Transition United States (www.transitionus.org) is offering the two-day Training for Transition course as developed by the Transition Network in England (www.transitiontowns.org, www.transitionnetwork.org).  The course is an in-depth experiential introduction to Transition for those considering bringing Transition to their community.  It is recommended for local communities wishing to become an internationally-recognized Transition Initiative.

At the Training for Transition course, you will:

• Explore how the Transition process increases community resilience
• Receive tools for community outreach, education and engagement
• Learn how to summarize the Triple Challenge of Peak Oil, Climate, and Economic Instability in ways that move people to positive action
• Understand and know how to work with obstacles that have prevented our communities from recognizing and positively responding to the challenge of energy transition
• Experience ways that local social and economic community can be created and strengthened
• Learn ways of creating a positive, shared vision for your community’s future
• Receive support for becoming a Transition catalyst in your community
• Connect with others who are helping your region transition to greater stability and security
• Become a part of a rapidly growing positive, inspirational, global movement!

Curriculum:
The course describes how to catalyze, build and facilitate a successful Transition Initiative. It is packed with imaginative and inspiring ways to engage your community, and delves into both the theory and practice of Transition that has worked so well in hundreds of communities in the U.K. and around the world.

Who should attend: 
People interested in learning about Transition Towns in greater depth and leaders already creating a Transition Initiative in their community

Location: 
The training will be held in the meeting room of Panorama at the Peak Restaurant, just outside the town of Berkeley Springs, WV (the site of the nation’s first spa). Tuition includes lunch, prepared by Panorama, both days. Dulles International and Baltimore Washington International airports are each about 100 miles from Berkeley Springs. There is no public transportation from either the Baltimore or Washington areas to Berkeley Springs, so it would be necessary to rent a car at the airport. For those coming from the northeast corridor, there is Amtrak service to both Baltimore and Washington. Lodging information can be found at http://www.berkeleysprings.com. There is also a Best Western Inn just outside of town. In nearby Hancock, MD (6 miles) there is a Super 8 motel as well as an America’s Best Value Inn.

Preparation:
Participants are encouraged to do advance preparation as listed below:  

- Reading

• The Transition Handbook: From Oil Dependency to Local Resilience, by Rob Hopkins
• Transition Primer (free at: http://transitionnetwork.org/Primer/TransitionInitiativesPrimer.pdf)

- Viewing

• In Transition (watch free at:  www.vimeo.com/8029815