What is Veep?

VEEP History

The Vermont Energy Education Program (VEEP) was founded in 1979 by the Vermont Departments of Public Service and Education in response to a dramatic increase in requests from teachers for energy and the environmental curricula during the oil embargo. Fran Barhydt, a nationally-recognized "teacher of teachers," was hired by VEEP in 1988 and was joined in 1992 by Andy Shapiro an energy consultant and teacher with broad expertise in energy science. Their first collaboration on solar workshops related to the Tourde Sol- was a great success and inspired them to develop a range of energy curricula using exemplary teaching approaches in science, math, and technology. This collaboration has formed the core of VEEP's approach: engaging students around the pressing social and environmental issue of our time - energy.

Today VEEP seeks energy literacy for all of Vermont's teachers and students through our core programs:

  • Curricula and professional development for educators, providing training, follow-up support, and equipment on many energy topics
  • Green Schools program, a comprehensive energy reduction effort to implement behaviors and technologies that enables the school to become more energy efficient; thus saving energy costs and reducing greenhouse gases and other pollutants
  • In-class interactive presentations delivered by VEEP energy educators

More on what is VEEP >

 

Our Recent Accomplisments

  • Cited by the Governor's Council on Climate Change as an exemplary model for nonprofit partnership with Vermont schools
  • Chosen as one of ten presenters to the Vermont Science Teachers' Convention on in Stowe on March 31, 2010
  • Served over 900 students in 13 Vermont counties, expanding our reach in the 2008-2009 school year.
  • Developed and piloted in 2009 a new in-class presentation, “Renewables Are Ready”
  • Introduced VEEP’s programs to the Vermont State House Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in early 2010
  • Governor Jim Douglas and Senator Bernie Sanders each took a spin on the VEEP energy bike, joining the over 10,000 Vermonters who have done so since 2004