february, 2020
Event Details
Each Beyond Waste Student Summit will be comprised of 100 students from local campuses coming from all levels of experience. We will spend the majority of the time role-playing the development of projects that build a future we want to live in. Through this, we will explore organizing tools and strategies for on and off campus campaigns. While each regional summit will be slightly different they will all have the following content.
Presentations and Simulations will cover:
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The principals of circular economy
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Sustainable business and social entrepreneurship
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The community health impacts of plastics
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Capitalism and the waste crisis
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Plastic and the fossil fuel industry
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Environmental racism and the impacts of landfill and incinerators
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Accessibility in the zero waste movement
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The linear consumption economy and climate change
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Hands-On Organizing Simulations
Attendees will be given the choice of 10-12 fictional organizing scenarios. They will be encouraged to choose the one that closely resembles a project they are involved in or want to start. With the guidance of an experienced organizer, they will be given a packet of information about their project and the surrounding circumstances and tasked with making strategic decisions. Through several rounds, they will present their plans to a panel of decision-makers who will push the hypothetical scenario along with new challenges and opportunities. With each round, the teams will be challenged to envision success, create roles, write proposals, develop budgets, choose strategic targets, and more.
Projects include:
- Campus wide composting
- Break Free From Plastic campus pledge
- Fight a local incinerator or landfill
- On campus free/thrift store
- Move out project
- Campus wide reusable to-go container programs
- Zero waste club
- Right to Repair in your state
- Partnership with local sustainable business
Tools you will leave with
Project Planning
- Creating campaign goals
- Navigating unexpected obstacles as a team
- Stakeholder and target mapping to navigate on and off campus networks
- Identifying opportunities and making strategic decisions as a group
- Resiliency in the face of failure
Group Facilitation
- Working together in a small group
- Establishing group norms
- Delegation for quick decisions and collective accountability
Communications
- Creating a volunteer/new member recruitment plan
- Developing an elevator pitch
- Creating a social media plan and/or press release
- Pitching creative solutions to complex problems within an existing system
The Details
The best way to get to a summit is secure sponsorship from your campus. Most campuses have funds or departments for student development. We have created a handy guide to help you secure funding from your campus. You can find it linked here.
Ticket Prices
Tickets are sold on a sliding scale at the following prices:
True Cost | $350
Subsidized | $200
Subsidized | $100
Bulk Pricing | 5 tickets for $400
We will never turn anyone away for lack of funding. If you want to attend a summit but do not have the funding please fill out the interest form. We will support you in every way we can!
Food, Housing and Travel
Food: all summits provide at least one full meal and plenty of snacks and drinks.
Housing: we are working to provide free housing to all attendees who need it for all events! Fill out the housing request form at least 3 weeks before the event you are attending to secure your spot.
Travel: scholarships are available for all events. Fill out the scholarship form to apply
Sign me up!
Step 1: Fill out the Interest Form
Step 2: Have a conversation with PLAN Staff about how many students from your campus you would like to bring.
Step 3: Use our support tools to secure funding from a department on campus.
Step 4: Work with us to figure out all of the other details: travel, housing, assigning tickets…etc.
Step 5: Attend your regional summit!