Dear Green Schools Supporter-
How can it be August already? It seems like the summer just began. Luckily, there was enough time for me to work on some District-wide projects, including efforts to improve the efficiency of our building stock, integrate green design principals into any new construction, and incentivize schools to save energy and water. I have also been pushing forward several transportation initiatives: early next school year we will be installing bike racks, which were kindly donated by the SFMTA, at a number of SFUSD campuses; we will also kick off a commuter benefits program for our staff so they can enjoy savings on transit tickets. Finally, www.greenthenextgen.com will be updated in two weeks with new information about our bike programs and additional descriptions of environmental education providers. I could tell you more but I am starting to bore myself, so enjoy this month's Greening the Next Generation and don't forget to spread the word.
Nik KaestnerDirector
of Sustainability SFUSD
|
Join SFUSD for West Coast Green
Special Pricing for the SFUSD Community
|
San Francisco Unified School District is proud to partner
with West Coast Green - the largest interactive conference on green innovation
for the built environment - at their 4th annual conference at Fort Mason in October. With this alliance, SFUSD affiliates will get a 20% DISCOUNT OFF A FULL CONFERENCE PASS! If you register by July 31st, you can also take advantage of the advance sales price.
Your pass includes access to all keynotes, leadership summits, education sessions, and the trade show floor. Enjoy:
* interactive sessions and summits on topics including green building, renewable energy, green products, and more
* top speakers who share their technical knowledge,
on-the-ground expertise, and visionary wisdom while inspiring action and change
* an expo floor featuring over 300 companies showcasing
the most current products and technologies
Register here to take advantage of your special SFUSD discount. |
Helping Students Cool the Earth
Hip Assembly Makes Climate Change Real for Students
|
 Alliance for Climate Education (ACE) visits high schools to deliver exciting,
science-based, multi-media presentations on the causes and impacts of climate change. The organization has given more
than 150 presentations in the spring semester alone, including Lincoln and Washington High Schools, and aims to reach 140,000
high school students by year-end.
During the presentations, students are empowered to make changes in their own lives that will reduce their contribution to the climate problem. Students and teachers love the presentation, and ACE has gotten a lot of great press since starting up earlier this year. ACE also provides grants
and scholarship opportunities to students and schools that have hosted the assembly.
If you would like to invite ACE to your high school, make sure you contact them soon. Slots are filling up fast and we want to make sure that SFUSD schools are well represented.
|
Show Me the Money!
Finding the Funds for Your Sustainable Projects
|
 The question on most schools' minds when they contact the SFUSD Sustainability Department is, "Where can we find some funding for our green projects?" The short answer is: all over the place. The problem is hearing about them.
Green The Next Generation regularly contains a list of current grant opportunities in the bar to the right. In addition, Nik Kaestner, SFUSD Director of Sustainability, contacts schools directly whenever he identifies funding sources for particular projects that might be of interest to them.
For schools who would like to expand their grant horizons beyond those two avenues, the following resources may be useful:
1. CA Integrated Waste Management Board
Numerous grant ideas in the areas of energy, environmental
education and justice, green schoolyards, and waste reduction.
2. CA Regional Environmental Education Community (CREEC)
Listing of grants for teachers and schools, including fundraisers.
3. Green Schools Initiative
The Greenbacks for Green Schools database has a list of ideas for a
wide variety of projects. The link is currently down, however.
4. SF Education Fund
This site has many resources, though they are not only for
environmental projects.
5. SF Green Schoolyard Alliance
A great list of garden and outdoor education grants.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
TEACHER TRAINING & RESOURCES
|
Environmental Science Center (ESC)The ESC hosts overnights for SFUSD elementary students and provides a monthly calendar with free kid friendly events as well as K-5 activities.
Classroom Earth Teachers can get grants to learn how to incorporate environmental topics in creative and informative lessons for their high school classes. Grad-level credit is available.
Garden & Composting Training
Garden for the Environment is now accepting applications for this Fall 2009 three- month certification which provides an
excellent intro to the techniques of organic gardening, urban
composting, and sustainable agriculture.
Save the Redwoods
Get a free Redwood Transect Kit to teach students about redwood forests, and apply for grants so they can actually go visit them.
GRANTS & FUNDING
For Environmental Projects
(September 20)
Bright Ideas Grants up to $10,000 are awarded to schools with innovative solar projects, environmental
curricula, science field trips, green school projects, and professional development.
For Solar Schools
(September 22)
Demonstration solar installations are available for up to forty schools in the PG&E service territory. Over twenty SFUSD schools have received this grant.
For Schoolyard Greening
SF Beautiful has grants up to $5,000 available for schools that want to create clean, healthy, and beautiful places for their kids to play.
For Energy Efficient Classrooms
Lutron makes up to $15,000 available to schools that come up with inspiring energy retrofit projects.
For Restoration
(October 9)
The Student Conservation Association's Green Your School Contest rewards service projects designed by high school
students that improve or restore their high
school environment.
|
|
|
