Community-Wide Tools to Stride Toward Sustainability and Health

State Practice of Note: Green Strides Workshops

State education agencies such as Minnesota, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Jersey have, with the help of their inter-agency and non-profit partners, expanded their Green Ribbon programming to include Green Strides components, featuring seminars for other schools led by 2012 honorees on their grounds. ED-GRS participating state education agencies know that helping all schools use available green schools resources and adopt honorees’ best practices is our overarching aim. While only a few schools are selected as ED-Green Ribbon Schools each year, all schools can become Green Strides Schools. Find resources to stride here. Contact your state to learn more about local sustainability mentorship opportunities and seminars featuring environmental education, health and facilities resources and practices here.

 

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Urban Waters Grants 

The multi-agency Urban Waters Restoration Program provides financial assistance to local partnerships for restoration with a focus on urban waters and watersheds. Approximately $1,500,000 is available. Competitive projects will focus on education and training, outdoor recreation, monitoring, storm water management or urban forest restoration. Applications are due by February 7, 2013>>>

 

Resource of Note: Using Tech to Connect Students & the Environment

A new NEEF video demonstrates how technology can further STEM learning through the environment, both outside and in the classroom. The video demonstrates how the students of Islesboro Central School in Maine use technology to help document the ecological condition of nature preserves near their school. K-12 classroom teachers are invited to view the video and answer the question, “How do you use technology to explore the environment with your students?” Comments will be entered into a drawing to win technology prizes.>>>

 

Strong Cities Strong Communities Funding
The Strong Cities, Strong Communities initiative, first announced in July 2011, seeks to strengthen neighborhoods, towns, cities, and regions by enhancing the capacity of local governments to develop and execute their economic strategies, providing technical assistance and federal agency expertise, and creating new partnerships. Applicants must apply by January 28, 2013>>>.

 

EPA National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management

Since 2005, 26 health plans, providers and communities have received this award – the nation’s highest honor for programs delivering excellent environmental asthma management as part of their comprehensive asthma services.>>>

 

NOAA Funding for Coastal Restoration

NOAA is soliciting applications for restoration projects that use a habitat-based approach to foster species recovery and increase fish under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Roughly $20 million could be available over the next three years. Applications are due by February 19, 2013.>>>

 

The Green Strides Webinar Series: More Sessions for Educators; School Facilities and Health Personnel 

We’ve combed the best in environment, health and facilities programs to present an ongoing series of free webinars to help all schools stride toward the three Pillars of ED-GRS. Upcoming sessions include:

Dec. 5, 2012, 2-3 p.m. EST President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition Programs 

Dec. 12, 2012, 4-5 p.m. EST Solar Energy Power and Exploring Other Worlds (NASA) 

Dec. 19, 2012, 4-5 and 7-8 p.m. EST Body Systems and Life in Space (NASA) 

Jan. 3 2013, 3-4 p.m. EST Reducing Environmental Impact and Costs with ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager (EPA)

Jan. 9, 2013, 3-4 p.m. EST Using Remote Sensing to Quantify Changes over Time (NASA)

Jan. 16, 2013, 4-5 p.m. EST Food for Thought: Space Food and Nutrition (NASA)

Webinar archives are located here.