Who Are We? GreenHeart Education Is . . .

GreenHearted.org is a primer on
transformative education for sustainability ...
what you'll need in order to green your classroom,
your curriculum, your school community,
and the heart of your life's work as a teacher.

Julie D. Johnston, BA, BEd, MAdEd

I started out as a French as a Second Language teacher, but that morphed into environmental education when I found my activist's voice to save a beloved river (the Nechako, in central British Columbia). Transformative sustainability education is now my focus.

In 2003, I completed my master's degree in adult education, with a focus on environmental adult education. My research looked into barriers and enticements to environmental learning and action; my thesis is entitled Sustainable Development Learning as Enticement to Environmental Action. I've had the opportunity to present environmental education workshops in Canada, India, Thailand and the Philippines.

I work with preschoolers to adults (most of my experience has been with middle school students and student teachers), and I love working with all ages in a wide variety of settings.

I still want to believe that a happy, healthy and sustainable future for our grandchildren is possible — if we rekindle our inherent love for the Earth and Mother Nature, FAST.

Peter D. Carter, MD

When his sons were born, he became actively involved in environmental, peace, and sustainable development issues, especially as they relate to children's health. (Fatherhood created that urge to leave the world a better place as a legacy for his children.)

As a founding director of CAPE (Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment), Peter has presented on sustainable development and health issues in Canada and the United States.

"We began as a mineral. We emerged into plant life and into the animal states, and then into being human, and always we have forgotten our former states, except in early spring when we slightly recall being green again."
— Rumi, The Dream That Must Be Interpreted

Julie and Peter Together

We make a great team. Peter has a rational, science-guy kind of brain, while I have a humanities background and lean more toward the intuitive. We spend most of our spare time researching environmental issues (especially global warming / climate change, which is increasingly a threat to the survival of humanity), and sharing what we learn with others.

We've had good times and bad times together throughout our years of activism and environmental education — when I'm feeling despondent about the future we humans are creating for life on Earth, Peter inspires me to keep at it. When Peter feels the weight of the world on his shoulders, I'm able to lift his spirits.

It's not easy doing this kind of work alone. Finding yourself at least one kindred spirit is vital. (We're happy to serve in that role if there's no one in your family, school or community you can share your green journey with. Feel free to contact us if we can help out in any way.)

Here we are in a more "casual" setting (geared up for ziplining — a fun way to travel downhill that uses no fossil fuels).

GreenHeart Education Philosophy — What We Believe In

Here is what we believe:

• We can green the "heart" of education.


• We can love all of the children, of all species, for all time. (With thanks to William McDonough)


• We can build community in harmony with each other and the rest of Nature, using sustainable development learning.


• We can run an equitable economy while conserving the natural world.


• We can develop in ways that meet the needs of everyone in the present (intragenerational equity) without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (intergenerational equity). (Adapted from Our Common Future, Brundtland Commission, 1987)

What People Have Said About GreenHeart Education

• Nature is all around us ... and I learned a lot about it from you. I liked the Heart Spots. I really hope that you come back next year.
• Thank you for the nature program. I liked the mask part the best.
• My favourite activity was the one where we made our own perfume.
• Thank you for giving me this gift of knowing so much about nature! It was so much fun doing the terrariums and other activities with you.
• You have done exceedingly well at helping us find ourselves in nature.
• Thanks for teaching me to be more aware of things around me.
• Thank you, Julie, for teaching us about nature. The best part was learning to be friends with nature.

Participants at the Community Forum on Sustainable Development, Pender Island, BC

• The forum was a great opportunity to wholistically experience a sustaining community.
• It's doable and it's exciting.
• I learned that we all have to participate and that the environmental, economic and social problems are all entwined and connected.
• Thanks, Julie, for a well-researched and inspiring presentation.

Participant at Pesticide Free Naturally! Forum, Nanaimo, BC

• Since Dr. Carter's presentation on Pesticides and Children's Health, our whole family has gone organic!

Chad Henderson, Executive Director of EcoConnections, Nanaimo, British Columbia

• Julie Johnston's workshop on Environmental Social Marketing to our board and employees was well organized and very interactive. Her unique approach to learning gave us tools to use in our workplace, and we went away with helpful action steps to take.

Andy Telfer, Executive Director, Coast Waste Management Association, British Columbia

• Julie received rave reviews for her workshop on Voluntary Simplicity. Her style is easy yet personally compelling as she takes you through an often humourous realization of how to reduce stress and achieve focus in your day to day life.

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