Sustainable Communities Network: Green Island Field Trip

Envisioning a Hopeful Future at Green Island

Join the Sustainable Communities Network for an inspiring and creative gathering at Green Island, a private nature preserve in Wadena, Minnesota. Green Island is open to the public and rich with walking paths, meditation spaces, gardens, and more.

Hosted by Kent Scheer and Vicki Chapulis, the day will blend nature, mindfulness, and art to inspire a hopeful vision for our region’s future. Walk the grounds, engage with suggested mindfulness prompts, enjoy a vegan/gluten-free lunch, hear from featured artists working at the intersection of art and sustainability, and participate in a collaborative visioning session focused on building a more sustainable region.

Agenda:

• 10:30 a.m. – Arrival

• 10:30–11:30 a.m. – Venue introduction with Kent Scheer & self-guided site tour

• 11:30 a.m. – Lunch

• 12:00 p.m. – Artist talks: Art as a tool for environmental action

• 12:45 p.m. – “Creating the Future” collaborative workshop

• 1:45 p.m. – Wrap-up

• 2:00 p.m. – Departure

To help reduce environmental impact, we ask that you carpool if possible, as parking is limited. It’s simply the right thing to do. We can help connect attendees from the same area to coordinate rides. Please also bring a refillable water bottle. A vegan and gluten-free lunch will be provided in compostable packaging.

Sustainable Communities Network 

We invite you to join the Sustainable Communities Network and get connected to actionable climate and sustainability solutions! In the Sustainable Communities Network, you’ll connect with climate and sustainability experts and people like you working on solutions that support a resilient and sustainable future for our region.

Goals:

1. Connect people to actionable solutions to create more sustainable communities, now and in the future.

2. Build relationships across the region with each other and with the people and organizations creating positive change in their own communities.

3. Champion success stories and innovative projects that can be supported or replicated in other communities.

The topics and goals of the group are grounded in both the Minnesota Region 4 Climate Action Plan and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that are part of our strategic framework.