Advancing transformative green infrastructure in your community

A self-directed online course

 

This is a self-directed course, designed to:

  • Provide you with some basic information on green infrastructure and its benefits compared with traditional stormwater management;
  • Help you create a plan to advance green infrastructure in your community. 

You’ll learn: 

  • What happens to rain when it falls on cities, and how it impacts our water;
  • The traditional approach to stormwater management;
  • The green infrastructure approach, its benefits and its challenges.

The course is aimed at community groups, activists, and influencers looking to learn more about green infrastructure, how it can benefit their communities, and how to make it happen locally. No prior knowledge is required for this course.

View the curriculum overview.

Access the course content here, or see below.

This material has been developed by Green Communities Canada and the Canadian Freshwater Alliance, with support from the Our Living Waters Network and other funders.

While this course does not have an active instructor, contact Lindsay Telfer at [email protected] if you or your organization are looking for mentoring or support for advancing transformative green infrastructure in your community.

Week 1: The natural and urban water cycles and impacts of urban runoff

In this unit, you’ll learn:

  • The basics of the natural and urban water cycles;
  • The impacts of disrupting the water balance;
  • The impacts or runoff polllution.

Lesson 1: The natural and urban water cycles

Lesson 2: Urban runoff pollution

More content:

Check your understanding with the Week 1 self-assessment.

Week 1 Activity

This week’s activity is designed to help you begin to understand the current situation around water and stormwater in your community.

Week 2: Traditional Stormwater Management

This week, you’ll learn:

  • The basics of traditional stormwater management

Traditional stormwater management

More Content:

Test your understanding with the Week 2 self-assessment.

Week 2 Activity

This week’s activity will walk you through understanding your community’s current approach to stormwater management.

Week 3: Introduction to Green Infrastructure

This week, you’ll learn:

  • The basic principles of green infrastructure
  • The different types of green infrastructure practices

What is green infrastructure?

Slow it down, soak it up, keep it clean

More Content:

Test your understanding with the Week 3 self-assessment.

Week 3 Activity

This week’s activity has you investigating the policies and programs that your community has in place to promote green infrastructure.

Week 4: Benefits and challenges of green infrastructure

This week,  you’ll learn:

  • Where green infrastructure can be located
  • Benefits of green infrastructure implementation
  • Common challenges of green infrastructure implementation.

Benefits of green infrastructure implementation

Common challenges of green infrastructure implementation

More Content:

Test your understanding with the Week 4 self-assessment.

Week 4 Activity

This week’s activity walks you through creating a local action plan for advancing transformative green infrastructure in your community. Note that this activity is more involved than those previous and will take more time!