Nominate a Green Difference Maker Today!

Project Green Schools honors and recognizes Outstanding Energy, Environmental & STEAM Education efforts led in our Schools & Communities through our Annual Green Difference Awards program.

It’s time to nominate Green Difference Makers for the 2021 GDA’s! Green Difference Makers can be Principals, Teachers, Advisors, Students, Citizens, Schools, School Groups/Clubs who have demonstrated exemplary energy and environmental leadership in their schools and communities. 

Awards are given out this year in the following areas of Outstanding Green/Sustainable Practices in:

  • Climate Education and Action
  • Energy
  • Food and Agriculture
  • Green and Healthy Schools
  • Land, Air, Natural World
  • Outdoor Learning and Exploration
  • STEM and the Future of Sustainability
  • Water Conservation
  • Waste Management
  • Lifetime Achievement Award for a hero who has dedicated his/her/their life to Green Education

Additionally, Green Schools Society Students are honored and celebrated through this annual recognition program. Learn more here.

Click to nominate a Green Difference maker today! Deadline: Friday, March 26th at midnight EST.
Please Welcome Our Newest Advisory Board Members

Project Green Schools is pleased to welcome Mark Thekkethala to our Advisory Board.

Mark Thekkethala, former PGS Student Co-President, is a 4th year Computer Science major at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. Currently, he is working as a Technology Analyst on the Internal Automation Group for Bain & Company. Mark is an analytical, problem solver with experience in emerging technologies and a passion for developing innovative, sustainable solutions to address global ... Read Full Bio.
Project Green Schools is pleased to welcome Avalon Jade Theisen to our Advisory Board.

PGS Partner and former National Youth Council Delegate to COP21, Avalon Jade is a passionate changemaker with over a decade of service to people and planet, dedicated to empowering others to Conserve It Forward for a sustainable future. Avalon Jade was 7 years old when she first realized she could make positive, effective change. Her efforts resulted in the creation of a non-profit organization. Encouraging the use of kindness and compassion to confront global issues, she has traveled the world to share her message and work alongside others. Read Full Bio.
Introducing Project Green Schools' Corporate Climate Council

Project Green Schools is pleased to announce it has launched a new Corporate Climate Council, which aims to connect businesses, education and the next generation of environmental leaders. This announcement came on the heels of the kickoff to Climate Week NYC the week of September 21, 2020, in which the PGS National Youth Council hosted a session on “Back to School Sustainability” to connect on the climate crisis with their peers.

The Corporate Climate Council invites visionary companies to work collaboratively with the Council’s Leadership Team made up of Staff, Board, Advisory Board, National Youth Council Members, schools and communities to create meaningful, long-lasting change. The Corporate Climate Council stems from the belief that innovative companies’ actions are critical in fighting climate change and are vital in creating awareness for the next generation. This Council will create opportunities for student leaders to connect with government, corporate and professional leaders about solutions to 21st Century challenges while making connections that help youth find their place in higher education and the workforce. Learn more and join the Corporate Climate Council.
Bring "Race for the Planet: Virtual Edition" to Your School in 2021!

Project Green Schools is engaging schools in our second year of “Race for the Planet” and we invite you to be part of this new way to engage students, schools and communities in climate action with some of our favorite Eco Leaders; Bill McKibben, Jamie Margolin, Enes Kanter, Philippe and Ashlan Cousteau, Senator Chloe Maxmin, Ovie Mughelli, and others.. Participants will compete in energy and environmental games and challenges held throughout the year focusing on energy, water, waste, and sustainability, to raise funds to support a unique project goal to Green Up Your School/Community. For example, you could host Race for the Planet during Climate Week, Earth Day/Week, Field Day, etc. Learn more and register here. 
Join Redford Center Stories Project

Looking for engaging, media-rich, free, high-quality, ready-to-use, project-based curriculum and resources to engage your students with storytelling, film, science, and social and environmental justice?

The Redford Stories Project, through The Redford Center in San Francisco, is an environmental storytelling initiative for students, designed to empower educators and youth as changemakers exploring and activating the power of storytelling to impact environmental justice, restoration and repair.

This free program provides flexible, cross-disciplinary curriculum (PDFs, Google slides, media); opportunities to learn with filmmakers & activists; mini- challenges; and support in helping students create and contribute a 90-second film to a youth film showcase and celebration in April 2021.

In partnership with incredible organizations doing work to empower youth and climate solutions, this project is about young people's agency and capacity for vibrant impact and meaningful contribution.
Meet Our New Partners - Plastic Tides and Am4Teens
At Plastic Tides, we believe plastic is a starting point to open discussion around all aspects of sustainability and that sharing everyday solutions to the issue will inspire the next generation. By starting with youth, a circle of education is born, where the students eventually become the teachers, inspiring generations to come. Through our Global Youth Mentorship (GYM) Program, Youth Leaders and their Mentor will pursue an individual project focused on creating a lasting impact in their school or community. Each project has exponential effects, with impacts expanding globally. GYM empowers youth to be leaders of change; with the right tools and support, individual Youth Leaders can have an enduring and widespread impact.


Am4teens is a virtual non-profit organization providing high school students with numerous opportunities to give back and support our communities, one step at a time. Learn more
PGS Green Difference Award Winner Becomes Children's Author

Multi-year Green Difference Award Winner, Jennifer Suzara-Cheng, a Filipino American grandmother who is passionate about many things, particularly the environment and Filipino culture has now become a children's author.

The Children's Nature Book Series uses living organisms as platforms for reading to plant a seed of awareness in the future generations. Titles including ‘My First Book of Animals’ and ‘My First Book of Plants’ are “print on demand.”

Design Compelling Virtual and Hybrid Instructional Content and Projects with CWI's Virtual Institutes

Teach for Social Justice through Experiential Learning. Bring your vision, program, and project ideas to CWI's 2020-21 VIRTUAL Institutes, our acclaimed learning and design lab. Institute workshops include inspiring learning from our Institute faculty that will support your teaching and programs, whether virtual or in person/hybrid. The Institute is the ideal opportunity for individual educators or teams to begin or advance projects and programs that are flexible for virtual and in-person/hybrid learning scenarios. Our Virtual Institutes are highly experiential, capturing the substance and alchemy of CWI professional events—without geographic limitations—allowing us to bring exciting new resources into our process.

Learn more about the WINTER Virtual Institute 2021 January 7-9.
Planting the Seeds Monthly Mental Health Series

Project Green Schools is honored to have our PGS Advisory Board Member, Jill Sylvester a licensed mental health counselor and author, providing monthly strategies and tips for our mental health.

Grounding is one of the most important strategies in dealing with our anxious feelings.

Here is a grounding activity, whether you are a student or adult, to help pave the way to feeling better should you find yourself in a moment of distress:

Breathe.
Stop where you are in order to regain a feeling of control and take a deep breath. Then another. Then another. If you are able to go outside and take deep breaths in nature, all the better. Breathing in fresh, outside air helps to clear your energy field. It also helps usher in solutions to whatever is causing you stress and brings greater peace of mind. Feel your feet against the earth while you breathe, regaining a sense of control. Then, move forward.

Trying these strategies now, at the beginning of the year, helps plant the seeds for success. Try it yourself and see.

Jill 
Jill Sylvester is a licensed mental health counselor, author of the Nautilus award winning book,"Trust Your Intuition: 100 Ways to Transform Anxiety and Depression for Stronger Mental Health," and host of the "Trust Your Intuition Podcast." She is also the creator of Planting the Seeds, a Mom's Choice Award winning line of social and emotional tools and curriculum for parents and teachers and serves on the advisory board for Project Green Schools. Her work has been featured in Well+Good, Bustle, SheKnows, WorkingMother, Parenthood, TeenMentor, and OprahMag.com. For more information, please subscribe at www.jillsylvester.com or like us on Instagram at @Jill_Sylvester or @Plantingtheseedscards. 
Keep Massachusetts Beautiful Talking Trash & Recycling Presentation

Schedule a FREE Talking Trash & Recycling Presentation. Many people remain confused about what should go in their trash and what should go in their recycling bin. Today more than ever, there is a huge need for more recycling education.

Keep Massachusetts Beautiful’s Talking Trash & Recycling program is an interactive presentation that teaches Massachusetts students and residents about the best ways to manage trash and recyclables at school, home, or work. This program is funded by a grant from MassDEP and is delivered at no cost to you!

The Talking Trash & Recycling program is delivered in about 45 minutes via Zoom (or in person if COVID conditions improve), with 15-30 additional minutes for questions and answers at the end of each session. Please note, a minimum of 20 registrations is required in order to host a presentation.

If you are looking for environmental programming for the upcoming semester or to coincide with Earth Day on April 22, 2021, the Talking Trash & Recycling program is a great good fit.

Please visit website for more information.
U.S. D.O.E's Green Ribbon Schools 2021 Application Process

If your institution has not already been recognized, now is a great time to begin preparing for the 2021 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) application cycle by using the resources and programs available on Green Strides

Read some common misconceptions about the award dispelled in a blog, and review frequently asked questions about all three award categories.  

For 2021 applications, interested colleges and universities may contact state higher education authorities, while preschools, elementary and secondary schools, and districts may contact state educational agencies. Schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions are eligible only if nominated by a state authority. State education authorities may contact ED-GRS for more information. The deadline for states to submit nominees to ED his now March 1, 2021.
Apply for the President's Environmental Youth Award and Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators

The application period is now open for the 2021 President's Environmental Youth Award (PEYA) program and the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators (PIAEE). The PEYA program recognizes outstanding environmental stewardship projects by K–12 youth, promoting awareness of our nation's natural resources and encouraging positive community involvement. The PIAEE recognizes outstanding kindergarten through grade 12 teachers who employ innovative approaches to environmental education and use the environment as a context for student learning. Applications for both programs are due Feb.19, 2021. 
EPA Indoor Air Quality Webinars


Head to the new EPA Healthy Indoor Environments in Schools Webinar Series webpage to find webinars about best ventilation and cleaning practices, intended to help school staff in responding to concerns in their facilities.
Calendar of Events/Days to Celebrate

February
  • 2nd: World Wetlands Day
  • 11th: International Day of Women & Girls in Science

March
  • 3rd: World Wildlife Day
  • 2nd Friday: Solar Appreciation Day
  • 20th/21st: Spring (Vernal) Equinox
  • 21st: International Day of Forests
  • 22nd: World Water Day
  • 23rd : World Meteorological Day
  • Last Saturday: Earth Hour

April
Project Green Schools |3 Village Green North #311 PMB 191, Plymouth, MA 02360 | info@projectgreenschools.org www.projectgreenschools.org