Green Passport Overview

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The Green Passport program, originated by Rodney Vargas, is an exciting intercollegiate initiative that promotes socially and environmentally conscious study abroad experiences. Abroad View, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Living Routes, Ithaca College, and Middlebury College helped develop this program, which is now open to all colleges and universities.

How to participate:

1. Please read the Green Passport Pledge. If you agree to the code of conduct, please sign up for your own Green Passport at http://greenpassport.ning.com. The process takes only a few minutes, and then you'll be on your way to going green.

2. If you are a Facebook member, please join the Green Passport for Study Abroad group.

3. In preparation for "greening" your experience abroad, check out the article "Sustainable Travel and Study Abroad" for suggestions on things you can do to make a positive difference when you go abroad; also keep in mind the suggested Green Passport guidelines below.

4. Once you have committed to keeping track of actions you will take abroad that are within the suggested guidelines of a responsible traveler and/or which seek to make connections regarding sustainability concepts, please document your actions on your Green Passport blog. You can write brief descriptions about what you do to minimize your footprint on the local environment and culture; or, you can report on area- or project-specific environmental practices that you learn about abroad. If you are involved in a community-based project or organization focused on some aspect of sustainability, please write about it. You can post Forum discussions, start a group within the Green Passport program, upload photos and videos, and much more using your Green Passport account at http://greenpassport.ning.com.

The main idea is for you to keep track of what you do abroad to be more environmentally and socially responsible, so that you can help inspire and educate others. If you won't have computer access while abroad, please keep a journal, which will aid you in reporting on your experiences after you return home.