Melissa Wrolstad '06  Outreach Coordinator "I create, organize, and facilitate all educational outreach for the team. After graduating I'll attend an entrepreneurial school, then start a business designing sustainable building technology for residential use." Engineering Libertyville, IL

The outreach team is currently in the process of developing programs on sustainability and alternative energy with local area partner schools. They look to build on a successful series of programs that took place last semester (see below), while the teachers whose classes the outreach team visited cannot wait for next semester’s new programs.

The goals of the outreach team are:

• To publicize our efforts so that more schools will participate in our outreach program next semester,
  
• To encourage teachers to make sustainable energy a permanent part of their curriculum,
  
• To spread awareness of sustainable energy not only to students but to schools and parents as well, and
  
• To create a place on the CUSD website where students can go and enjoy learning about our project and fun facts about sustainable energy.

 
Past Outreach
In the spring 2004 semester, the outreach team worked on a solar architecture activity at Dewitt Middle School. In the activity, groups of students built small solar homes while utilizing their new knowledge of solar architecture and landscaping.

The outreach team also spent three days at Boyton Middle School with science teacher Joyce Putnam’s sixth graders. Over these three days, they made a presentation and conducted a discussion activity on passive and active solar concepts.

Finally, the outreach team made a solar energy presentation to Therese Zadi’s first graders at Enfield Elementary School.
 
Contact
It’s been great fun so far and it’s only going to get more exciting from here on out. If you would like to get involved or would like more information about CUSD’s outreach efforts, please contact the outreach coordinator and planner, Melissa Wrolstad (mrw35@cornell.edu).