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Sustainability has been a part of the Boy Scouts of America’s DNA since the Conservation merit badge was introduced in 1911.
In the century-plus since, the BSA, which relies on green spaces for its life-changing experiences, has been a leader in keeping those green spaces around for future generations.
That’s why this week in West Virginia, Scouts, Venturers, volunteers and professionals are meeting with corporate leaders and environmental experts to discuss all things sustainability. The candid, nothing’s-off-limits conversation will reveal best practices, discuss sustainability challenges facing the BSA and explore potential solutions.
But I haven’t told you the best part.
This isn’t some closed-door meeting. Sessions will be streamed live online at greentodeepgreen.org. That means you can participate by watching, chatting and tweeting during the event.
How to be a part of the conversation
Watch
You can watch the Sustainability Summit at this link.
I’ve included the full schedule and six must-see moments below.
Chat
You can chat along while you watch the Sustainability Summit at this link.
Sustainability Summit organizers will be monitoring the chat conversation and fielding questions from those watching remotely.
Tweet
If you’re joining the conversation on Twitter, you’ll want to include the hashtag #SustainableBSA with your tweets.
That will ensure your comments are seen by participants at the event and those watching along at home.
Sustainability Summit organizers will watch for your questions and comments on Twitter, as well, and respond live whenever appropriate.
Watch later
Not free to watch the livestream, um, live? Want to rewatch certain parts with your Scouts, perhaps while teaching Sustainability merit badge? There’s good news. Everything will be available for replay viewing.
When to watch
As you can see in the full livestream schedule at the end of this post, the three-day event is packed full of incredible sessions. Each and every session is worth your time.
But I wanted to point out some of the must-see moments I’ll be tuning in for. They include the release of the BSA’s first-ever Sustainability Report, talks with Eagle Scouts who visited Antarctica and the Ecuadorian Amazon, and a conversation about the ways in which faith and sustainability can coexist.
6 Must-See Moments in the Sustainability Summit Livestream
You won’t want to miss any session, but these six stood out to me. With each one, remember to watch, chat and tweet.
All times are Eastern.
- Release of the BSA’s first-ever Sustainability Report (8:15 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28)
- Talks by NESA World Explorers: Eagle Scout Alex Houston, Antarctic explorer; and Eagle Scout Laurence Gumina, Amazon explorer (8:15 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29)
- A conversation about how faith and sustainability can align, hosted by Rabbi Peter Hyman (11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29)
- “Lunch with a Lunatic Farmer,” with guest speaker Joel Salatin (12 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29)
- Sustainability Awards, where camps, companies and individuals get honored for their work in sustainability (7:45 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29)
Full Schedule of the Sustainability Summit Livestream
All times are Eastern.
Monday, October 27
8 – 9 p.m. Opening remarks: John F. Stewart, BSA Sustainability Director Keynote presentation: John Picard, CEO, John Picard and Associates
Tuesday, October 28
8:15 – 8:45 a.m. Welcome: John F. Stewart, BSA Sustainability Director, Opening remarks: Wayne Brock, BSA Chief Scout Executive
8:45 – 10:15 a.m. Leadership for Sustainability and Change 1: Cynthia Scott, Ph.D., MPH
10:30 – 11:15 a.m. Sustainable Leadership Focus: Tom Easterday, EVP, Subaru
11:15 – 11:45 a.m. Leadership and Vision Interview with Tom Easterday and Hayes Barnard
11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Sustainable Leadership Focus: Hayes Barnard, CRO, SolarCity
Flag ceremony, Pledge of Allegiance, and invocation
Featured speaker: Robert Birkby, outdoorsman and author
2 – 2:50 p.m. Sustainability and Youth Culture, Kathleen Gasperini, SVP, Label Networks
3 – 4:30 p.m. Leadership for Sustainability and Change 2: Cynthia Scott, Ph.D., MPH
Wednesday, October 29
8:15 – 8:45 a.m. NESA World Explorer Alex Houston and Sir Robert Swan
8:45 – 9 a.m. NESA World Explorer Laurence Gumina
9 – 9:30 a.m. Youth Leadership Panel Discussion
9:30 – 10 a.m. Sustainability Leadership in Scouting Roundtable, Hosted by Zach Carson, BSA Sustainability Consultant
10:15 – 11 a.m. Keynote presentation: Creation Care—Serving God and Saving the Planet, Dr. Matthew Sleeth, speaker and author
11 – 11:50 a.m. Caring for the Environment and Growing in Faith Roundtable, Hosted by Rabbi Peter E. Hyman, National Jewish Committee on Scouting
12 – 1:45 p.m. Lunch with a Lunatic Farmer, Featured speaker: Joel Salatin, farmer and author
2 – 2:20 p.m. Leadership and Legacy, Featured speaker: John Lanier, Director, Ray C. Anderson Foundation
2:20 – 2:45 p.m. Sustainable Leadership Focus
3 – 4 p.m. Best Practices in BSA Properties, Brian Glass, BSA Architect; Dave Cornell, BSA Architect; and Zach Carson, BSA Sustainability Consultant
4:15 – 5:15 p.m. BSA Sustainability Long-Range Planning, Scott Harmon, BSA Sustainability Consultant
7:45 – 8:30 p.m. BSA Sustainability Awards
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