The Next Generation Therese Peffer c. 1992 Therese Peffer Kids definitely knew their place at the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair (MREF) in Amherst, Wisconsin this year. A look around the fair saw young faces, bright with curiosity and mischief and eyes lit with creative energy. A Growing Energy Fair The Home Power crew joined the third annual MREF the third weekend in June. I take no credit for the arduous 45 hour drive the rest of the Home Power crew endured to get to the fair (I flew out a few days early to visit Minnesota relatives). This was the first MREF for me and I was quite impressed with the people and the variety of seminars, especially those for youth. Renewable Fun Two tents housed the "family" events for the three day weekend. I saw up to 30 kids at a time each day creating the Renewable Village out of large cardboard boxes. Houses had a pattern of juice can lids representing the photovoltaic cells that make electricity from the sun. Someone made a windmill. Houses, stores, and jails quickly outgrew the tent and spread out on the grass. Youth from 2 and older cut, colored, and crawled all over their cardboard village. The other tent held various workshops. Kids built solar ovens. The ingredients? A cardboard box, a shoe box, newspaper, black paint, black tissue paper, a thick plastic sheet, and a two foot elastic band. First the inside of the shoe box was painted black. Then newspaper was crumpled up and stuffed in the cardboard box under and around the shoebox. Black tissue covered the newspaper. The plastic sheet covered the top and was secured with the elastic band. Within 30 minutes of painting and assembling, kids of all ages were watching (or munching!) squares of cheese pizza. Young girls and boys got into groups of 5-7 for the Lego- building workshop. Small photovoltaic cells powered the spinning windmills, working cranes, and trucks that resulted.The program listed 13 workshops for kids, two at a time, that spanned each day of the three day fair. I only caught part of the drama workshop that ran overtime. A lively gentleman directed the seemingly non-stop series of drama activity. Music from the make-your-own-music workshops drifted past the Home Power booth. I saw groups of kids in one tent or the other all day long. I was impressed by the variety and creativity of the family workshops. I've been to four different energy fairs and was involved in organizing one of them. I had never seen the number and quality of kids workshops that took place at the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair. I can appreciate all the time an effort these people undertook for these workshops. Kudos to Ellen Davis, Lyn and Jeff Mosurinjohn, folks from Center Stage Productions, and all others who helped these "Next Generation" workshops happen. I hope this sets a precedent for other energy fairs! For Teachers, Too The six curriculum workshops for kindergarten through 12th grade teachers was another welcome addition to an energy fair. Some of the workshops could be applied towards the state's teaching certificate. At one workshop I picked up the 100 page Renewables are Ready: a Guide to Teaching Renewable Energy in Junior and Senior High School Classrooms from the Union of Concerned Scientists. It lists many activities for social studies, economics, math, and science units and at the end lists sources of further information and aids. Well worth the five dollars. Ann Quale of the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education collected pamphlets and books on learning activities for Kindergarten through 6th grade. She would like to spend a year reviewing the materialÄI look forward to her comments next year! (See sources on next page) For the Older Kids Of course those of us older kids had plenty of workshops to keep us busy. There were fifty-two different workshops total on wind and photovoltaic basics, batteries and inverters, electric vehicles, solar cooking, sustainable gardening and living, home conservation, and so on. All the workshops took place on the fairgrounds, 9 workshops at a time all day long. Looking Forward to the Future I left the energy fair tired from the three full days, but filled with good, positive energy of a different sort. I learned a lot both from the workshops and from the people I met. Education is what these fairs are all about: renewable energy for all ages, levels of education, and experiences. The information is out there and available to those who ask for it, although sometimes it takes a little energy to find it. As August turns into September, the memory (or reality) of school prevails. It's time for teachers and educators to plan good activities on energy for their students. For those in high school or college it's time to look to the future of renewable energy in planning careers. Those at the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair started the Next Generation Workshops. It's up to the rest of us to continue the education. As Mick Sagrillo stated, "It can be difficult to change some adults minds. If we're going to change the world, it will be through our children." Sources: Here are a few sources from the fair. Share them with your favorite teacher or student! General Info on Renewables: American Solar Energy Society has a 1992 Publications list of materials about solar, some material for teachers and educators. For example, NREL's 1991 161 page Elementary and Secondary Science Projects in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency for K-12, ($10). ASES, 2400 Central Ave., G-1, Boulder, CO 80301 ù 303-443-3130 Conservation and Renewable Energy Inquiry and Referral Service (CAREIRS) provides free information on renewable energy and efficiency. POB 8900, Silver Springs, MD 20907 ù 800-523-2929 National Appropriate Technology Assistance Service (NATAS) provides free information and assistance for those interested in renewables, including educators. POB 2525, Butte, MT 59702-2525 ù 800-428-2525 Curriculum: Contact the Department of Public Instruction or Department of Education in your state. Materials on renewable energy may be in a science or environmental education unit. California has the California Energy Extension Service that provides educational materials on renewable energy. Conserve & Renew: An Energy Education Activity Package for Grades 4-6, from CEES, 1400 Tenth St., Sacramento, CA 95814 ù 916-323-4388. ERIC Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education, Ohio State University, College of Education and School of Natural Resources, 1200 Chambers Rd, Third Floor, Columbus, OH 43212. Has a list of science education and environmental publications, and collection of energy activities for the classroom. Renewables are Ready: a guide to teaching renewable energy in junior and senior high school classrooms. 100 pages, $5 from the Union of Concerned Scientists, 26 Church St., Cambridge, MA 02238 ù 617-547-5552. Well-worth the money. Lists many more resources and organizations. National Energy Foundation, Materials catalog lists resources for education. 5160 Wiley Post Way Ste 200, Salt Lake City, UT 84116 ù 801-539-1406 Energy Education Sources (December 1991) A list of free or low cost energy-related educational materials. from the Energy Information Administration, National Energy Information Center, U.S. Dept. of Energy, Washington DC 20585 Energy Education Materials Library sells a HyperCard database of energy education materials ($12). The Energy Center, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA 94928. Further education: Jordan Energy Institute has Bachelor of Science degrees in Applied Environmental Technology and Renewable Energy Engineering Technology. Those who already have a bachelor degree may apply degree towards this. 155 Seven-Mile Rd NW, Comstock Park, MI 49321 ù 616-784-7595 Solar Technology Institute has 1 and 2 week courses on all aspects of renewable technology. POB 1115,Carbondale, CO 81623-1115 ù 303-963-0715 NATAS (see above) will help with finding further education programs. Solar Service Guide: A Career Opportunity Guidebook lists leads on career opportunities and the most complete list of colleges and universities with renewable energy programs that I've ever seen. 8 pages, $5 from Solar Service, POB 1767, Pahoa, HI 96778. Student Pugwash: An organization that grew out of Pugwash: a collection of professor and scientists concerned with science, technology, peace, and the environment. Many college campuses have Student Pugwash chapters. Also have a book on jobs and internships, not necessarily in renewable energy. Call 1-800- Wow-A-Pug for more information. Access Author: Therese Peffer, c/o Home Power, POB 130, Hornbrook, CA 96044 ù 916-475-3179