Thank you for helping spark this impact.

Together, this community celebrated student voices, shared real-world sustainability solutions, and inspired more classrooms to take action.

Together, Green Spark 2026 brought together:

School Districts Featured

States Represented

Attendees Engaged

Watch Green Spark 2026

This event brought together students from across the country to share real-world sustainability projects happening in their schools and communities!

Explore the full event recordings by theme and use the Classroom Kit to keep the conversation going with your students.

A glimpse of what this session holds:

  • Better at the Bin (B@B) / Precious Plastics
  • Lunchtime Waste Warriors
  • Halloween Costume Swap
  • Trash to Treasure: Garth the Garbage Gar

A glimpse of what this session holds:

  • Cafeteria to Farm Compost Cup Competition
  • Cafeteria Waste Diversion
  • FPS Food Waste Fighters!
  • Honey is Sweet Medicine: Observing the antibacterial properties of honey

A glimpse of what this session holds:

  • Green Classroom Challenge
  • Parks and Recreation Project Comittee
  • Seeds of Stewardship
  • Tree Restoration/Arboretum

A glimpse of what this session holds:

  • Activating Change Through Partnership
  • Project Skyward at East Junior High
  • Earth Week Green Fair
  • Eco Action Challenges
  • Energy Coalition Partnership
Get Your Classroom Event Toolkit!
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Student Solutions for Schools, Communities,

and the Planet!

Green Spark 2026 is a nationwide virtual showcase celebrating K-12 students who are turning their ideas into real solutions for people and the planet.

On April 24, 2026, students and educators from across the country joined us for a day of creativity, learning, and action through live sessions designed to fit into the school day.

From advocacy campaigns and design challenges to art that inspired change, Green Spark created a space where student voices led and ideas came to life.

Follow Green Spark 2027!

Green Spark Showcase
Program
(EDT)

Theme 01:Caring For Our Planet11:25am – 12:20pm

Keynote Speakers:Ayia Lindquist + Hailey Nosho 12:20pm – 12:35pm

Theme 02:Feeding the Future12:40pm – 1:20pm

Theme 03:Protecting Nature1:25pm – 2:05pm

Theme 04:Powering Change 2:10pm – 3:15pm

Keynote Speakers Edition 2026

Ayia Lindquist

Ayia Lindquist

NASA Climate Science Communicator, born in St. Croix and a graduate of San Diego State University, works with communities to advance climate resilience by combining Earth observations from space with local and Indigenous ecological knowledge.

Hailey Nosho

Hailey Nosho

Eighth-grade student at John Adams Middle School and winner of the inaugural Students Speak Out for Climate Action essay contest. She presented her winning essay at the Green Schools Conference 2026, highlighting the urgency of climate action and the importance of student voices.

Focus Areas Featured in the 2026 Showcase

These themes reflect the projects submitted and selected for this year’s Green Spark Virtual Showcase.

Nature-Inspired Design

Apply nature’s patterns to real problems.

Advocacy & Awareness

Inform and
inspire change

Community Solutions

Collaborate to strengthen wellbeing.

School Improvements

Create healthier, more inclusive learning spaces.

Art & Storytelling for Change

Use creativity to build empathy and action.

Green Spark Impact Projects

Explore the student-led projects featured in this year’s Green Spark Showcase.
Real ideas driving real change in schools and communities.

Caring for Our Planet

Better at the Bin (B@B) / Precious Plastics

Tosin Adetoro of Meridian High School
Students lead a cafeteria recycling initiative to improve waste sorting, build sustainable habits, and explore upcycling, driving circular design and behavior change in their school.
FEEDING THE FUTURE

Cafeteria to Farm Compost Cup Competition

Marti Hirsch of Boulder Valley School Disrict
Students lead a schoolwide compost competition to improve waste habits and support a cafeteria-to-farm initiative. They monitor compost quality, track participation, and reward top grades with weekly wins and an end-of-year celebration.
PROTECTING NATURE

Seeds of Stewardship

Kari Wilcher of Dr. G.W. Carver Elementary School

Students restore native habitats by collecting seeds, growing plants, and supporting pollinators, building environmental literacy through hands-on stewardship.

POWERING CHANGE

Earth Week Green Fair

Naomi D Hershiser, Josh Flood, Eric Hallberg of Prairie Crossing Charter School
Students host a sustainability fair with interactive booths inspired by the UN SDGs, educating peers through activities and presentations.
POWERING CHANGE

Activating Change Through Partnership

Chandrashekar, Priya, Young, Sophia, Brown, Arabella, Katherine Crovo, Norman, Leah of FCPS
Students collaborate with local partners to lead projects like tree planting, solar benches, and upcycling while engaging the community through events and outreach.
FEEDING THE FUTURE

Cafeteria Waste Diversion

Mike Martin of Mike Martin
Students sort and measure cafeteria waste daily to reduce landfill impact. By analyzing data and teaching peers proper sorting, they promote sustainable habits and schoolwide environmental responsibility.
Caring for Our Planet

Lunchtime Waste Warriors

Danielle Cancasci of Tropical Elementary
Students reduce lunchtime waste by promoting recycling, reuse, and better habits, diverting trash from landfills and supporting a culture of environmental responsibility.
PROTECTING NATURE

Parks and Recreaction Project Comittee

Aanya Parasramka, Jackson Raines, Rufus Godbey, Drew Zimmermann of Bluegrass Youth Sustainability Coordinator
Students partner with Parks & Rec to address inequities in park access, research barriers, and advocate for inclusive public spaces through youth-led planning.
PROTECTING NATURE

Tree Restoration/Arboretum

Olivia DelPiano, Kiyon Neal, Jacob Gibbons of Green Woods Charter School
Students lead a clothing drive and tree-planting initiative to reduce waste and restore ecosystems, supporting biodiversity and Arboretum accreditation.
POWERING CHANGE

Eco Action Challenges

Rocky Bernal, Samuel Ixcal, Carlos Estrada, & Michaela McKoy of Environmental Charter High School - Lawndale
Students build sustainable habits through surveys, challenges, and leaderboards that encourage friendly competition and campus-wide engagement.
Caring for Our Planet

Halloween Costume Swap

Gloria Harwood/ Nicole Stewart of El Morro Elementary
Students organized a costume swap to reduce waste and costs, providing free reused costumes while promoting mindful consumption and sustainability.
FEEDING THE FUTURE

Honey is Sweet Medicine: Observing the antibacterial properties of honey

Dr. Tiffany Turrentine of Lankenau Environmental Science School
Students investigate the antibacterial properties of local honey by testing samples on bacteria, exploring how pollinators and plants influence its natural medicinal qualities.
POWERING CHANGE

Project Skyward

Charlotte Meng (10th grade): Project Implementation Leader; Akshara Nataraj (10th grade): Data/Survey Coordinator; Scarlet Fields (11th grade): Youth Engagement Coordinator of East Junior High
Students made their school bird-safe by adding window markers, reducing bird collisions by 95% and educating peers on protecting local bird populations.

Are you Ready to Inspire Others?

Every big idea starts with a small spark. Share yours and join students nationwide turning ideas into action.

Join the 2027 List