School is back in session and so is THE GREEN TEAM. Registration for the 2019-2020 school year is now open! If you are a Massachusetts student, teacher, or parent interested in school programs that foster environmental and sustainable learning for all ages, GREEN TEAM registration may be the perfect opportunity! This environmental school program can help educators facilitate the process of planning, organizing, and running an environmental program for your school.
What is THE GREEN TEAM?
THE GREEN TEAM is a state-wide environmental education program, sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and administered by the Center for EcoTechnology. THE GREEN TEAM offers interactive, engaging, and fun educational programming while at the same time providing tools for students and teachers to learn more about how to address key issues of environmental sustainability.
THE GREEN TEAM provides teachers with lesson plans and activities aligned with current Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Curriculum Frameworks including: Science and Technology/Engineering, Mathematics, and English Language Arts.
This free program is available to students in grades K-12 and teachers are able to register online.
How does it work?
When your classroom becomes a participating member of THE GREEN TEAM, you will receive a GREEN TEAM classroom kit. You will also be eligible to receive free waste reduction equipment including recycling and compost bins. THE GREEN TEAM classroom kit includes educational materials such as lesson plans, a classroom poster, and tips and activities detailing ways to Go Green!
Lesson topics include waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, energy conservation, and pollution prevention.
In addition, each classroom that takes THE GREEN TEAM Pledge will receive an official Certificate of Recognition, and will be eligible for exciting end-of-the-year prizes!
GREEN TEAM 2018-2019 Highlights:
Last year more than 88,166 Massachusetts students from 346 schools participated in THE GREEN TEAM! The GREEN TEAM Photo Gallery highlights all of the great work that GREEN TEAM schools are doing across Massachusetts. Here are just a few examples for inspiration!
• Andover Public Schools, in partnership with Green Schools Andover, was awarded the EPA Food Recovery Challenge National Award! In addition to composting, the group introduced share tables to school cafeterias, which encourages students to share wholesome food that would otherwise be thrown away.
• Ipswich Middle-High School won the US EPA’s Region 1 President’s Environmental Youth Award for creating the ‘Generation Growers’ public garden and orchard in collaboration with community elders! The purpose of the shared garden is to bridge generations through communal responsibility. The food produced goes to the cafeteria and the Open Door Food Pantry.
• In New Bedford, Elizabeth Carter Brooks School used their recycling lesson plans to initiate activism and students wrote letters to their Mayor promoting recycling.
In the 2018-2019 school year, THE GREEN TEAM created a case study video featuring the successful sustainable efforts of Hingham High School. They have incorporated the resources from THE GREEN TEAM to provide their students with experiential learning opportunities and instilling socially conscious habits. Their most impressive achievement has been in food waste reduction and composting, diverting approximately 0.5 tons per month!
If you are interested in becoming a member of THE GREEN TEAM, please register online today! For more information, or to print and fax/mail a paper registration form, please visit www.thegreenteam.org.
