Mrs. Katie Burd Explores Sustainability in Norway Through Maron Travel/Study Grant

Made possible through the generosity of Monica and Norman Maron, the Maron Travel/Study Grant provides Moravian Academy faculty members with opportunities to broaden their professional work through travel and experiential learning. This year, one of three grant recipients, Mrs. Katie Burd, Merle-Smith Campus History teacher and Head of Sustainability, traveled to Norway to explore sustainability through agriculture, education, and public policy.

 

Katie spent part of her three-week journey living and working on a small family farm in central Norway. In exchange for room and board, she and her family helped with projects that supported the farmer's efforts to regenerate the land for food production and native wildlife. Katie removed invasive thistle and collected wildflowers that would be dried for duck feed, while her husband built a raised garden bed from reclaimed wood and her daughter helped care for the farm's ducks. Living alongside the family also offered a firsthand look at how stewardship of the land is woven into everyday life.

 

The experience extended beyond the farm. Katie visited a regional school, where she observed how sustainability is integrated into education through outdoor learning, community recycling programs, and strong connections between schools and the communities they serve. She also explored how Norway's commitment to sustainability and human rights is reflected in public policy and government transparency.

 

"The Maron Grant allowed me to experience a national culture that prioritizes sustainability and human rights," said Katie. "I will bring back to Moravian in both my 9th grade classroom's Government Unit and Human Rights Unit, as well as in Green Team curriculum, a concrete example of how Norway centers its morals in national policy, education, and cultural ethos."

 

Katie plans to use Norway as a case study in her Government Unit, where students examine transparency and civic responsibility. She also plans to incorporate lessons about regenerative agriculture into Green Team initiatives and classroom discussions, helping students better understand how individuals and communities can serve as stewards of the environment

 

Katie looks forward to sharing these experiences with students through her Government and Human Rights units, as well as Green Team initiatives, bringing real-world examples of sustainability, transparency, and environmental stewardship into the classroom.