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Earth Walk Training Programs

Earthwalk offers workshops, seminars, courses, internships, field trips as well as on-line training programs covering a wide range on sustainable living and natural health subjects.

Our programs are designed to address various interest levels ranging from school groups to graduate students, individual, trades and professional programs. We are constantly developing new courses for our educational program and appreciate your input.

You can help us refine our programs so they meet your needs. Just review our list of upcoming and proposed workshops and let us know which ones you would be interested in participating in. We are working on our programming content and schedule for this year and we can keep you abreast of the details of available workshops as our program evolves.

UPCOMING AND PROPOSED PROGRAMS

WORKSHOP PARTICIPATION - Simply fill our our inquiry form and let us know what workshops you would like to attend and we will add you to the waiting list for the next course and contact you when it is scheduled.. below you will find information about our Educational Philosophy - Workshop Atmosphere - Workshop Materials - Enrolment - Cancellation Policy - Lodging & Logistics -Upcoming Workshops - Proposed Workshops - Becoming an Instructor. So contact us if you have any questions

Educational Philosophy

Earthwalk believes that people learn by doing. Instructors are leaders in their fields, bringing the most up-to-date information in sustainable living skills and technologies. Classroom and laboratory work is often enhanced by case studies, tours and practical installations.

Workshop and Course Instructors

Course Instructors and seminar leaders are coming form near and far to contribute their expertise to the Earthwalk educational programs. They are selected for their knowledge and experience in their chosen field. To learn more about our team of course leaders and what they will be covering you can read the Instructor Bio's and course descriptions.

Workshop Atmosphere

Classes are small. We work hard and ask that you do the same. Earthwalk stresses safety and consideration. People from different cultures attend our workshops, and we expect that all participants treat people of different backgrounds and abilities with respect. We try our best to make your experience rewarding and enjoyable.

Workshop Materials

The fee for the workshop includes all course materials. You will receive a workshop notebook, and in some cases additional literature, upon your arrival. In some of the workshops we will be traveling to a remote site, and you may need to be prepared for rustic camping.

Enrollment

Open to all on a first-come basis. Dates are set once courses are fully subscribed. Class size is limited so please register for the courses of your choice early and we will confirm the date and location of the course with you once it is booked. . To reserve a seat, send your entire tuition. Please check the course description on the web site to make sure there is space available. Workshops are subject to cancellation due to low enrollment in which case the full tuition is refunded. Earthwalk has a limited amount of work-trade intern options available.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel prior to 30 days before the workshop start date, 50% of your total tuition is non-refundable. A written cancellation is required. If you cancel within 30 days of the beginning of the workshop, your entire tuition is non-refundable.

For online courses if you elect to transfer your course enrollment to another person, there is a $50 administrative fee. If for some reason you are unable to complete the course and transfer to another session, there is a $350 fee.

Lodging & Logistics

Earthwalk is located in Colborne Ontario, a small town just off highway 401 between Toronto and Kingston. (exit 497). Located centrally in Northumberland County, Toronto is an hour and a half to our west and Kingston is an hour to our east.

Logistics -Via Trains run several times a day to Cobourg and there are taxis available from the station to Earthwalk. Car Rental, pick-up & return at station: DISCOUNT CAR RENTAL are also available at 905-373-4348.

Very limited accommodations are available near Earthwalk in a B&B retreat center or sometimes camping by our campfire circle on our grounds possible. Use of these facilities must be arranged well in advance. A list of Hotel, B&B and camping accommodations are also available at Cobourg accommodations (20 minutes west of Colborne) or at Brighton accommodations (15 minutes East of Colborne).

Many of our workshops are held in other parts of the country. Local logistics and lodging for each workshop venue is available on our web site (click on the location). We also have a "no dog" policy on site. If you must bring your dog, please make arrangements for him or her to be somewhere else during your stay.

New Workshops At Earthwalk

Our updated 2011 course schedule will be available soon. It will include several new additions to our programming including:.
Natural Health - We have added an overview of how the latest research and clinical experience is shaping and new paradigm for creating optimal health practices.
Sustainable Enterprise - The Benefits and considerations in planning a sustainable business is important to creating a healthy and sustainable bottom line. We have four new and updated Green Business workshops for you to enjoy this year: Sustainable Enterprise, Eco Business Opportunities,
Green Home Business & Tele Commuting Tips and Green Purchasing Strategies.
Permiculture - We have added new programs including an overview of the principals of permiculture and an look at results from around the world. With indepth workshops on everything from soil managment to polonators to edible forest landscapeing and much more have been added to our programing.
Renewable Energy Workshops - there are several new workshops dealing with grreen energy including ones dealing with Solar Electricity, Wind Power, Micro-hydro, Sustainable Home Design & Natural House Building, Solar Thermal, Solar water Pumping, Renewable Fuels and some special programs for women.
Green Building - This Section now offers new programs on rain water harvesting, straw bail and earthship construction.
Environment - Topics from climate change, to environmental toxicity, to bio diversity, and healthy homes, and food security are included in the new environmental workshops at Earthwalk.

2011 Course Descriptions

Permaculture Workshops

The Organic Garden
- Crafting your organic garden for health and yield. This workshop explores the planning, preparation, soil structure, planting, mulching, and harvesting and composing issues for healthy organic garden.

Edible Forest Landscaping
- Edible forest landscaping design is emerging as one of the urban solutions to future food supply issues. This workshop explores both the concepts and practical solutions for sustainable landscape design that incorporates food supply into ones environment.

Introduction To Permaculture
- And introduction to the basic principals of permaculture and its potential impact on creating a healthy and sustainable culture and society.

Permaculture Overview
- A survey of various approaches to Permaculture with examples from around the world of Permaculture in Action.

Natural Beekeeping

- A workshop that looks at a more successful and natural approach to beekeeping while looking and the causes and solutions to colony calapse syndrome.

Sustainable Enterprise Workshops

Sustainable Enterprise
- Strategies for creating a sustainable business model that works for all stakeholders.
from full scale accounting to sustainable supply chains to green manufacturing, packaging and marketing strategies. We survey many ways to create a sustainable
business approach that can yield results into the future.

Eco Business Opportunities
- A survey of Green Business Opportunities for now and the future including new approaches to existing business models and new technology that is opening up
new green business opportunities.

Green Home Business & Tele Commuting Tips
- A workshops and resource review for creating a green home business model
and strategies for Tele Commuting, E Businesses and working from home to reduce your environmental footprint.

Green Purchasing
- This seminar explores the challenges and rewards of developing sustainable supply chains for all your business needs and the opportunities that green purchasing presents to your business.

Renewable Energy Workshops

Solar Water Pumping

A two day workshop covering pumping terminologies, PV modules, system sizing, and component selection. Includes pump descriptions and comparisons with information on trackers, linear current boosters, and other associated equipment. The workshop will include laboratory exercises and a system tour.

No sessions are scheduled at this time.

Photovoltaic Design & Installation

Participants will gain technical skills and a strong foundation of how to design and safely install solar-electric systems. Participants learn system sizing, site analysis, hardware specification, and component selection of BOTH stand-alone and grid-tied systems. This workshop is great for people who are seeking employment within the growing solar industry, wanting to install it on their own home, or interested in learning more about this amazing technology.

Advanced Photovoltaic's

The Advanced PV workshop is designed to follow the PV Design and Installation or Utility-Interactive PV workshops with the next level of design criteria, maintenance issues and troubleshooting skills. Participants must have successfully completed either our hands-on or online PV Design & Installation workshop or Utility Interactive PV workshop (with supplemental stand-alone curriculum), or have the permission of the instructor.

Utility Interactive PV Systems

Learn how to design and install code-compliant PV systems to safely produce electricity to tie into the utility's grid. Participants learn system sizing, site analysis, hardware specification, and component selection of grid-tied systems ONLY. This workshop is great for people who are seeking employment within the growing solar industry, wanting to install it on their own home, or interested in learning more about this amazing technology.

Natural Building & Renewable Energy

This week long course provides an overview of natural building, and covers how to use solar, wind, and water power to generate electricity for homes.

No sessions are scheduled at this time.

Residential Wind Power

Learn to design and install residential wind systems, up to 100kWh/day in capacity. The workshop will cover system sizing, site analysis, installation and safety issues, and hardware specification. Learn about the different commercially available residential wind turbines, how they work, and the advantages and disadvantages of each. Get hands on experience with wind generators, and designing a wind/PV hybrid system.

Home built Wind Generators

This workshop will guide students through the process of building a small wind turbine from scratch. Brief sessions each day on wind generator theory will be followed by shop sessions. The workshop group will construct a working wind generator.

Micro-Hydro Power

This workshop teaches how to design a fully functional micro-hydro system. Learn site evaluation, including how to measure and estimate head and flow. Perform preliminary system sizing for mechanical and electrical power generation of 50-watt to 100-kilowatt capacities. The workshop will include field exercises and tours of operational systems.

Sustainable Home Design & Natural House Building Workshops

Designing and Building Natural Homes

This course covers the opportunities and evolving variations within the field of natural building. Architects, builders, and owners and students will gain an excellent introduction to the art and science of natural building materials, techniques, and design considerations, while also giving participants the opportunity to get their hands on straw bale, adobe, pressed block, cob, natural plasters and more.

Advanced Straw Bale Construction

If you already know the basics of straw bale construction but want to know more, this is the workshop for you. Our straw bale instructor will give participants the latest information on straw bale construction. The workshop will include brainstorming and experimentation. No sessions are scheduled at this time.

Sustainable Home Design

Learn the principles behind designing and building residential structures that achieve optimal year-round comfort, reduce energy consumption, improve indoor air quality, and limit environmental impact.

No sessions are scheduled at this time.

Solar Hot Water

Participants in this workshop will learn theory, design considerations, and installation techniques necessary to install and maintain a solar domestic hot water system.

Straw Bale Design & Construction

An in-depth look into the design considerations and the variety of styles and techniques of the evolving field of straw bale construction. Participants will gain hands-on experience with different techniques, discuss and experience different construction and detailing ideas, and try their hand at sample plasters.

Solar & Radiant Heating Systems

This 3 day course provides critical information to design practical and efficient solar and radiant heating systems for energy and cost savings with comfort of under floor heating.

Solar Home Design & Natural House Building

Learn solar home design principles and natural building techniques in one workshop! This workshop combines the best of our Solar Home Design Principles workshop and our Designing & Building Natural Homes workshop. No sessions are scheduled at this time.

Plaster for Natural Homes

Learn about plaster as both a building material and an art form. The qualities of earth, lime, cement, and gypsum plasters will be explored in relationship to natural wall systems such as straw bale, cob, and adobe.

No sessions are scheduled at this time.

Eco Transportation Workshops

Renewable Fuels

Learn the fundamentals of creating a renewable fuels economy. The workshop will cover all types of renewable fuels and alternative transportation. Experts from the field will discuss how we can move away from a gasoline economy, and rely less on foreign oil. A bio diesel vehicle, electric vehicle, and other forms of alternative transportation will be on site.

No sessions are scheduled at this time.

Bio diesel Fuel

Learn the fundamentals of this alternative fuel source that can be used in any diesel engine. Participants will make bio diesel fuel with locally available materials, visit existing small scale production plants, and learn from top bio diesel industry specialists.

Hydrogen and Alternative Vehicles

Learn from industry specialists about hydrogen and alternative vehicles. This workshop will introduce hydrogen as a viable fuel which is being implemented today. Introduce yourself to the range of alternative vehicles in existence, and how they can work in conjunction with alternative fuels to build an oil free transportation future.

No sessions are scheduled at this time.

Electric Vehicle Conversion

This workshop will guide students through the complete process of converting a vehicle to electric power. Classroom sessions will be combined with hands-on shop sessions. By the end of the workshop, the group will have completed a running electric car conversion capable of highway speeds and 60-80 miles range.

Sustainable Community Development

Eco Community Design

The challenges and opportunities of green community design with examples of eco community design systems and solutions that can create the healthier and more sustainable communities of our future.

Rural Development Workshops

Learn how to help improve the quality of life for people in the developing world, or in lesser developed areas of the industrialized nations.

Renewable Energy for the Developing World

This workshop explores different applications for renewable energy technologies in developing countries. Participants will learn how to successfully accomplish sustainable development projects with renewable energy. Effective technology transfer methods will be presented, as well as setting up infrastructure and the economics and financing of renewable energy projects. Case studies will be presented on solar cooking, rural household electrification, appropriate building technologies, rural health care and micro-enterprises utilizing renewable energy.

No sessions are scheduled at this time.

Appropriate Technology for the Developing World

This workshop provides an overview of technologies which promote small scale sustainable energy and agricultural practices in the developing world. This workshop is ideal for organizations working in rural areas, people wanting to get involved in sustainable development work, and those who wish to reduce their own ecological impact.

No sessions are scheduled at this time.

Sustainable Building for the Developing World

This workshop covers current technologies being used in developing world environments that address people's housing, water, and sanitation needs in appropriate, ecological, and sustainable ways.

No sessions are scheduled at this time.

Water Management and Technology

This course offers a general overview of the situation of water in the world, along with the main technological options for sustainable management. Consisting of a series of combined seminars and field trips, the program gives participants the basics required for proper evaluation and monitoring as well as designing simple treatment systems for different types of water.

Solar Electricity for the Developing World

Learn to design and install photovoltaic systems for the developing world. Workshop participants learn system sizing, site analysis, hardware specification, and component selection. The workshop covers typical applications and case study examples. Install and upgrade real-world systems with current renewable energy equipment.

Ecology, Permaculture, and Renewable Energy

This workshop provides an overview of technologies which promote small scale sustainable energy and agricultural practices in the developing world. This workshop is ideal for organizations working in rural areas, people wanting to get involved in sustainable development work, and those who wish to reduce their own ecological impact.

Bio digester and Rainwater Harvesting

Produce your own fuel and potable water! IRRI-Mexico is offering an opportunity to receive professional training in bio digester systems, as well is theory and site evaluation of a number of sites for effective rainwater harvesting systems, from homes to large buildings.

No sessions are scheduled at this time.

Bio Sand Water Filters

The workshop offers instruction and hands-on experience in construction of all components of bio sand filters.

No sessions are scheduled at this time.

Educators Workshops

These workshops are for teachers and educators who want to learn how to implement sustainable curriculum into their classrooms.

Renewable Energy for Educators

Educators attending this summer seminar will learn about the impacts that our energy use has on the planet and how to best teach youth about solutions: energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy technologies.

Environmental Issues & Solutions for Educators

This workshop is a survey of our dominant environmental issues and the solutions related to those issues and how to incorporate awareness into curriculum. Topics from climate change, to environmental toxicity, to bio diversity, and healthy food security are included in this discussion.

Other Workshops

Introduction to Renewable Energy

This workshop will introduce renewable energy technologies and strategies to homeowners, contractors, and renewable energy advocates.

The Politics of Energy

A one-day look at the history of electricity, energy supply structure, policy issues, global impacts of energy, and the production and use of energy sources.

No sessions are scheduled at this time.

Successful Solar Businesses

If you are considering launching a business in solar, do not miss this opportunity to meet and talk to successful solar business leaders in our country. Students will have a chance to learn what works and what doesn't, and will walk away with the tools to start their new business.

Natural Building & Renewable Energy

This week long course provides an overview of natural building, and covers how to use solar, wind, and water power to generate electricity for homes.

No sessions are scheduled at this time.

Practical Applications for Renewable Energy

This workshop focuses on the practical uses of solar, wind, and water power for electric power generation. Solar thermal applications will also be discussed. There will be a special focus on eco-resorts. No sessions are scheduled at this time.

Water Management and Technology

This course offers a general overview of the situation of water in the world, along with the main technological options for sustainable management. Consisting of a series of combined seminars and field trips, the program gives participants the basics required for proper evaluation and monitoring as well as designing simple treatment systems for different types of water.

Online Workshops

PV Design Online

Learn how to design a complete solar electric (photovoltaic) power system without leaving your home. A six-week, Internet-based, online course of instruction with text, CD-ROM reference materials and Internet resource links. The course will be offered five times throughout the year.

Enjoy the benefits of Earthwalk Membership

www.ecoearthwalk.ca