8. INTERPRETATION

Do you remember your most recent visit to a National Park? At the entrance gate you were given a map that highlights the key natural features of the landscape and suggests places for you to visit.

If you went to the interpretive center, you saw several educational displays, explaining the ecological, historical, or geological setting that makes the place so special.

What if college campuses took a similar approach? When you arrive on campus you receive a guide to the campus’s sustainability efforts. This would include tours, exhibits, recommended buildings to visit, and other features of the sustainable landscape. Campus signage would emphasize these initiatives, and admissions tours would point out these features, too.

Are there organic gardens on campus? Show them on a map and explain why they are there. Is there a geothermal installation? Develop a kiosk at the site that diagrams how it works. Is there a LEED-certified building on campus? Make the LEED plaque the starting point for a guided tour through the building. If the campus is in the desert, explain how the ecological setting determines water-usage patterns. If it’s in a cold climate, explain how the campus stays warm through innovative energy design. Make these stories ubiquitous through signage, curriculum, website exhibits, and all campus publications.

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