As I write this, I am on the way back from a most encouraging visit to The Kings University College in Alberta, Canada.  Kings is one of over fifty campuses featured in our recently released report, most of which are members of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, but only a handful of which are currently signatories to the Presidents’ Climate Commitment. 

Recently, the President of Kings was given an opportunity to sign onto the University and College Presidents’ Climate Changes Statement of Action for Canada (the Canadian equivalent of the AUCPCC).  He declined at that point out of concern for how technically feasible it would be and how much support he would get from the campus community. 

When a group of student leaders at Kings found out about this, they immediately stepped up to encourage their President to sign the statement and worked hard putting together a strong case for why this would be a good step for their campus, and then how to make it work.  They convinced him, and I had the privilege of being there when they announced his decision to become a signatory. 

Dr. John Wood making the announcment on behalf of President Fernhout that he would sign the Climate Commitment

This was a huge cause for celebration on their campus but, even so, it is just one of the many positive steps happening at Kings lately.  The same wonderful group of students – calling themselves “Kings Keepers” – have also been working hard to start a community vegetable garden and composting program, and to launch the annual Environmental Stewardship Challenge among the campus body.

The Environmental Stewardship Challenge (ESC) is a month-long period where campus community members are invited to make practical commitments to reduce their environmental footprint. Each week has its own focus (water, energy, waste, and then a combined final week) and participants, numbering up to a quarter of their campus population, are encouraged to set their own goals and then track and report their progress back to the team.

Aside from speaking and meeting with students, I was blessed to watch a performance by the very talented and popular campus band, Whisker Kiss, and share a message as part of the "Healing Divisions" series at Fellowship Church.  Though it was a terrific trip all-around, one of the greatest memories is of the day-long field trip Dr. Mike Ferber took a group of us on to the Canadian Rockies where we saw the Maligne Canyon, the quaint town of Jasper, and the receeding Athabasca glacier. 

Words cannot begin to describe the beauty of God's creation that we were humbled to witness that day!