Natural Step Study Circles

“Perhaps the most important factor to why we were successful in becoming an eco-municipality were study circles…It’s a question of taking control over their own situation and their own future.” – Torbjorn Lahti, Project Leader Swedish Eco-Municipality movement

• What is a study circle? - A study circle is a peer learning activity. A group of individuals reads "The Natural Step for Communities" book together, meets regularly and discusses a list of questions designed to deepen their understanding of The Natural Step concepts and applications in their community. The goals of the Natural Step study circle program are to provide information, motivation and support for individuals in a community to become actively involved in efforts to make their community more sustainable.
• How do I get one started? - recruit up 15 people to join you in reading the book and meeting regularly to discuss the questions. Groups can come from organizations you belong to, your neighbors, or your co-workers or department. Detailed facilitator instructions and guidelines are provided in the study guides.
• What's involved? - Depending on how many chapters you read for each session, they should last 1-1.5 hours. Each session starts with a round of reactions to the selected reading, then a series of questions is discussed. Each session closes with another round of responses to a final question. You can enhance each session by adding in a "Sustainability Search" (described in the 4-session guide). Study circles can meet just about anywhere - in someone's living room, public meeting space, office, or coffee shop. A relatively quiet environment that allows un-distracted conversation is best.
• 4-session Study Guide (pdf)- click here
• 8-session Study Guide (pdf) - click here
• Sauk County Participant's Guide (10 sessions with closing potluck) (pdf) -click here
• Sauk County Facilitator's Guide (pdf) - click here

Questions? Don't hesitate to email catherine.neiswender@ces.uwex.edu if you have questions on starting a study circle. There have been several study circles throughout the Fox Valley already. If you choose to start one up, please let me know via email so that workshop organizers can have an idea of the level of activity going on or so we can connect you with others that are interested.

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