Regeneration Project

Regeneration
Empowering Students to Tackle the Climate Crisis Through Art

𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱
𝟵𝟬 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁, 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝗖𝗧

In October 2024, over 100 students, grades 5-12, from ten Connecticut schools arrived at AMP to meet for the first time and begin work on the Regeneration Project. Most of the kids in the group had never been in our space before or seen the mural. The sounds coming from all three levels as they explored and talked among themselves was thrilling. The day’s agenda was organized by Michelle Begley, AMP Education Director. Altogether and in break-out groups, the students and teachers discussed different ideas and approaches for their projects. By the end of the day, lots of new friendships made, the kids headed to their buses with Regeneration sketchbooks in hand, ready to begin work on the project.

Inspired by the best -selling book by Paul Hawken (an AMP Advisor), Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation, AMP’s project invites students to explore environmental justice and regeneration as they collaborate to create a permanent installation for AMP’s ramp gallery. The most exciting part of this project: we will be hearing directly from the students. The designs, the materials, and the methods they chose in creating their pieces, these are totally up to them. The teachers are there to help them succeed with whatever they have in mind. These 80 plus students own this project.

For the next six months the students, supported by their art teachers and school principals, are working on their pieces and in their sketchbooks back at school. Ellen is visiting each school at least once during this time to check in, see what they are working on and offer help…but mostly to get excited with them about their projects. After Earth Day, AMP will collect all the work the students have completed and get it back to Winsted. Ellen will then start to assemble the final work of art in time for the most exciting part of the project: Paul’s visit to AMP to meet all the students and sign his new book: Carbon.

There is no more exciting finish imaginable for a project named after and dedicated to Paul and his life’s work.

“𝗪𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱, 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲, 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘂𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮, 𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮.” ― 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹 𝗛𝗮𝘄𝗸𝗲𝗻

Regeneration Project

RegenerationEmpowering Students to Tackle the Climate Crisis Through Art

Regeneration
Empowering Students to Tackle the Climate Crisis Through Art