Campus as a Living Lab: Community Centered Environmental Service Learning

During the Fall Quarter of 2018, California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB) students (GEOG 390) partnered with the Inland Empire Resources Conservation District (IERCD) to assists the CSUSB Housing and Residence Life program to develop educational programs aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture and water resource management. The purpose of this initiative was for students to learn how collaborative partnerships and shared expertise and resources can assist with educating the public through environmental stewardship and service based learning activities that collectively aim to reduce human impacts to Earth systems and related resources. This is an important component of supporting campus and community sustainability because the CSUSB Master Plan call for a major increase in on campus housing over the next decade. The Fall 2018 Campus as a Living Lab Project served as a pilot program that may supports future campus residential education programs as well as the expansion of the CSUSB Sustainability Living and Learning Community. This project developed multiple environmental education, outreach and volunteer opportunities for the campus as well as forging new partnerships that addressed goals 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the CSUSB 2015-2020 strategic goals