Hello and welcome to Nature Summer Camp 2019! We are incredibly excited for our third Nature Summer Camp at the new Hitchcock Center. The counselors, Katie and I have been […]
On May 7th, the Hitchcock Center received the Certified Living Award for achieving the Living Building Challenge 2.1 (LBC) for it’s new headquarters! Executive Director, Julie Johnson received the award in person at the Living Future UnConference in Seattle, WA, the annual regenerative design conference organized by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI). The certification award, considered the most prestigious level of sustainable design and operation in the world, represents the successful completion of the Center’s new building. It is only the 23rd building in the world to achieve this goal, and the 4th in Massachusetts.
By Erin Langner
“The Living Future Challenge was the first metric where I saw my culture reflected,” said designer and Arizona State University professor Wanda Dalla Costa during the Living Future unConference, a multi-industry gathering focused on sustainable design. This year’s iteration—the thirteenth—was hosted in Seattle from April 30–May 3.
By Scott Merzbach
Three years after the Hitchcock Center for the Environment opened a new learning center at 845 West St., at the edge of the Hampshire College campus, the building is demonstrating the possibilities of a resilient, self-sufficient building.With a third-party audit complete and 12 months of continuous operation showing the building is performing as designed, the Hitchcock Center’s headquarters became the 23rd building across the globe, most of which are in the United States, to earn a Certified Living Building Award from the International Living Future Institute.Presented May 2 to Executive Director Julie Johnson at the Living Future UnConference, an international sustainability conference in Seattle, the award means that the center has earned designation through the Living Building Challenge, considered the most rigorous standard for green buildings.
By Nadine M. Post
Currently, there are 420 registered projects under ILFI’s four main programs: zero carbon; zero energy; the Petal program; and the top-tier Living Building program, which includes all seven petals, or subcategories. Of these, there are only 112 certified projects and only 23 certified Living Buildings. Certification requires a year of post-occupancy performance data.
Amherst, MA, May 6 — Executive Director Julie Johnson of the Hitchcock Center has returned to Western Massachusetts from an international sustainability conference with a Living Certified Award that recognizes the Center’s visionary leadership in creating a building that gives more than it takes and inspires thousands of people to take action for a more sustainable future.
By Jeff Mazur
In mid-March they learned about the Spotted Salamanders and their migration and mating habits from Environmental Educator Ted Watt and Homeschool Instructor Jeff Mazur. The group also ventured to the tunnels to do the annual required clean up. They raked out the tunnels with an extendable hoe made of rebar. They removed leaves and debris from the fencing, which is designed to direct the salamanders to the tunnels. And they did a general clean up of the area, removing multiple garbage bags worth of trash.
By Saraphina Forman
I think I’ve always believed that it is everyone’s responsibility to protect the world around them and protect the future — you can’t sit by passively and expect things to be solved.
By Stephanie Kuplast
I was honestly fed up with inaction by adults. Our elected officials have largely refused to recognize the climate crisis, and when some do choose to acknowledge climate change, they often do so with a comfortable, though inaccurate timeframe. A lot of scientists, teachers and otherwise well-meaning adults encourage me to study this stuff in college, and hopefully I could bring about change in my future career. I don’t have the time to do that. We need systemic change now in order to stop the kids who are scared to death of climate change.
By James Aas, Sydney Mager, and Salim Saulsberry
I think the leadership camp goes over and teaches many great skills but it’s how they execute teaching these skills that’s one of the best parts about the camp.
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Hitchcock Center for the Environment
at Hampshire College
845 West Street | Amherst MA 01002 | 413.256.6006 | 413.253.2809 fax