DISCUSSION COURSES
CEI/NWEI discussion courses provide an enjoyable, supportive setting in which to examine personal values and habits, engage in stimulating discussion, and make personal changes if desired. Since 1997, over a thousand individuals and hundreds of organizations have been involved in CEI courses and thousands have been involved in the U.S. through the North West Earth Institute and its U.S. affiliates.
Course process / Start a Course / Course Flyers (PDF)
- Menu for the Future, a six-session discussion guide exploring the connection between food and sustainability.
- Global Warming: Changing CO2urse, a four session course exploring the history and science of global warming, personal values and habits as they relate to climate change, and personal actions to curb the effects of global warming.
- Voluntary Simplicity, an eight-session course addressing the distractions of modern society that keep us from caring for ourselves, our relationships, and our environment.
- Choices for Sustainable Living, a nine-session course exploring the meaning of sustainable living and the ties between lifestyle choices and their impact on the earth.
- Exploring Deep Ecology, a nine-session course addressing core values and how they affect the way we view and treat the earth.
- Discovering a Sense of Place, an eight-session course focusing on knowing and protecting our place.
- Healthy Children - Healthy Planet, a nine-session course that discusses how the pervasive effects of advertising, media, and our consumer culture can influence a child's view of the world.
Course Process
Courses consist of 8 to 12 people who meet weekly for about an hour to discuss readings from a course book. Course books, each about 100 to 150 pages, contain a diverse collection of short essays, articles, and book excerpts organized around weekly themes to create lively discussion. Discussion questions and a suggested meeting format are included as well.
Each meeting consists of two parts: an opening and a facilitated discussion. The first session is led by an experienced earth institute volunteer. Remaining meetings are facilitated by members of the group on a rotating basis. This structured, yet non-didactic format encourages a process which:
- Establishes trust, respect, and a sense of community among group members.
- Allows participants to seek personal clarity without group consensus.
- Creates a supportive environment for personal change.
Start a Course
Course offerings and formats vary a bit in different parts of North America. For more information on how to start a course in your area, choose your region:
- Victoria, B.C.
- Other B.C. Communities
- Outside the West Coast: Canadian National Earth Institute Network
The Canadian Earth Institute supports the commitment of individuals who seek to protect the earth.
389 Atkins Avenue, Victoria, B.C. V9B 3A1 250.727.9163 Email
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