Now is the time to sign up for a National Green Schools Society Chapter for your school and students. Complete a NGSS Application TODAY. 

I was recruited to join the Wellesley Middle School Green Team when I was in the sixth grade. Since then, I have become more involved with different local and state organizations pertaining to sustainability as I have learned more about the benefits of and need for sustainability.

No specific person gets all the credit for inspiring me to become involved in helping the environment; simply spending time outdoors and in the world has made me come to appreciate it. If I had to choose, doing service work and exploring the world with the Boy Scouts has really helped me connect with the environment around me by exposing it to me first hand.

National Green Schools Society has grown significantly during the 2014-2015 school year. Here are some of our highlights:

• 168 students in grades 4-12 received NGSS recognition for environmental community service at the Green Difference Awards in Boston, MA in May, 2015.
• 14 new NGSS chapters joined during the 2014-2015 school year.
• 16 students graduated with honors from NGSS, including students from Massachusetts and California.
• 51 Massachusetts high students joined the Massachusetts Green Student Leadership Council, a NGSS youth leadership development program.
• NGSS student leaders participated in several outstanding programs:
• Co-presidents Ian Rizzitano and Sam Koufman, and Junior officers Jamison Wrinn and Haley Organ, were invited to take part in the White House Champions of Change Climate Literacy and Education Student Roundtable at the White House in Washington, DC, February 2015.
• Melissa Cowell, NGSS Communications Officer, sat on the Green Schools National Conference Advisory Board and attended the GSNC in Virginia Beach, VA in March, 2015.

When you become a National Green Schools Society Chapter you can get started right away with environmental service projects from our outstanding partners. We know that it is common for students and advisors to wonder about where to go for project ideas or they may have a hard time getting the environmental club started during the first few months of the year. To help you get started and keep the momentum going, check out our partner programs and pick one. We have carefully selected these partner programs because they are well supported, easy to implement, and really deliver on environmental impact in schools and communities. At the end of the year, apply for NGSS recognition using the projects and programs from our partners or use your school-based projects! All of these programs are FREE.

Through school-based action teams of students, administrators, educators and community volunteers, NWF's Eco-Schools USA combines effective "green" management of the school grounds, the facilities and the curriculum; truly providing students with a unique, research and application based learning experience. The Eco-Schools program strives to model environmentally sound practices, provide support for greening the curriculum and enhance science and academic achievement. Additionally, it works to foster a greater sense of environmental stewardship among youth.

Alliance for Climate Education (ACE)
ACE does two things best. First, it teaches climate science that puts teenagers at the center of the story. The live, in-school assembly is award-winning and proven to work. Second, it gives every student a chance to take action. For some, it's a small lifestyle change. For others, it's hands-on preparation for a lifetime of leadership. The ACE Assembly combines climate science with pop culture entertainment to create an unforgettable experience. Since 2009, ACE has reached nearly two million students.

 The Center for Green Schools at the US Green Building Council (USGBC)

Green Apple Day of Service
Green Apple is a global movement to put all children in schools where they have clean and healthy air to breathe, where energy and resources are conserved, and where they can be inspired to dream of a brighter future. The Green Apple Day of Service, will take place on Saturday, September 26, 2015, although students and schools can host a Green Apple Day of Service any time throughout the year. The event gives parents, teachers, students, companies and local organizations the opportunity to help transform schools into healthy, safe and productive learning environments through local service projects.

 Green Schools Alliance

Planet Aid
Planet Aid is a nonprofit organization that collects and recycles used clothing and shoes to protect the environment and support sustainable development in impoverished communities around the world. The projects it support improve health, increase income, aid vulnerable children, train teachers, and help strengthen communities and reduce poverty. Planet Aid's local offices work with schools, youth groups, and community organizations to raise environmental awareness and inspire participants help make a difference in the world. Thousands of schools and other organizations across the United States already host a bright yellow Planet Aid recycling bin, which not only makes it easy to reduce waste but also serves as a humble reminder of the good that can be done in the world.