Education

The RITES Project designs and implements education programs focused on teaching communities how to restore and replenish local ecosystems and economies. Since its inception, the RITES Project has taught at over 25 Permaculture Design Certification Courses, most recently coordinating one in Hawai'i.

Permaculture is a science that involves the design of human systems to embody the diversity, stability and resilience of natural ecosystems. The RITES Team has facilitated numerous workshops on Permaculture, bioremediation, natural building and other non-toxic approaches for integrating health and ecology. The RITES Project has also incorporated mentorship and accredited curriculum development as part of its educational work.

The RITES Project performs its educational work in collaboration with the following entities: Solar Living Institute, Esalen Institute, Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, Regenerative Design Institute, Earth Activist Training, Urban Permaculture Guild, Alameda Point Collaborative, San Francisco Botanical Gardens, New College of California, California School of Integral Studies, Northern California Womens Herbal Symposium, Sonoma Mycological Association, Symbiosis Events, Harmony Farm Supply, and many others.

Permaculture Design Courses
The RITES Project Team teaches Permaculture design certification courses globally, and is comprised of highly qualified experts in Permaculture, bioremediation, land stewardship and natural building. (See Staff Qualifications Attached). In addition to teaching lessons as part of other Permaculture courses, the RITES Project team has established a new concept in Permaculture courses, known as The Permaculture First Responder program. The Permaculture First Responder Design Course (PFRDC) is designed to merge all the topics and curriculum of a Permaculture Design course with the format and practical skills of a Wilderness First Responder course. Combined, this format provides valuable training and a diverse skill set to community members, enabling them to respond to technological shifts and natural disasters using the principles of Permaculture design. Established in 2005, the Permaculture First Responder program has educated over 175 participants and is the flagship program of the RITES Project. The next two PFRDC courses being held will be offered in Big Sur, California at Esalen Institute in February 2007 and in Alameda, California at the Alameda Point Collaborative, later in 2007 .For more information on this program and upcoming courses, visit www.urbanpermacultureguild.org/pfr.

The next Permaculture in Paradise course will be held in February 2008 in Jamaica, in conjunction with Wild Roots, in an effort to help the communities of the Blue Mountains protect themselves from the threat of hurricanes and mudslides. The purpose of the course is to teach the local organic coffee growers to develop long-term sustainable practices to control erosion and provide habitat for birds that live in the canopy of their coffee trees. Another benefit of bringing Permaculture to Jamaica is the creation of a more viable economic future for the island, its inhabitants and the coffee industry. The course will certify participants in Permaculture design, CPR, and Wilderness First Aid, with an emphasis on tropical Permaculture and 'design for catastrophe' strategies. For more information on this course, view our DVD flyer and quick-time movie available on the RITES Project website.

Environmentorship
The RITES Project has developed and implemented an environmentorship program to mentor high school seniors working on their senior thesis projects. By mentoring students in the research and development of their field-based projects, the RITES Projects helps students to discover prospective ecologically sound career choices. The RITES Project continues to offer its mentorship services to students through alliances with the Climate Protection Campaign, Carmel High School, Summerfield Waldorf School, Windsor High School among others to provide meaningful environmental education opportunities for high school students. The RITES Project has several requests for mentorship pending. A potential mentee from Windsor High School student, who recently applied to the enviromentorship program, is interested in studying the impacts of constructed wetlands systems on water purification

Stepping Stones Project
The Stepping Stones Project's mission is to create meaningful rites of passage for youth as they transition from childhood towards adulthood. Since its inception in 1999, Stepping Stones Project has been dedicated to helping adolescents and teens forge new connections to themselves, to their communities and to the environment. This year, the RITES Project in conjunction with Stepping Stones Project Regenerative Design Institute and the Institute of Nature Awareness are working to organize an ecology-based program for high school students in the Bay Area. In addition to developing the curriculum, the RITES Project is working towards facilitating the accreditation of this program through the Energy, Resources, and the Environment area of the state funded Regional Occupational Program and Service Learning Programs.

The program incorporates week-long backpacking trips, day-long hikes, workshops and community service projects as part of its educational efforts. The initial phase of this program will begin in January 2007 and last until May of 2007. The subsequent phase will begin in August 2007 and last one year, with ongoing monthly retreats at Commonweal Gardens in Bolinas, California. For additional information on this project, visit www.steppingstonesproject.org.Wilderness Education Center RITES is working towards establishing a Wilderness Education Center that will provide a site for land-based education programs. This center will function as a place for people to connect with nature and learn about ecological restoration. The education programs will cater to people of all ages, with a special emphasis on providing these experiences for at-risk youth and people with special needs. The RITES Project, in conjunction with Stepping Stones Project, Rising Sun Energy Center, School of Lost Borders, Wilderness Reflections, Vision Youthz, Regenerative Design Institute, and Commonweal Gardens are actively fundraising and exploring the possibility of purchasing Full Circle Ranch. This eight acre parcel in Southern Marin County has access to 40,000 acres of nearby state forest and was previously functioning as a school for boys.