Sunday.

Note that this program, in contrast to all of the other Global Awareness in Action Programs, is two weeks long, and ends in Burlington, Vermont.