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EDUCATORS         STUDENTS         SPONSORS
                                                                              

                                      GEF offers free K-12 sustainability education
It’s easy and free to join.
 

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Alternative Energy Exploration
What does it really cost to build a wind turbine or install a solar panel to make your school a green energy user. This Green Team is designed for environmental groups, biology classes, or environmental science students who want to dig into some serious research, present their findings to community leaders, and pave the way for alternative energy
in your community.

Detergent Detectives
Become a steward of your local waterways (streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes) by educating your community about the harmful effects that chemical compounds found in certain types of dishwashing detergents have on the nearby aquatic ecosystems. Then do some detective work and hunt down as many of these “dirty detergents” as possible in your homes, classrooms, and communities.

Energy Vampires
Identify and slay "energy vampires" – electronics and appliances in your homes and classrooms that still use energy when they are not being used. These sneaky devices waste energy, hurt the environment, and cost us money. Expose these vampires to the light of day and conquer them once and for all!

Empty the Parking Lot
Combat air pollution, fossil fuel consumption, and global warming right in your own parking lot!


Green Sleuth

Investigate how to expel those energy vampires and make your school’s carbon footprint smaller. Your energy and water audit will include interviews with teachers, administrators, and custodians and an analysis of clues that will tip off how to institute new green practices to make your school the coolest green place to be. Learn about eco-disasters through the envir-o-meter in the online school tour.

Junk Mail Attack
Build a campaign to eliminate or reduce the amount of junk mail received in your homes. Additionally, for further impact, you might want to target local businesses within your community (also the recipients of junk mail!) as well as contact your state representatives in support of the national Do Not Mail Registry.

Idiling Reduction Campaign
Learn about the harms associated with idling vehicles! Then consider an idling reduction program for your school or school district, and implement it for the duration of National Green Week and beyond! The target of this project is to reduce the amount of pollution caused by school busses and cars idling in pick-up lines.

Recycling Roundup
Roundup the recyclables that are overwhelming landfills and costing your town/city thousands in waste-removal fees. Check out what new recycling opportunities are awaiting your implementation and then set up a system to make it all work in your school and community.

Starting a Compost Program
Take the motto of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle one step further by developing a composting program for your school or classroom. By recycling food scraps and other organic matter, schools can SIGNIFICANTLY reduce the amount of waste they generate while also producing a valuable product: compost! 

 

Alternative Energy Exploration
What does it really cost to build a wind turbine or install a solar panel to make your school a green energy user. This Green Team is designed for environmental groups, biology classes, or environmental science students who want to dig into some serious research, present their findings to community leaders, and pave the way for alternative energy
in your community.

Detergent Detectives
Become a steward of your local waterways (streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes) by educating your community about the harmful effects that chemical compounds found in certain types of dishwashing detergents have on the nearby aquatic ecosystems. Then do some detective work and hunt down as many of these “dirty detergents” as possible in your homes, classrooms, and communities.

Energy Vampires
Identify and slay "energy vampires" – electronics and appliances in your homes and classrooms that still use energy when they are not being used. These sneaky devices waste energy, hurt the environment, and cost us money. Expose these vampires to the light of day and conquer them once and for all!

Empty the Parking Lot
Combat air pollution, fossil fuel consumption, and global warming right in your own parking lot!


Green Sleuth

Investigate how to expel those energy vampires and make your school’s carbon footprint smaller. Your energy and water audit will include interviews with teachers, administrators, and custodians and an analysis of clues that will tip off how to institute new green practices to make your school the coolest green place to be. Learn about eco-disasters through the envir-o-meter in the online school tour.

Junk Mail Attack
Build a campaign to eliminate or reduce the amount of junk mail received in your homes. Additionally, for further impact, you might want to target local businesses within your community (also the recipients of junk mail!) as well as contact your state representatives in support of the national Do Not Mail Registry.

Idiling Reduction Campaign
Learn about the harms associated with idling vehicles! Then consider an idling reduction program for your school or school district, and implement it for the duration of National Green Week and beyond! The target of this project is to reduce the amount of pollution caused by school busses and cars idling in pick-up lines.

Recycling Roundup
Roundup the recyclables that are overwhelming landfills and costing your town/city thousands in waste-removal fees. Check out what new recycling opportunities are awaiting your implementation and then set up a system to make it all work in your school and community.

Starting a Compost Program
Take the motto of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle one step further by developing a composting program for your school or classroom. By recycling food scraps and other organic matter, schools can SIGNIFICANTLY reduce the amount of waste they generate while also producing a valuable product: compost! 

 

Thanks for visiting!

Green schools, green products, green jobs. But what does it mean? Today, being green means living a sustainable lifestyle and incorporating sustainability education in the classroom. Sustainability is more than recycling and composting. Sustainability education uses a wide lens to understand the big picture - the environment, economy, and society. From this perspective, your decisions and actions become more meaningful and the opportunities to be a change-maker stand out. 

GEF is here to put the right tools in your tool belt so that you can make a difference. Here, you can find activities for your home or class, free contests with great prizes, or local youth groups that share your interests.

Online Sustainability Courses

featured sustcourse
Visit the GEF Institute, a division of GEF, to find online courses about sustainability. You can even earn a Certificate in Sustainability from the Institute!  Some of the courses are eligible for academic credit that can work toward your college degree and give you an edge in the new green economy.  Learn More!



Free Sustainability Programs for National Green Week

EcoChallengesIconGEF offers free programs to get your class, group or school excited about sustainability! Schools, classrooms and youth groups are encouraged to pick a theme for National Green Week to make a difference! All sustainability themed programs include free lessons, activities,  contests and more! 

Read more about National Green Week sustainability programs!




Contests!

ContestIconJoin one of GEF's contests to win great prizes and share your hard work with the world!

Green in Action Award - ask your teacher to join National Green Week and submit your sustainability projects! 
Gardening Grant - win a $1,000 grant from Gardener's Supply company to keep your garden growing! 
Energy Spotlight School - schools in MA, RI and NY are eligible for assistance from GEF in making energy conservation a priority 



Greening Resources

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Energy Saving Activities
- find out what you can do now to start conserving energy!
Start Composting- learn how to recycle your food waste to make a nutritious fertilizer! 
Start Recycling - set up a recycling program at your house or school to reduce waste!


See you next time!

Sustainability Lesson Clearinghouse

Download, share, and comment on hundreds of sustainability lessons in GEF's K-12 lesson clearinghouse! Find the right lesson, activity or audit for your students by searching by grade level and subject area. Access is unlimited and free to GEF members!

Online Professional Development

Visit GEF Institute's website to find online, sustainability-focused professional development courses. Earn a certificate or simply take a course for academic or professional development credits through the Institute's partnering university.

"Be the change you want to see in the world."

Mahatma Gandhi