Basecamp#9 Americas

Change leaders from around the world will be joining us for our next US-based learning program, Basecamp#9, kicking off in May 2020. Starting on May 5th, we are offering an eight-month learning journey in partnership with the Garfield Foundation, to help you navigate complex challenges, map and diagnose systems, and engage others with far-reaching change processes.

Have a look at our program brochure for an overview, or read more below about the program and application process. You can read more about the School of System Change here.

Applications have closed for Basecamp#9. We encourage all to apply and note that we do have scholarships funds available, particularly earmarked for candidates who require financial support and with a particular focus on broadening the reach of our program to traditionally underrepresented groups in this space. Contact us with any questions that aren't answered after you read through the below. 

About the course

About our participants

More information & webinar sign-up

Apply now

About the course

What will I get from the course?

The participants on Basecamp #9 will complete this learning journey:

• Capable of understanding and diagnosing complex systems
• Equipped with a toolkit of varied systemic methods and approaches for developing and working on multi-stakeholder projects
• Prepared to make the right choices about where and how to act to create positive change
• Having tested their learning on complex, real-life sustainability challenges
• Ready to lead transformational change in their own field
• Linked to a powerful international network of people and support

How is the course structured?

The key dates and flow of the course are shown below.

The course runs over eight months - from May to December 2020 - and includes:

• Two virtual and one in-person sessions: two virtual sessions and one in-person (dependent on health and safety recommendations) in a retreat setting, location to be announced here shortly
• A collaborative team fieldwork project lasting about eight weeks
• Online learning with peer coaching and support from the School of System Change team

“The School provided a constant prompt to put theory into practice and learn from it” Rachel Jetel, We Mean Business

What are the course fees, and what’s included?

Course fees are as follows, based on sector / professional context:

• Corporate / philanthropy: $9800
• Non-profit / social enterprise / public sector: $6860
• Small organization / freelance / individual: $4900

A 30% discount from this full fee is offered to corporate and government partners of Forum for the Future.

Travel and accommodation costs are not included in the course fees, with the exception of your accommodation during the residential in-person session in July. 

How much time will I need to commit to the program?

In-person time:

• About 4 days as a full cohort, dependent on health and safety recommendations

Virtual and/or remote time:  

• 8 days working with your fieldwork team over May and June (depending on the project, this may be partially or fully remote)

Remote only:

• Approximately 5 hours a week through the duration of the program - whether working with fieldwork teams, readings, individual practice and exercises, peer coaching, and group support 

About our participants

What are the criteria for participating?

There are no specific minimum qualifications required to participate in Basecamp. However, we assume a base level understanding of sustainability (defined broadly as social and environmental issues in today’s world), as we do not include any introduction or specific learning on particular issues as part of the course. We expect that our participants will have varied sustainability backgrounds and contexts and this is fine (and in fact desired). We’ll be looking for a mix of issue expertise, whether that's in social justice, waste management, economic inequality, climate change, or anything in between.

We are looking for inspired and intrepid individuals from business, non-profits, public sector organizations, and philanthropy, along with any other enablers of change (like consultants, designers, or entrepreneurs) to form a strong cohort of at least twenty participants.

We expect you will have a strategic role and some decision-making capacity within your organization, community, or professional context so that you are well placed to directly and promptly apply your learning, and to feasibly implement strategic changes.

As a participant, you will identify a specific complex sustainability challenge (in the widest sense of the word, including social change), and commit to exploring that challenge (although it may evolve) during your applied learning journey through Basecamp. This means, for example, that you’re up for scoping or planning a new piece of work, re-visiting a strategy, or otherwise shifting or building on your current work as you learn and test out your new skills.

You need not be based in the US or even in the Americas. This program is called “Americas” to set it apart from our other evolving School of System Change programs in Europe and Asia, and because a majority of our expert contributors, case studies, and participants will come from the region. However, you will need to be able to travel to and attend the two four-day in-person sessions. If you are interested in joining an upcoming programme in the UK or Asia instead, you can express your interest through this form here.

Who will the other participants be?

Each of our cohorts is different. Our aim and one of our core program design principles is for diversity across the group in the broadest sense of the word - from racial and gender diversity, to diversity of professional setting (large organizations and small, different sectors along with freelancers and independents), to diversity of sustainability issue and area of expertise.

More information & webinar sign-up

We understand that it's a big step to take on a new course, especially alongside a full-time job. You can access a recording of one of our online information sessions for prospective applicants here.   

Please contact the School team with any further questions, or if you want to stay in touch for more information but aren't quite ready to apply, let us know using this online form.

How do I apply?

Application is closed. After you apply, we will contact you for a short interview with a member of our team. We will conduct interviews and begin to fill our cohort on a rolling basis - so apply early to reserve your place. 

Program brochure