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Interact With Green Schools!
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Happy New Year! We hope everyone had a wonderful winter break and you are all gearing up for some great work in 2016! A few reminders for our Chapter members:
1) Don't forget to have an induction ceremony for new students. This can happen in the fall, spring or you can have rolling inductions if need be. Student fees can be collected at this time.
2) Don't forget to keep track of your student service hours, especially those on the graduating track so you can receive Green Schools recognition.
4) Don't forget to check out our Partner Page for more ideas for service projects and events for your school. Reminder that NGSS Partner page which contains contacts for our Partners is password protected. If you need a password reminder please send us an email.
5) Our Chapter Profile Page is LIVE! We will have an ongoing collection of Chapter Profiles and Student Profiles so continue to send in your amazing work!
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Early Bird Registration Open
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 The Green Schools Conference & Expo (GSCE) brings together green schools thought leaders and champions, connecting educators, school administrators, nonprofit and corporate partners, and elected officials to advance the shared mission of green schools for all within this generation.
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Antarctic STEM opportunity for High School Students
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High school juniors are invited to apply for two National Science foundation supported polar science programs: Joint Science Education Project to Greenland and Joint Antarctic School Expedition to King George Island.
During the Joint Science Education Project (JSEP), students and teachers from the US, Denmark, and Greenland come together to learn about the research conducted in Greenland and the logistics involved in supporting it. JSEP has two educational units. Dartmouth faculty and graduate students work closely with the Greenland government funded Kangerlussuaq Science Field School. Dartmouth has primary responsibility for the Science Education Week portion of JSEP.
During the JASE program students and teachers will travel to Antarctica via Punta Arenas, Chile, where they will join a group of Chilean high school students, teachers, and scientists for an exciting week of hands-on science on King George Island. Students will participate in a number of activities, such as tours of Antarctic science facilities, studies of animal behavior at marine habitats, vegetation surveys at glacial margins, and glaciological studies.
The ONLINE STUDENT APPLICATION for JSEP 2016 and JASE 2017 is now open until January 31, 2016. Students can apply for one or both programs using the same application (see eligibility requirements for JSEP and JASE).
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Student Climate & Conservation Congress - Apply Online!
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Be a part of a week-long journey that lasts a lifetime! The mission of the Student Climate & Conservation Congress (Sc3) is to empower outstanding student environmental leaders with the skills, knowledge, and tools to address climate change and natural resource conservation challenges and better serve their schools and communities. 
WHEN: Sunday, June 26 - Saturday, July 2, 2016
WHERE: National Conservation Training Center, Shepherdstown, WV
WHO: Current 8th - 11th Grade Students
(A limited number of faculty positions are available for educators.)
COST: $950 if you apply by March 15. 6 nights, all-inclusive (except transportation to WV). Financial Aid is available.
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Events and Programs
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Cultivating Community in School Gardens
February 19, 2016 · 8 am - 4 pm · The Gardens at Elm Bank, Wellesley, MA
This conference is intended for school teachers, administrators, students, garden club mentors, librarians, parents, preservationists and civic organizations. The day will feature workshops that explore regional best practices for planning a garden that will endure seasons and administration changes, meet educational goals and serve generations of healthy, growing children. Speakers will share expertise and experience on topics including garden planning and maintenance, curriculum connections, engaging students and community, and funding.
 Manchester Essex Regional School District Green Team 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
The principle goals of this training are to learn how to: - Implement exemplary and sustainable practices in your K-12 school
- Reduce environmental impact and costs
- Provide experiential environmental education designed to learn many disciplines including STEAM subjects, develop leadership and civic skills, and hone critical thinking skills
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 World of 7 Billion Video Contest
Back by popular demand, the World of 7 Billion student video contest can help you bring technology and creativity into your middle and high school classes. The contest challenges your students to create a short (60 seconds or less) video illustrating the connection between world population growth and one of three global challenges dealing with either Deforestation, Public Health, or Water Scarcity. Students can win up to $1,000 and their teachers will receive free curriculum resources. The contest deadline is February 25, 2016. Full contest guidelines, resources for research, past winners, and more can be found at www.worldof7billion.org/student-video-contest .  Students between the ages of 13 and 21 are invited to participate in the national Young Reporters for the Environment competition. The competition asks students to investigate an environmental issue and report on it choosing one of three different media types: writing, photography or video. Submission deadline: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 Learn More
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Donate NOW to Support Green Schools
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Make a tax-deductible contribution to Green Schools and you will support environmentally responsible students and schools.
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Start a National Green Schools Society Chapter TODAY!
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Now is the time to sign up for a National Green Schools Society Chapter for your school and students. Complete a NGSS Application TODAY.
National Green Schools Society (NGSS) provides a k-12 student recognition and awards program for environmentally focused students who are creating extraordinary impact in schools, organizations, and communities. Many of our students join NGSS to receive recognition for environmental service projects, environmental activism and leadership, environmental STEM projects (E-STEM), school projects that focus on the environment, and group projects. NGSS often is the catalyst to start or restart an environmental club in a school, and it serves as a continual motivator for students and advisors to maintain the club each year. This year we worked with students in public, private, charter, and home school.
For 2014-2015 school year, we recognized an array of student projects that include:
- Environmental service project building trails in the Puerto Rico rainforest
- Recycled art and ocean project
- Elementary education program created and delivered by high school students
- School garden programs and outdoor classrooms
- Student-led divestment from fossil fuels activism on a state-wide level
- Student leadership working with a town sustainability committee
- Science experiments looking at global warming and ocean acidification impacts
Superintendents, administrators, and teachers say that NGSS is a no-brainer - it helps them to recognize environmentally focused students and highlight their achievements.
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Engage Your Fellow Students!
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Ask your fellow students to join the NGSS Chapter! Put up this flyer around your school with information on your chapter or team's next meeting.
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Check Out Our Partners
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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.
Eco-Schools USA
Eco-Schools is an internationally acclaimed program that provides a framework to help educators integrate sustainability principles throughout their schools and curriculum.
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.
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.
Green Schools Alliance
Green Cup Challenge
The Green Cup Challenge invites all K-12 schools to measure and reduce energy use, improve recycling and waste reduction and promote water conservation.
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. Click to learn more about each partner
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