The Green Strides Tour Visits North Carolina

Year-round, ED-GRS and its Green Strides outreach initiative share promising practices and resources in the areas of safe, healthy, and sustainable schools; nutrition and fitness; and environmental education. Each fall we visit the school communities of past honorees to highlight their efforts as a part of the Green Strides Tour. Read about this year's tour in Raleigh, Fayetteville, and Wilmington, North Carolina area schools in this blog.

Biden Administration Makes Climate Information and Decision Tools More Accessible

On October 12, the Biden Administration announced whole-of-government initiative to deliver accessible and actionable information to individuals and communities that are being hit by flooding, drought, wildfires, extreme heat, coastal erosion, and other intensifying climate impacts. These resources include: 

• A launch by NOAA of a redesigned Climate.gov that integrates artificial intelligence to improve the accessibility of accurate and timely climate information.
• The release of two reports outlining the ways the federal government will improve access to climate tools and services, including a report on expanding and improving climate information and services for the public and a second report focused on opportunities to enhance geospatial data and mapping tools to inform climate planning.
• The initiation of a process by FEMA to assess the National Flood Insurance Program standards to help communities align their construction and land-use practices with the latest understandings of flood risk, including a new Request for Information, to gather stakeholder input to inform potential revisions that make communities more resilient and save lives, homes, and money.

States' Deadlines for Green Schools Applicants Fast Approaching!

Many states' application periods for 2021-22 cycle nominees to U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) will be closing around the holidays. These deadlines vary by state. State education agencies often collaborate with other state agencies and partners to administer the program and will ultimately nominate their selections to the Department by Feb. 18, 2022 (an extension from the original Feb. 1 state submission deadline). Check to see if your state participates in ED-GRS by locating your state recognition award administrator. Alternatively, you can contact your chief state school officer or state higher education executive officer. Often, hearing from interested schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions helps states determine whether to make nominations. 

The 2022 ED-Green Ribbon Schools Director’s Award: Nominations Due March 1

The Director’s Award recognizes state education authorities’ exemplary efforts to administer ED-GRS. At the 2021 ED-GRS ceremony, Joseph DaSilva received the Director's Award on behalf of the Rhode Island team from Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten, pictured above. Annually, the Director’s Award goes to the state education official who does the most to advance sustainable education in his or her state. If you wish to nominate a state education official, please send your nomination letter to ed.green.ribbon.schools@ed.gov by March 1, 2022. Any state education official who is involved in implementing the ED-GRS award, and who has not previously won the Director’s Award, is eligible for nomination. Read about the work of past ED-GRS Director’s Award recipients. 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Calls for Education Proposals

EPA announced that up to $3 million in funding for locally focused environmental education grants are now available under the 2021 Environmental Education (EE) Local Grant Program. EPA will award grants in each of EPA’s 10 Regions, for no less than $50,000 and no more than $100,000 each, for a total of 30-40 grants nationwide. The Requests for Application (RFA) notice is now posted on www.grants.gov. Applications are due Dec. 6, 2021.

Campus Race to Zero Waste 2022

The National Wildlife Federation's Campus Race to Zero Waste is a national college and university competition dedicated to reducing waste and increasing recycling. For eight weeks each spring (February-March), hundreds of higher education institutions across the country rally their campuses to “up their game” by reducing waste and increasing their recycling and composting in an effort to beat rival campuses. Three campus winners are recognized for each main competition category (diversion, per capita, zero waste, and food organics) according to the Carnegie Classification for size (small/very small, medium, and large/very large). All campus winners will receive an electronic badge to share on websites, and through email and social media. 

Comment on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Strategic Plan

On Oct. 1, EPA released its draft FY 2022-2025 Strategic Plan. The Plan presents seven strategic goals focused on protecting human health and the environment and four cross-agency strategies that describe the essential ways EPA will work to carry out our mission. The plan includes a cross-agency strategy requiring the consideration of the health of children at all life stages and other vulnerable populations in all of EPA’s work. Public comments on the draft plan must be received on or before Nov. 12, 2021, and may be submitted to the Federal eRulemaking Portal, identified by Docket Number EPA-HQ-OA-2021-0403, at www.regulations.gov. 

Participate in a National Survey on Air Quality Measures in K-12 Schools 

The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, with technical support from ASHRAE, is conducting a national survey to understand how indoor air quality (IAQ) strategies have been used by schools in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey data that is collected will be anonymized and will inform a national report. The short, 20-minute survey may be taken by a school district facilities manager or similar official by Nov. 30. 

The Green Strides Webinar Series Continues Through Winter

The Green Strides Webinar Series has promoted over 2,400 sessions over the last seven years that provide free tools to reduce schools' environmental impact and costs, improve health and wellness, and teach effective environmental education.  Below is a sample of the list on the webinar calendar. (Note: All times listed are ET.)

Oct. 27, 7:30-8:30 p.m. A Simple Model for Teaching the Energy Transition (Green Teacher)

Oct. 28, 1-2 p.m. Engaging Your Campus in the 2022 Competition (Campus Race to Zero Waste)

Nov. 2, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Federal Funding for Green Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions (EPA)

Nov. 2, 1-2 p.m.  Reducing Costs with Quick Water Wins (EPA)

Nov. 2, 3-4:15 p.m.  Portfolio Manager 101 (EPA)

Nov. 3, 3-4 p.m.  ENERGY STAR Higher Education Benchmarking Initiative (AASHE)

Nov. 3, 6-7 p.m. Insights Into Humpback Whale Use of Entire Ocean Basins (National Marine Sanctuaries)

Nov. 3, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Contrasting Energy Solutions (Green Teacher)

Nov. 4, 1-2 p.m. Overview of 2022 Competition (Campus Race to Zero Waste)

Nov. 4, 7-8 p.m. Place-based Education:  Finding the Good in the Pandemic (NAAEE)

Nov. 10, 12-1 p.m.  Portfolio Manager – Ask the Expert (EPA)

Nov. 10, 3-4 p.m.  Curricula That Inspire Action on Climate Solutions (AASHE)

Nov. 10, 6-7 p.m. Hawaii’s Humpback Whale Mother and Calf Pairs (National Marine Sanctuaries)

Nov. 11, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Art and the Cosmic Connection (NASA)

Nov. 12, 2-3 p.m. School Building Science:  Green & Safe Cleaning (CHPS)

Nov.15, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Leadership/Followership-Team Communication (NASA)

Nov. 16, 1-2 p.m.  Portfolio Manager 301 (EPA)

Nov. 16, 6-7 p.m. Build and Test a Solar Sail Using the Engineering Design Process (NASA)

Nov. 17, 3-4 p.m. Safe Routes Back to School 2021 Fall Zoom Session (Safe Routes Partnership)

Nov. 22, 1-2 p.m. BEST Thermal Protection and the Engineering Design Process (NASA)

Nov. 24, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Decarbonization:  How Do Our Current Needs Fit Into the Transition? (Green Teacher)