Students who visit the Brother Brennan Centre learn about Climate Change. A focus for this is provided by two wind-turbines, generously funded through Newfoundland’s Green Fund. Teaching staff at the Brother Brennan Centre encourage students to make choices that will reduce the amount of greenhouse gases they are responsible for causing. We want to provide a motivation for students to reduce their carbon footprint when they return to school and home. Since many students express a wish to return to the Centre, we think this might be a good prize. So, thanks to funds raised from the ‘Much Ado About’ workshops the Brother Brennan Centre is able to offer a prize of a one night/one day all inclusive visit to the Centre for a class or school club (maximum one bus load). The winning class must show themselves to be the best ‘green’ class or club in the Eastern School District.
The competition is open to any class or school club in grades 5 to 12 from the Eastern School District. The Johnson Geo Centre is also supporting this venture and offering a second prize of half day passes for a class to visit the CEO Centre. Registration is necessary before January 15, 2011. For a registration form and details of the competition click here.
Plans are already underway for Much Ado About workshops in 2011. Hopefully Much Ado About Painting #4 will happen and we are hoping to try something new with Much Ado About Fly-fishing and fly-tying. There is demand for a craft retreat (a whole week-end devoted to doing your favourite craft with the opportunity to learn a new one or two). Lastly we hope to partner with the Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Educators to offer a hands-on workshop on teaching children in the outdoors. Keep checking the events page for dates.
In 2010 The Friends of the Brother Brennan Centre hosted two successful Much Ado About … workshops. In June artist Barbara Pratt led a group of enthusiastic people to create beautiful oil paintings of flowers. In September lichen expert Pac Pitcher enlightened a keen bunch of people about the mysteries of lichens and how to identify them. Many thanks to Barbara and Mac for supporting the Brother Brennan Centre with their talents, time and enthusiasm.
In the fall of 2010 the Conservation Corps of Newfoundland and Labrador (CCNL), with funding from Chevron Canada Limited, awarded the Environmental Education Commission funding for a graduate intern to help teach visiting students. Kelly Menchions, a geography graduate, was hired. Having an extra person to teach means a better experience for all. Students can get closer to see and touch the plants and critters that they are being shown and they can ask more questions. Thank-you to CCNL and Chevron Canada Limited and welcome to Kelly.
Ross Traverse of Traverse Gardens and frequent CBC radio garden advisor visited the Brother Brennan Centre to have a good look around and give some suggestions for landscaping the Brother Brennan Centre with native plants. He also gave us some ideas for sustainable woodlot management. We hope to begin to put some of his ideas into action in 2010. We’d like to thank Ross for his time and enthusiasm.
Thanks to Newfoundland’s Green Fund, during the summer of 2009, the Environmental Education Commission was able to install two wind turbines at the Brother Brennan Centre. Now almost all of the electricity needed at the Centre is produced by these turbines which are located on a hill about 100 meters from the main buildings. We are proud to have this example of clean energy to show students and we use it as a focus to teach them about climate change and actions that can help reduce production of greenhouse gases. To learn more about Climate Change go to “Stuff for Students page”.
The secluded setting of the Brother Brennan Centre provides a wonderful and tranquil venue for a variety of nature and artistic workshops. To date the Friends of the Centre have helped organize four events.
If you or your organization wants to host a workshop and needs a venue please consider the Environmental Education Centre. Meals and accommodation can be provided as required. For more information on booking the centre see the Booking & Renting tab. Our staff will be more than happy to assist you in planning your event.