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You can invite others to join Team Walden by
emailing the PDF or by inviting them to this website.
About Team Walden - 4 Page PDF
“In an age of global warming, bio-fuels, hybrid cars
and oil wars,” says play author Michael Johnathon, “this
project can introduce students to Thoreau as well as
environmental concerns in their own home towns at a time
when, frankly, they need it.”
The national event of the performance of Walden on Earth Day 2009 can effectively support Thoreau’s valuable
legacy and earth-minded educators. Again, the use and
performance of this original stage play is free to any
school wishing to participate. It can be as small
as a classroom (the two acts are 35 minutes long each)
or in front of hundreds in the school
theatre/auditorium. Educator’s can simply download all
the scripts, music and promotion materials from our
website ... put on a show and have a great time
What is Team Walden?
This is a group of volunteers across America and Canada
that want to help us get this play performed in their
communities. Anyone who wants to “roll up their sleeves”
and get the word out can be part of Team Walden.
Volunteers nationwide will work together to contact
schools, contact media, contact local environmental
organizations.
What is involved?
Can you spend a couple of hours some evening and write
emails or letters to your local school principals, drama
teachers, science teachers and environmental
coordinators? We will even provide the text for a basic
letter.
When can I start?
As soon as you want. Send an email with your contact
information to producer@waldenplay.com You will
receive email newsletters from us every few weeks with
ideas, suggestions and experiences from other Team
Walden members.
How do I start?
Once you have listed yourself with us you can begin
right away and at your own pace.
First
Make a list of all the high schools and colleges in your
community, usually a six county area. Of course, if you
live in a huge population, one county might be all you
can handle! On the average this should involve about
12-20 high schools and a few colleges. Most can be
easily found online. Collect the names and email
addresses of science and drama (theater) teachers in
each high school. Many colleges have an environmental
studies program as well.
Second
Make a list of any environmental groups in your
community. Many counties have Earth Day Coordinators
that can be very helpful. Sierra Clubs, Wilderness
groups, Audubon groups, Garden Clubs, etc. Many state
government websites are loaded with accurate and
accessible information.
Third
Send them an email maybe follow up with a brief phone call ...
and you’ve helped tremendously
What do I say?
That you are aware of a national project called Walden
that involves a performance play about Henry David
Thoreau. It is free to the schools and part of the
national recognition of Earth Day. You would love to see
the play performed in the schools and colleges in your
hometown and you want them to know about it. Direct them
to our website,
www.waldenplay.com and we can take it from
there.
I have friends that would like to get involved.
What should I do?
Great! Email them a copy of the “Team Walden” PDF and
they can get started in their hometownsl. Or send them
to our website for the same information. Working
together, we can involve thousands of schools and
colleges in this artistic, dramatic and exciting
project.
What if someone has a question and I don’t know the
answer?
No worries, we have you covered. Here’s a list of FAQs
but you can always refer people to our website ... or
ask us. We want to assist every way that we can!
Walden Play FAQs:
How do teachers get a copy of the Walden Play and
lesson plan?
Educators can go to our website with a provided password to access the teachers page of the site. There you will be able to simply download the play as a 55 page PDF.
How do they get the password?
Email
producer@waldenplay.com or ask for the
password from your state’s Earth Day Coordinator.
Another way is to FAX us on school stationary
859-225-4020. ALWAYS INCLUDE your name, grade, school
name, school address and phone number in your email or
fax request.
Can schools invite the public?
Yes, of course. We encourage it.
Can schools charge tickets as a fund raiser?
Yes.
Would schools owe royalties if we charge a ticket to
the public?
No, the play is free for educational use and a gift from
the author to the schools.
How can we promote the play?
The WaldenPlay website has a section for teachers to
use. It has pre-designed posters, handbills, radio PSA
scripts plus an 8 page Walden Play Program. The program
is essentially four 8 1/2” by 11” sheets of paper,
folded. The artwork is already laid out for the schools.
Can we sell ads in the provided program?
Yes, you can. Teachers simply print out the PDF
documents from our website, sell an ad to a local
business, paste the ad onto the provided spaces in the
program layout, and print as many copies as needed.
Students can collate and staple, they love to help out.
Does the play HAVE to be performed on Earth Day?
No, but we suggest that everyone try to do so for the
first performance of Walden. However, if local folks
feel another time is more suitable, we would love to
work with those schools.
Who is supporting this project?
Aside from the author: the Earth Day Network, American Forests, EarthCARE Canada, National Environemental Education Week, Mother Earth News magazine and PoetMan Records USA. By working together, the play is made available free of charge to schools.
We would love to work with you! Please email us at this
address
producer@waldenplay.com and we will be glad to
answer any questions. |
Join TEAM WALDEN and help us get
schools and students in your hometown involved this Earth Day 2008 event.