Jewish Environmental Education Cohort 2024-2025

 This year’s cohort experience includes four in-person professional development opportunities:

• Full Day Kick-Off Training: This flagship event is a full-day training on Sunday, August 18, 2024, held at the picturesque Stage Nature Center in Troy, Michigan. The day will be filled with immersive learning experiences and interactive workshops, culminating in a deep dive into the connections between Judaism and the natural world. Participants will leave with inspiration and confidence to integrate Jewish and environmental content into their programs, a better understanding of the intersection of Judaism and ecology, and a feeling of connection to other educators with similar values. Kosher lunch will be provided.
• Half Day Kick-Off Training: For educators who participated in our 2023 full-day training, there will be an afternoon-only option on Sunday, August 18. This afternoon’s session will showcase distinctive breakout sessions crafted to enhance immersion in various facets of Jewish environmental learning, encompassing Jewish rituals, interactive games, climate change action discussions, and nature-inspired art activities. It’s an excellent opportunity for returning educators to build upon their previous experience and continue their journey of growth and exploration.

Throughout the year, participants will receive a monthly email newsletter packed with resources, curriculum materials, and inspiration tailored to the season. These resources will support ongoing learning and provide fresh ideas for integrating Jewish environmental education into your programs and teachings.

• Examples might include:

  • Text and themes tying local ecology to Jewish calendar and holidays

  • Curriculum related to the changing seasons, including outdoor activities and crafts with natural materials

  • Highlights of Jewish events and learning opportunities

As a member of the cohort, you’ll have the opportunity to schedule one-on-one meetings with Adamah educators to workshop curriculum ideas, brainstorm programming strategies, and receive personalized support tailored to your specific needs and goals. These sessions will be invaluable for refining your approach and maximizing the impact of your work.

Registration for Adamah Detroit’s 2024-2025 Jewish Environmental Education Cohort is now open! We offer two sliding scale registration prices to accommodate different needs and to reflect the full and afternoon-only options for our training launch on August 18, 2024:

• New cohort members: $180-$360 (includes Full-Day kick off on August 18th, three additional trainings, resource sharing and coaching opportunities).  
• Returning cohort members: $150-$360 (includes Half-Day kick off on August 18th, three additional trainings, resource sharing and coaching opportunities).  

With over 15 years of expertise in environmental education, Carly is well-equipped to lead transformative professional development sessions for educators in various settings. Holding a master’s degree in environmental studies with a focus on education and environmental justice, Carly brings a depth of knowledge crucial for fostering enriching learning environments. Before her role with Adamah Detroit, Carly was the Director of Youth Programs at the Peninsula JCC in California, where she honed her educational programming and staff training skills. With extensive experience leading professional development initiatives for educators in camp, school, and experiential education settings, Carly is adept at facilitating impactful learning experiences. 

Carly Sugar’s work explores the intersection of food and land skills, community-building, and place-based education, driven by the wisdom of Detroit’s food sovereignty movement, and ancestral Jewish wisdom. Most recently, Carly served as Fellowship Director of Adamah Farm, located in the Connecticut Berkshires at Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center.  Carly led six residential cohorts of young adults through this immersive and transformative program, weaving together ecology, social justice, farming and living intentionally in Jewish community. In her role as Giving Gardens Director at Yad Ezra, Carly developed an educational garden and greenhouse and its programs, which provide garden education, support and resources. Carly currently lives in an artist collective in Detroit’s historic Rosedale Park neighborhood, where she keeps a garden, chickens, and fiber arts studio.