Outdoor Classroom Challenge

Congratulations to our 2023 Outdoor Classroom Challenge winner, Upper Dublin High School, on the completion of the first phase of their project! The new and improved outdoor space is already being utilized by Upper Dublin's history department! The new outdoor classroom space offers Upper Dublin's students a fresh and rejuvenated educational experience. 

Interested in creating an outdoor classroom space for your school? Stay tuned for updates on our 2024 Outdoor Classroom Challenge. 

Learn more here: https://projectgreenschools.org/outdoor-classroom-challenge/

Green Difference Award Spotlight: Anushka Godambe

Anushka Godambe started the Plants in Classrooms initiative to teach K-12 students how to care for plants and foster a love for gardening by giving each classroom in the Eanes Independent School District an indoor plant. Inspired by the idea of classroom pets, where students work cooperatively to care for the pet, Anushka began her project during her freshman year in October 2020. Each classroom was given a well-established plant in an eight-inch wide plastic planter and a spray bottle. The plants distributed to the classrooms are cared for through a joint effort of all the students to maintain the plant's watering and sunlight needs to keep the plants alive and thriving. 

Propagated from Anushka's own personal "mother plants," classrooms were given one of two varieties of the Pothos plant, Marble Queen Pothos and Golden Pothos, based on sunlight needs. By November 2022, every classroom in the Eanes Independent School District had a classroom plant to care for. Anushka propagated and distributed more than 1,000 plants across nine schools, serving 8,000 students.

Check out the rest of our 2023 Green Difference Award winners here

We are excited to welcome Nneoma Deborah Uchendu to the Project Green Schools' National Youth Council!

National Youth Council students are difference-makers who are invited to participate in important regional, national, and world events. All students who are in grades 5-12 are eligible to take part in National Youth Council meetings. Learn more about joining National Youth Council here.

Meet the rest of our 2023 - 2024 student changemakers here!

Anti-idling Resources

Former PGS National Youth Council Co-President Belle Allmendinger is now working with the Environmental Protection Division at the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office! They recently shared a new anti-idling initiative their office has been working on alongside members of the New Bedford community. The initiative aims to raise awareness about illegal idling and its harms to the environment and public health. 

Check out the video created in partnership with students from New Bedford High School!

Want to learn more about how you can help? Check out the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection's Idling Reduction toolkit: https://www.mass.gov/doc/massdep-idling-reduction-toolkit/download

Prudential Emerging Visionary

Calling all young changemakers! Do you have a vision to transform your community – and the world – for the better? Apply today for Prudential Emerging Visionaries, a national recognition program celebrating young people like you – changemakers tackling financial and social barriers in their communities. 

Prudential Emerging Visionaries is accepting applications from young leaders aged 14-18 who demonstrate commitment to solving financial and societal challenges in their communities and beyond. Selected participants may qualify for up to $15,000 in awards, an all-expenses-paid trip with your parent or guardian to Prudential's headquarters in Newark, New Jersey, and coaching and skills development to help take your innovative solution to the next level.  

Applications are open now through November 2, 2023.

Learn more and apply here: https://www.changemakers.com/challenge/emergingvisionaries

Apply to Your State to Become a 2024 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School! 

Launched in 2011, the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools is a recognition award that honors public and private schools ranging from elementary, middle, and high schools to districts and postsecondary institutions. The Green Ribbon program honors schools and districts that are demonstrating leadership in three Pillars: 1) reducing environmental impact and costs; 2) improving health and wellness; and 3) offering effective environmental and sustainability education.

Deadlines vary by state. Applications for many states will close around the winter holidays.  

Apply to your state now to become a 2024 Green Ribbon School! 

Clean School Bus Program Applications Now Open! 

The U.S. EPA has announced the availability of at least $500 million in funding from the Clean School Bus rebate competition to transform school bus fleets across the nation and protect children from air pollution. 

This year's $500 million Clean School Bus Rebate Program will cover bus, workforce development, and infrastructure costs for awardees requesting electric school buses. Applicants can request up to $345,000 per bus. Selectees may also be eligible for Inflation Reduction Act tax credits applicable to their bus and infrastructure purchases. 

Applications are open now through January 31, 2024. 

Learn more and apply here: https://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus

How Climate Change Affects Us and Nature, and What We Can Do About It | Conservation in the Classroom

WWF's latest Conservation in the Classroom session centers around the impacts of climate change and how we can all be part of the solution. Students will have the opportunity to hear from Stephanie Roe, WWF's lead climate and energy scientist, on how climate change impacts humans and nature and how we can make a difference. 

Suggested grade level: 4th-8th 

Tune in October 12th at 1:30 pm EST | 10:30 am PST

To learn more and register, please visit WWF's Conservation in the Classroom.

Host a Planet Aid Clothing Drive & Help Us Recycle 25,000lbs of Clothing!

REMINDER: Charles Kirkland Scholarship 2023 For Student Entrepreneurs

The Charles Kirkland Scholarship for Entrepreneurs is now accepting applications for the $1,000 scholarship award. This scholarship is open to college students in the United States who are pursuing entrepreneurship. 

To apply, students are required to submit a short essay, and the winner will be selected based on the strength of their essay. This scholarship is an excellent opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs to receive financial support and invest in their future.

 Applications due October 15th

Learn more and apply here: https://charleskirklandscholarship.com/charles-kirkland-scholarship/

Calendar of Events/Days to Celebrate

October

• 1st Week: Junk Mail Awareness Week
• 1st: World Vegetarian Day
• 4th: World Animal Day
• 8th: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Day
• 17th: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

November

• 1st: World Vegan Day
• 5th: World Tsunami Awareness Day
• 15th: America Recycles Day

December

• 21st/22nd: Winter Solstice