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The Green Exchange Newsletter of Green Across the Pacific, Inc., November 2013 Green Across the Pacific seeks to improve cultural and environmental awareness and cooperation around the world To this end, Green Across the Pacific conducts exchange programs that function to establish an international community of learners 2013 in Review “Most of all, I enjoyed forging a friendship through card games, bike rides and long bilingual conversations. This is a week that I will always remember” (Aaron Wagener). Visitors don’t want to leave. Students from Burlington and Essex high Schools were not ready to leave after a week in Tottori, Japan, last April, and recent visitors from Tottori were not ready to leave after one week of home stays, field activities and school visits in Vermont. “I miss you too. I want to [go] back to Vermont!” (Yuko Ueta). After four years hosting delegations from Tottori, Japan, this has been the first year of reciprocal exchange between Vermont and Tottori. Reciprocity has an exponential impact on the power of exchange experiences. The fun that is had and the enduring friendships formed in the context of serious consideration of our natural resource and environmental challenges will contribute to future peace and reasonable prosperity. While students respond to and bond with each other quickly, the value of exposure to professionals at field sites does not go unnoticed. Local students and chaperones, as well as visitors, learn more about their home region during an exchange. (continued on p.2)
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Page 1: The Green Exchange - Green Across the Worldgatp.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/2013-NewsletterWeb.pdf · The Green Exchange Newsletter of Green Across the Pacific, Inc., November

The Green Exchange

Newsletter of Green Across the Pacific, Inc., November 2013

• Green Across the Pacific seeks to improve cultural and environmental awareness andcooperation around the world

• To this end, Green Across the Pacific conducts exchange programs that function toestablish an international community of learners

2013 in Review

“Most of all, I enjoyed forging afriendship through card games, bike rides andlong bilingual conversations. This is a weekthat I will always remember” (AaronWagener). Visitors don’t want to leave.Students from Burlington and Essex highSchools were not ready to leave after a week inTottori, Japan, last April, and recent visitorsfrom Tottori were not ready to leave after oneweek of home stays, field activities and schoolvisits in Vermont. “I miss you too. I want to[go] back to Vermont!” (Yuko Ueta).

After four years hosting delegationsfrom Tottori, Japan, this has been the first year

of reciprocal exchange between Vermont andTottori. Reciprocity has an exponential impacton the power of exchange experiences. Thefun that is had and the enduring friendshipsformed in the context of serious considerationof our natural resource and environmentalchallenges will contribute to future peace andreasonable prosperity. While students respondto and bond with each other quickly, the valueof exposure to professionals at field sites doesnot go unnoticed. Local students andchaperones, as well as visitors, learn moreabout their home region during an exchange.

(continued on p.2)

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In addition to our success moving theTottori-Vermont exchange program forward,we have made progress on several other fronts.

We learned a lot through our firstvirtual exchange between Burlington HighSchool (BHS), Vermont, and SherublingHigher Secondary School, Bhutan, late lastyear. Green Across the Pacific (GATP) hasbeen working with the Center for InternationalVirtual Schooling (C4IVS) and BHS to makemodifications and improvements in preparationfor a second round of virtual exchange earlynext year.

GATP has also dedicated time andenergy to strengthening our growingrelationship with the University of Vermont(UVM). We worked toward establishing ourSouth China based summer program as anenrichment course for secondary studentsthrough Continuing Education and theRubenstein School of Environment andNatural Resources (RSENR). We are now ableto offer Natural Resources university credit forboth our domestic and foreign summerprograms. Additionally, we agreed to a jointstatement with RSENR that may be found onpage 3 of this Newsletter.

With hard work on the part of Boardmember Meagan Brown, we have moved ourweb site to a new platform that includessignificant social networking capabilities forour students, parents, staff and others. The siteis still being built and we encourage you tolook at it and let us know what suggestions youhave. Please register and create a profile sothat you can join the fun and stay connectedwith GATP.

From our Participants

“Wow! Bhutan sounds so amazing….I love that you guys have a forestry day.

We have what we call a green up day, or 'Earthday' where we are supposed to go out andclean, but in America people are so obsessedwith fast foods and television shows andthemselves that not many people do it…

I think the way of life in Bhutan shouldbe thought of in every country, then maybe theworld would be somewhat peaceful. I think,from what you all say about your country andlooking at the pictures you all post, I amsomewhat in love with Bhutan. Romanticized Iknow, but it all just seems so wonderful. I'mglad there is some hope of happiness left in theworld.”

Asynchronous communication, Burlington HighSchool student, Vermont

“In Tottori, I was amazed by thefriendliness and hospitality of everyone wemet. This especially shone through during ourvisits to the schools. At each one, we weretreated with kindness and enthusiasm. AtTottori Nishi High School, after participatingin an English class I was guided around theschool by three wonderful students. We sawKendo and Kyudo practice and then went tothe library, where we found a corner and reada book in both Japanese and English. It wasfun to see both the differences and similaritiesbetween American and Japanese schools.

I also loved the gardens everywhere. Ithink that the integration of agriculture withevery day life in Tottori is a great model forVermont.”

Aaron Wagener, Burlington, Vermont

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!It was my first time to visit US. Ilearned many new things.

I'm interested in education. So it wasinteresting to go to local high school and visituniversities. There were many differencesbetween American school and Japanese one. Itwas surprising.! I was fascinated theatmosphere of American school.

I also enjoyed Keeping Track. It wasmy first time to go hiking. I realized that howwonderful nature was.

My best memory is home stay. Myhome stay was fantastic. For me, everythingwas new. I experienced great Americanculture a lot.

My host family was very kind.!Thanksto them,!I enjoyed everything. Thank you verymuch.

Through this program, I love US moreand more. I want to visit again. I loveVermont!

Yuko UetaTottori Nishi High School

Tottori, Japan

Looking Forward to 2014

GATP is excited about three programinitiatives coming up in 2014.

First, interested American andCanadian students may apply for our summer2014 Environmental Leadership Exchangeprogram at the University of Vermont. Wewill be accepting motivated American andCanadian students with an abiding interest inEnvironment, Asian Culture, Asian Language,Economics, International Relations, FieldScience, or Natural Resource Management.Application materials may be found online atwww.gatp.org. We will begin reviewingapplications on February 1st, 2014.

You can help: Please considernominating a student for our program. Anomination form is available on our web site,www.gatp.org.

Second, GATP is looking forward toworking with C4IVS on a second round ofvirtual exchange between science classes atBurlington High School, Vermont, andSherubling higher Secondary School, Bhutan,during the spring semester.

Last, we will enjoy ten days in Japan inApril with students from Burlington and EssexHigh Schools, Vermont. These same schoolswill host a reciprocal visit in October.

Joint StatementRSENR at UVM & GATP

The Rubenstein School of Environment &Natural Resources at the University ofVermont and Green Across the Pacific,Inc. share a dedication to Life-longLearning for responsible Civic and Socialengagement. Our Students developLeadership Skills for a Sustainable,Regenerative and Peaceful Future,grounded in the Natural and SocialSciences, Environmental Justice,In terdisc ip l inary and Cul turalCompetence, and a capacity for Designand Problem Solving in the context ofComplex Systems.

Learn more about RSENR atwww.uvm.edu/rsenr

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Scholarships

In addition to need based scholarshipfunds built in to budgeting for our summerprogram, GATP offers the followingscholarship funds:

Contact Us

Green Across the Pacific, Inc.1594 North Orwell Road

Shoreham, Vermont [email protected]

GATP Wish List for new office space:

• Small Conference Table (+/-3’x6’)• Six Chairs to go with table• Side Board for coffee etc.• Mini Refrigerator• File cabinets• Shelving

Frances R. Borders Scholarship: toprovide assistance to a student with aclear and abiding interest in exploringthe boundary between art and science.Students enrolled in our summerprogram are considered for thisscholarship.

Micah Lynch 2011

My Asian Friend: encourages personalfund raising through limited matching ofindividual fund raising efforts byBurlington (Vermont) High Schoolstudents for travel to Asia.

Kida Tottori-Vermont Fund: t oprovide assistance to Vermont studentsengaged in Youth Exchange with TottoriPrefecture, Japan, who would otherwisenot be able to participate.

GATP will have a sales booth atthe Vermont International Festivalto raise funds for the Kida Tottori-Vermont Fund in early December.Readers in Vermont areencouraged to visit the Festival.(vermontinternationalfestival.com)

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Recognitions

The following businesses, agencies,institutions and individuals gave of their time,wisdom or through in kind contributionsduring 2013:

The Rubenstein School of Environmentand Natural Resources, UVM

Tim Jerman, State RepresentativeElizabeth Wechsler, VT State HouseEmilie Riddle, RSENR, UVMMolly Witt, Admissions, UVMJack Byrne, Middlebury CollegeLori Hynes Mackey, Middlebury CollegeTottori Prefectural International Exchange

FoundationJapan-America Society of VermontEssex High SchoolBurlington High SchoolBlue Spruce FarmBen & Jerry’sChamplain OrchardsBillie Davis, Ben & Jerry’sRandy Thompson, Ben & Jerry’sRoss Nizlek, Chittenden County Transportation

AuthorityMGB DesignsDorothy Schnure, Green Mountain PowerDavid Dunn, Green Mountain PowerSusan Morse, Keeping TrackAlice & John RouleauAndreas NolteAmy MellencampYukari DoughertyRobert ReardonYuki TanakaSyuka IchikiMaiko IkutaTetsunori KoyamaRuna HasegawaMotofumi TakahamaYukie KondouMizuki IchimuraChika MurataHinako WatataniAtsuki YomiAyumi HosakiSatoru HiragaManae MoriKumiko KuranagaRyuichi OakiYumiko MoriwakiSakura OkamuraYasumasa IwamotoNobuhiro Ueta

Paul & Carol OdeChris & Beth EvansAnita CohnLori PenestonSteven & Martine GulickJon & Tammy KuypersLinda DelidukaMaria & Kent DramstadGeorge & Elizabeth WhiteTom & Sue CookRishona PhillipsJoe Kiely & Lynn BursellJade SheaLaura Baum & Kabita LamaEun Foster

Donors

We are grateful to the followingcorporations, foundations, and individuals whoContributed Financially to Green Across thePacific during the past twelve months:

Anonymous 3The Bay & Paul FoundationsThe David Greenewalt Charitable TrustInternational Paper FoundationMerchant’s Bank Foundation, Inc.The Tenny Fund of the Japan-America Society

of VermontSpitzner Electric, Inc.Steiger Supply CompanyGoodrich FoundationChen SiyingLaura A LeeWill & Judy StevensReiko KidaDavid A WinerAlexa BuskeySusan W CamberlainAileen LachsPeter & Jessica LynchMichael Healy & Debra BlumbergRichard LynchLelia GreenewaltDebi HronLaura Lynch & Hans PetersBarbara GreenewaltAnita CohnJoshua BenesLorraine M ColburnEric HansonNatalie GrantJane StruzinskiLyle P JepsonRandy Kritkausky & Carolyn Schmidt

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Catherine LynchTerence J & Diane S LynchPamela Marsh & Lawrence C MaierNorman T McClelland & Audrey M CalvelloAmy V Mellencamp & Charles P Smith IVLucy H Miller & Edward M KenneyLinda K MorrellSusan C MorseAndreas Nolte

Carla A OchsDavid ReedJohn & Alice RouleauJuly SandersAndrea Scott & Bill SuhrCarol SmallRufus & Karen SmithRuth StokesDonald V & Beverly S Webster

photo by Susan C Morse

Current Board of Directors

Peter Lynch, President & Ex. DirectorDavid Winer, ChairEric Knudsen, Vice-ChairLyle P. Jepson, TreasurerRachel Winer, SecretaryTom MerkelReiko KidaMeagan BrownJuly SandersAndreas NolteJohn RouleauElsie Gilmore

Consulting Board Member

Zeng Yixin, Tokyo, Japan

Honorary Directors

Governor Peter ShumlinGovernor James H. DouglasGovernor Howard Dean, MDWu YingminLi Zhenchang, in memoriamRichard TaylorJames D. Lazell, PhD

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Visitors don’t want to leave

Students from Burlington High School, Vermont, listen to Bhutanese students on screen

All photos by GATP unless otherwise noted

Newsletter courtesy of Ticonderoga Mill

Green Across the Pacific partners with

The Rubenstien School of Environment & Natural Resources at the University of Vermont

and is a member of

SWEEP (Statewide Environmental Education Programs), vermontsweep.organd VBSR (Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility), www.vbsr.org


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