Engage Your Community

The process of analyzing and interpreting the local landscape presents tremendous opportunities for engaging a variety of individuals and organizations in the community. Because human beings–no matter what their age or background–have an inherent interest in their surroundings, there is little problem finding a motivated audience of learners. One of the strengths of place-based education, however, is that the learning need not be passive or one-way. There are ample opportunities for community members, be they elementary school students or town elders, to actively participate in discovering and sharing information about the landscape. In place-based education, the boundary between teacher and student can become quite blurry. Everyone learns and everyone has something to share, and information is flowing in all directions. Place-based education also has the potential to transcend ownership boundaries and political differences, because the focus is on celebrating the landscape as our common ground.

We do not advocate for a specific future landscape condition; rather we seek to interpret the present town landscape from an integrative perspective that weaves together geological, historical, and ecological themes. We attempt to tell the story of how the landscape has unfolded through time, with an emphasis on the inter-relationships between natural and cultural history.

We feel strongly that such an integrated and inclusive educational effort fosters both a sense of community and a sense of place – a potent combination that leads to a more informed and creative town planning process. By providing a forum for exploring the cultural and ecological landscape values held in common by the community, the stage is set for engaging the community in visioning efforts that transcend the divisive nature of many land-use debates and build toward a planning process that promote consensus and informed decisions. It builds a bridge that connects a place's past and present to a sustainable future.