About the Discussion Courses

Home

Course Schedule

 

 

 These discussion courses are intended to promote dialogue, not consensus. With the aid of readings in the course book and the discussion format, participants learn from themselves and from each other. In offering the courses, the Northwest Earth Institute and the Earth Institute of West Michigan have a singular purpose: Motivating people to accept greater responsibility for the earth and to act on that commitment. Because participants come into the course with diverse values, attitudes, and habits, accepting greater responsibility is an individual matter.

Courses are usually 8 to 12 people who meet weekly for 1 ½ hours to discuss readings from a course book. Courses are informal and range from 7 to 9 sessions. Course books, each about 100 to 150 pages, contain a diverse collection of short essays, articles, and book excerpts organized around weekly themes to create lively discussion. The only fee for each course is the cost of the book, at $25 per course. Weekly discussion questions are provided, and facilitators may add their own. There are no right answers, sharing ideas and respect for varied view points is valued.

A suggested meeting format is also included. Each meeting consists of two parts: an opening and a facilitated discussion. Sessions are voluntarily facilitated by members of the group on a rotating basis. Facilitator guidelines are included in each book. This format encourages a process which:

• Establishes trust, respect, and a sense of community among group members.
• Allows participants to seek personal clarity without group consensus.
• Creates a supportive environment for personal change.

Each course is different.  Although many people begin with the Voluntary Simplicity course, the courses were not designed to be taken in any particular order.  You are invited and encouraged to take them all!