We’re excited to offer this new workshop series for Sonoma County area educators. Energize your classrooms and empower your students with solar energy activities and projects. As we move toward a clean energy future, it’s important to explore the possibilities through hands-on and project-based activities. Because of its role as the primary energy source on Earth, the Sun’s energy is central to these explorations. Workshops will be held in Sebastopol, at the Solar Schoolhouse workshop/live space that is a ZNE (Zero Net Energy) home powered primarily by the sun.
[FLIER PDF]
[update feb.10 2017 – we’ve SOLD OUT the Fountain and Oven workshops. there are still some spaces available at the Solar Charger workshop on March 8th (regiser below). Please let us know your interests via the form at the bottom of this page so we can schedule additional workshop opportunities going forward. Also consider that we have Scholarships available for Sonoma County educator to attend the Summer Institute for Educators (July 23-28th). Please also sign up for additional notices via our Class Notes newsletter]
Educators attending these workshops will receive the Solar Schoolhouse ‘Your Solar Home’ curriculum, classroom solar cell sets, material for specific solar projects, and the training to implement lessons in your own classroom. We’ll also be available to consult and help set up a project at your own school or classroom.
Thanks to our generous sponsors, we’re able to offer these workshops and classroom materials FREE to educators, though Registration is required due to limited space. Follow the link below to register for the workshop or workshops of your choice.
Location: Solar Schoolhouse, 7966 Mill Station Rd. Sebastopol, CA (look for a 2 story green colored house)
Dates: Wednesday afternoons(see specific dates below). Time: 4-7pm (We’ll provide some (solar cooked when possible) eats to get through feeding time.)
Cost: FREE, for Educators. When registering for specific workshops via the links below, we’re asking for a $10 reg fee per workshop, due to limited space at the workshops. This will be refunded when showing up for the workshop. ‘Educators’ are those that will take this information and share with others in an organized setting. eg. k12 teachers, outdoor education naturalists, boy or girl scout leaders.
Contact: info@rahus.org or 707-829-3154
Revised Spr2017 Sonoma County Workshop Series
| Date | Topic | Register |
|---|---|---|
Feb. 22. 4-7pm | Solar fountains for School Gardens (ES, MS, HS). You'll receive the hardware (solar panel + pump), and design strategies for your class to design and build a solar fountain for your school garden. This workshop focuses on designing fountains in a permanent setting.  | SOLD OUT. PLEASE SHARE YOUR INTEREST VIA THE FORM BELOW FOR FUTURE WORKSHOPS. |
March 8. 4-7pm | Build a Solar Charging Station (MS, HS). Participants will learn how to engage their own classes in designing and building a solar cell phone charging station, that can also provide lighting for emergencies. Hardware for one charging station, will be provided to each participating school.  | SOLD OUT. PLEASE SHARE YOUR INTEREST VIA THE FORM BELOW FOR FUTURE WORKSHOPS. |
March 29. 4-7pm | Build a Solar L’Oven (MS, HS). We'll assemble these family sized solar ovens (that reach 250F with one reflector), which you can then incorporate into additional solar cooking explorations with your own class. Ideal if sign up with a partner (or we'll have an extra hand available to help).  | SOLD OUT. PLEASE SHARE YOUR INTEREST VIA THE FORM BELOW FOR FUTURE WORKSHOPS. |
Most solar explorations can be adjusted to the grade level, though some lend themselves to upper grades.
ES=Elementary School, MS=Middle School, HS=High School
Instructor: Tor Allen, Founder and Director of The Rahus Institute and Solar Schoolhouse Program.
Since 2000, the Solar Schoolhouse Program has hosted over 1000 educators in professional development workshops, providing curriculum and project materials for exploring solar energy in a k12 setting.
Sponsored by The Rahus Institute, Sonoma Clean Power, Solar Schoolhouse, Dean Witter Foundation, Transition Sebastopol Energy Group