Green Schools National Network

Green Schools Conference Friends and Family Event
2023-02-27 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | American Italian Cultural Center, 537 South Peters Street, New Orleans, 70130
GSNN’s most awaited start to the Green Schools Conference – Join green schools allies, leaders, and colleagues from across the country for an evening to gather and reconnect during GSC23.
February 27, 2023, 6:00 PM-7:30 PM
American Italian Cultural Center 537 South Peters Street, New Orleans, LA, 70130
RSVP for the event here

Green Schools Conference
2023-02-27 08:00 - 2023-03-01 17:00 (America/New_York) | Sheraton New Orleans, 500 Canal St, New Orleans, LA, 70130, United States
February 27 – March 1, 2023
Sheraton New Orleans
Learn more and register at https://greenschoolsconference.org/

Sip and Learn
2022-06-06 17:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | VMDO Architects, 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest 10th Floor Terrace, Washington,, DC, 20038, United States
Join us for an evening to learn about us and our debut book “Trailblazers for Whole School Sustainability”.
Colonial Parking operates a garage below the building.
Street parking is also available for 2+ hours using a meter and the ParkMobile app.
The office is walking distance from the Farragut North (red line) and Farragut West (blue, orange, and silver lines).
Complimentary drinks & appetizers. Sponsored by Tito’s.
Any questions, please contact Janelle Darst at jdarst@greenschoolsnationalnetwork.org.
Green Schools National Network (GSNN)’s mission is to shape healthy, equitable, and sustainable schools where children thrive and learn to steward the environments and communities they call home. Since 2007, GSNN has used a holistic approach in its work with schools, districts, organizations, and individual educators to transform schools from good to green. GSNN’s work is informed by its GreenPrint, a framework for transformation that covers best practices in leadership, curriculum and instruction, culture and climate, and facilities and operations. To learn more, visit greenschoolsnationalnetwork.org.
In Trailblazers for Whole School Sustainability, educators and school leaders share stories highlighting best practices and lessons learned in their pursuit of health, equity, and sustainability. The book is organized according to the four impact systems in GSNN’s GreenPrint: Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction, Culture and Climate, and Facilities and Operations. Each section of the book features four case studies that explore various aspects of these systems, from visionary leadership and culturally relevant teaching to place-based education, sustainable school food systems, and net-positive campuses. Every case study concludes with a “Learning from…” section where readers can find actionable tips, recommendations, and best practices for beginning their journey toward whole-school sustainability.

Trailblazers in Whole School Sustainability: Case Studies of Educators in Action Virtual Book Launch
2022-02-17 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Since 2015, Green Schools National Network (GSNN) has featured stories of educators implementing sustainability best practices on our blog and in our peer-reviewed journal, Green Schools Catalyst Quarterly. We’ve amassed quite a few examples of schools and districts doing the work to bring whole school sustainability to life! So, it should come as no surprise that we finally put pen to paper and captured some of the more compelling stories in book form.
Trailblazers in Whole School Sustainability: Case Studies of Educators in Action is an edited collection of stories from schools and school districts across the country that highlights best practices and lessons learned in their pursuit of health, equity, and sustainability. Some of these stories might look familiar – more than a few were adapted from past Green Schools Catalyst Quarterly articles. Others were penned by GSNN partners exclusively for the book. All demonstrate the amazing work these educators are accomplishing as they transform their school communities for a just and sustainable future. GSNN partners featured in the book include:

Boulder Valley School District
Common Ground High School
Discovery Elementary School
Encinitas Union School District
New Roots Charter School
Oak Park Unified School District
Prairie Crossing Charter School
School of Environmental Studies
Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Trailblazers for Whole School Sustainability is organized according to the four key impact systems in GSNN’s GreenPrint: Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction, Culture and Climate, and Facilities and Operations. Each section of the book features four case studies that explore various aspects of these systems, from visionary leadership and culturally relevant teaching to place-based education, sustainable school food systems, and net-positive campuses. Every case study concludes with a “Learning from…” section where readers can find actionable tips, recommendations, and best practices for beginning their journey toward whole school sustainability.
We are thrilled that this “labor of love” is now in print and can’t wait to share it with the K-12 community!
You can purchase a copy of Trailblazers for Whole School Sustainability from Routledge or Amazon. If you shop via Amazon, you can support GSNN by making your purchase via AmazonSmile. And be sure to spread the word among your colleagues, peers, and networks! This book deserves a place on every educator’s bookshelf.
A virtual book launch celebration will be held on Thursday, February 17, at 5 p.m. CST. The book launch will include a panel discussion with schools and districts highlighted in the book. To attend sign up online at: https://bit.ly/3H5PDEj. The book is edited by Jennifer Seydel, Cynthia L. Merse, Lisa A. W. Kensler, and David Sobel.

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Virtual PD Workshop: Addressing Environmental Justice for a Sustainable Future
2020-07-15 - 2020-07-17 | GSNN Online
Walk away with the beginning design for a compelling project that you can use when school is back in session

July 15 – 17, 2020 | 12:00 – 4:00pm ET
High School EducatorsFocused Topic: Environmental Justice
This virtual PD workshop for high school teachers explores the implications of environmental pollution on our communities. Over the course of three, four-hour sessions, attendees will use the book, A Terrible Thing to Waste by Harriet Washington, as the anchor for a set of learning experiences that will shed light on how Americans of color are disproportionately harmed by environmental hazards. The workshop will model how to incorporate fieldwork and experts to deepen students’ understanding of toxic exposure and institutional negligence in their own communities, and how this exposure impacts cognitive development. Providing background knowledge, inspiration, and direction, attendees will leave with sound ideas on how to build student agency around a powerful topic.

Register

You’ll learn:

About the movement to improve and maintain a clean and healthful environment, especially for communities of color
How to create a culture of curiosity and inquiry for your students
How to integrate environmental justice into your curriculum

Cost:
Catalyst Members: $25 Non-Members: $75

July 15, 2020 | 12:00 – 4:00 ET July 16, 2020 | 12:00 – 4:00 ET July 17, 2020 | 12:00 – 4:00 ET

Materials Provided:

A Terrible Thing to Waste: Environmental Racism and Its Assault on the American Mind by Harriet A. Washington

Facilitators

Dinah Becton-Consuegra
Director of Partnership Development, PBLWorks
Dinah was born and raised in Chicago, the eldest and only daughter of two immigrant parents from Mexico and Guatemala. It was there that her love of hip hop, food and culture was born. Upon attending high school at the prestigious Illinois Math & Science Academy, her love and loyalty to PBL as a liberatory pedagogy began. Since then she has been about that PBL life. Prior to her role with PBLWorks, Dinah was the west regional director for EL Education. She is a proud former Deeper Learning Equity Fellow and is currently honored to be serving as a Deeper Learning Equity Coach.

Dinah has over 20 years of experience in education and has served in various leadership capacities for districts, schools and nonprofits. Her previous roles have included: a high school teacher/ principal, an executive director of family/community engagement, and a school turnaround consultant. She shares Barack Obama’s alma mater, Occidental College. She holds master’s degrees from Claremont Graduate University in secondary teacher education and principal leadership from the University of California, Los Angeles. Dinah delights in eating and snorkeling her way around the world with her wife and two boys, blogging, urban farming, houseplant propagating, and tackling all things DIY at her home in Oakland, CA.
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David DenHartog
Director of Innovative Learning, Green Schools National Network
David serves as the Director of Innovative Learning at the Green Schools National Network (GSNN), David is dedicated to helping schools and districts leverage education for sustainability as the driver for excellence. Working with pre-K – 12th grade school leaders around the U.S. and world, David and GSNN help to catalyze green, healthy, and sustainable practices predominately utilizing deep learning; service and stewardship; facilities design and management; health and well-being; and transformational leadership. David’s experience as a school principal, classroom teacher, and regional school designer, along with the opportunities he has had to learn from educators around the U.S. and world, fuel his optimistic, passionate dedication to educational transformation. David also co-produces The Other Literacies podcast.
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Virtual PD Workshop: Pollinators All Around Us!
2020-06-24 - 2020-06-26 | GSNN Online
June 24 – 26, 2020 | 12:00 – 4:00pm ET
Elementary School EducatorsFocused Topic: Pollinators
This virtual PD session for elementary school teachers explores the diversity of pollinators that can be found in backyards, schoolyards, and parks. Over the course of three, four-hour sessions, attendees will learn how to translate their students’ observations into burning questions that will help them understand the importance of pollinators in an ecosystem and in our food system. These learning experiences were designed using a rubric for place-, project-, and problem-based learning, can be replicated with elementary students, and support mastery of science, art, math, and ELA standards.
Cost: Free for Catalyst Network members; $50 for non-network participantsRegistration limited to 24 participantsRegistration deadline is June 10 (5:00 p.m. ET)
June 24, 2020 | 12:00 – 4:00 ETJune 25, 2020 | 12:00 – 4:00 ETJune 26, 2020 | 12:00 – 4:00 ET

Register

Virtual PD Workshop: We All Live in a Watershed
2020-06-17 - 2020-06-19 | GSNN Online
June 17 – 19, 2020 |12:00 – 4:00pm ET
Middle School EducatorsFocused Topic: Watersheds
This virtual PD workshop for middle school teachers explores the central role that water plays in all life. Over the course of three, four-hour sessions, attendees will take part in synchronous and asynchronous learning experiences that demonstrate how “We All Live in a Watershed!”, connecting backyards, schoolyards, and communities. These learning experiences were designed using a rubric for place-, project-, and problem-based learning and leverage real-time, online data sources that provide watershed information and resources. Experiences can be replicated with middle school students and support mastery of science, math, and ELA standards.

Cost: Free for Catalyst Network members; $50 for non-network participantsRegistration limited to 24 participantsRegistration deadline is June 10 (5:00 p.m. ET)

June 17, 2020 | 12:00 – 4:00 ETJune 18, 2020 | 12:00 – 4:00 ETJune 19, 2020 | 12:00 – 4:00 ET

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Webinar | Future Thinking PD Opportunities for Sustainability-Minded Teachers
2020-05-12 16:00 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | GSNN Online
Looking for opportunities to deepen your understanding of education for sustainability? This webinar is for you! Presenters from Green Schools National Network, Center for Green Schools at USGBC, Envirolution, and The Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education will provide an overview of professional development approaches, virtual resources, and upcoming workshops that are designed for future thinking K-12 educators who want to bring sustainability education to life in their classrooms.

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Watch the Webinar

View the Word Cloud Participation

Webinar | Preparing Students for Green Careers
2020-05-11 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | GSNN Online
Growth in careers within environmental and sustainability fields is expected to trend upward for the foreseeable future. It’s vital that educators prepare students to be leaders and innovators in these fields by equipping them with the skills needed to ideate, design, adapt, take risks, learn from mistakes, and collaborate with others. This webinar will feature a school and a school district that are giving students opportunities to hone these skills. Common Ground High School in Connecticut will offer insights into their Green Jobs Corps program and how powerful experiences like this one provide students with a clearer pathway to college and careers. Whitefish School District in Montana will share how their Center for Sustainability and Entrepreneurship offers students a fast track to a green future. Students from Common Ground and Whitefish Schools will be on hand to share their perspectives as well.

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View the Slides

Webinar | Best of the Best: GSNN Curated Virtual Resources for You and Your Students
2020-04-15 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | GSNN Online
Best of the Best!
Designed for preK-12 educators, this interactive, 60-minute webinar highlights “best of the best” resources and curriculum that GSNN and its collaborators have curated for virtual and at-home learning.

Watch the Webinar Recording

View the Slides

Sustainability Leadership: A Road Map for Driving Innovation Through the Triple Bottom Line
2020-03-30 09:00 - 2020-03-31 12:00 (America/New_York) | Old Donation School, 4633 Honeygrove Rd, Virginia Beach, VA, 23455, United States
To all our registered attendees, we want to thank you for your patience as we have monitored the ever-evolving situation and tried to make the best decision in the interest of all of our stakeholders. Some of you have already contacted me with your concerns. Others of you have kept me aware of the changing landscape in your schools and school districts. Thank you. With that information, GSNN and Virginia Beach City Public Schools have decided that it is in the best interest of our community and public health to postpone the March 30 – 31 site seminar out of an abundance of caution. We have not identified an alternate set of dates just yet. Once we do, we will be sure to let you know.
We are not yet providing refunds because it is our hope that we will be able to reschedule the seminar before the end of the school year or next fall. If your school of school district requests a refund, we will provide it.
We believe strongly in face to face learning and the ability to meet with your colleagues who share a passion for green, healthy and sustainable schools, These opportunities are an important way to expand your professional network and professional knowledge and to see what is possible and essectional for a sustainable future. I look forward to sending you a note in the near future with our new dates!
In the meantime, please stay safe and healthy,Green Schools National Network

Join Green Schools National Network and 2018 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School District Award recipient Virginia Beach City Public Schools for a 1.5 day exploration of Sustainability Leadership: A Road Map for Driving Innovation Through the Triple Bottom Line. This site seminar is designed for Executive Level and Building Level leaders who are interested in learning how sustainability can help their districts reduce expenses while decreasing their ecological footprints; improve the health and well-being of those who work, learn, and play in their schools; and prepare students for college and careers in a future that will require new ways of thinking and learning. The site seminar will highlight how sustainability leaders, informed by Harvard University’s Executive Education in Sustainability Leadership program, have developed purpose-driven ideas to drive innovation in organizational culture, operations and management, and teaching and learning.

Register

LocationOld Donation School4633 Honeygrove RoadVirginia Beach, Virginia 23455
March 30, 2020 | 9:00 am-3:00 pmwith an evening event at the Brock CenterMarch 31, 2020 | 9:00 am-12:00 pm

Cost Catalyst Members: $100.00GSNN Members: $200.00Non-Members: $250.00
TravelNorfolk International Airport (ORF) is approximately 17 minutes northwest of Old Donation School. Travel to and from the airport is best via the rental car company of your choice.

LodgingThe following hotels are within a tenminute drive of Old Donation School.
Hyatt Place Virginia Beach Town Center335 Independence Blvd.Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462
Hilton Garden Inn Virginia Beach Town Center252 Town Center Dr.Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462
The Westin Virginia Beach Town Center4535 Commerce St.Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462

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Sustainability & Social Justice in K-12 Schools | GSNN @ SXSW2020
2020-03-09 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | SXSW, Austin, Texas, United States
Creating a culture of sustainability can instill joy and optimism at all levels in a K-12 school district. A commitment to sustainability from leadership can save costs and reduce ecological impacts; and enhance social, emotional, and physical health of all who work, learn and play in our schools. However, the potential impact on social justice is often overlooked. Join us to explore the benefits and barriers to implementing a framework at the intersection of leadership, environment and equity.

Learn More

Speakers
BRIDGITTE ALOMESNatural Pod

ALISON DIAZEnvironmental Charter Schools

JAMES EDWARD MILLSThe Joy Trip Project

JENNIFER SEYDELGreen Schools National

Webinar | Embedding SEL in School Climate and Culture
2020-02-10 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | GSNN Online
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is recognized as a critical component of student learning, fostering skills and dispositions in students that are critical for their success in navigating an increasingly complex and ever-changing world. This webinar will feature two New Mexico schools that are actively deepening their SEL practice and tracking impact. Zuni Middle School in Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico will discuss how they are combining SEL development with A:shiwi Core Values to further traditional Indigenous culture. Vista Grande High School in Taos, New Mexico will share how SEL practices are enhancing Crew structures and daily lessons. Both schools will discuss actions that participants can take to integrate SEL into school culture.

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Webinar | Transforming School Food Systems
2019-10-28 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Halifax) | GSNN Online
Many solutions exist to address the shift from cheap, precooked hamburger patties and chicken nuggets that have been the staple of school lunch programs for too long. This webinar will highlight two school districts that have taken on major reform efforts to make their school lunches healthier and in-line with the efforts needed for a more sustainable future. Encinitas Union School District will discuss their Health and Wellness Program and Farm Lab, where students learn how farm to school works by engaging in lessons around sustainability, local ingredients, and entrepreneurship at the district’s ten-acre farm. Oak Park Unified School District will share lessons learned from their use of Orca, an innovative technology solution, to reduce the volume of food waste sent to the landfill and transition their entire school lunch program to include more plant-forward menus.

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View the Slides

Watch the EUSD Video on YouTube

Catalyst Leadership Forum - Transformation Stories and Resources for Success
2019-10-19 - 2019-10-21 | Conserve School, 5400 N Black Oak Lake Road, Land O' Lakes, WI, 54540, United States
The Fall Catalyst Leadership Workshop will take place October 19- 21 at Conserve School in Land ‘O Lakes, Wisconsin.
As leaders in the green, healthy, and sustainable schools movement, each of our Catalyst Schools and Districts have a wealth of information and resources waiting to be tapped. We are excited to have James Edward Mills, journalist and author, join us to begin the process of sifting through the “noise” to pull out those best practices and shape them into case studies. Our 2.5 days will be a blend of reflecting on best practices, sharing resources that have emerged from your work as leaders, identifying resources that need to be created to inform our field of practice, and supporting each other in deepening our commitment to this work as we share “problems of practice” in our consultancy protocols. We will also be identifying schools and districts to host site seminars in 2020 and 2021!

Register

*Each Catalyst partner has two free slots at the Leadership Forum. Additional slots are available for purchase.

James Edward Mills is a 2014 Fellow of the Mountain & Wilderness Writing Program of the Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada and the 2016 recipient of the Paul K. Petzoldt Award For Environmental Education. As a freelance journalist and an independent media producer in a career that spans more than 20 years he specializes in sharing stories about outdoor recreation, environmental conservation, acts of charitable giving and practices of sustainable living. He has worked in the outdoor industry since 1989 as a guide, outfitter, independent sales representative, writer, and photographer. He is the author of the new book “The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors” and the co-writer/co-producer of the documentary film “An American Ascent”

James is a contributor to several outdoor-focused print and online publications such as National Geographic Adventure, Rock & Ice, Alpinist, SUP, Elevation Outdoors, Women’s Adventure, the Clymb, Park Advocate, High Country News, Appalachia Journal, The Guarding, Outside Magazine and Land & People. For his work sharing the story of Buffalo Soldiers and their service in the creation of the National Park Service James was named a 2016 Yosemite National Park Centennial Ambassador. Currently as a member of the adjunct faculty at the University of Wisconsin Nelson Institute For Environmental Studies James teaches a summer course for undergraduate students on diversity, equity and inclusion in outdoor recreation and public land management called Outdoors For All

4 Steps to Preparation for a Powerful Experience
1. Please work with your partner to complete the following data collection forms. This will help you gather data that can support your case study.
Overview of School/District and Successes
Green Print Assessment
2. Bring an “idea” about your case study. Your case study can relate to any of the GreenPrint Core Practices, your Action Plan, or reside at the interface of these practices. See this link for the GreenPrint.
3. Bring resources that have helped you to achieve success (policies, documents, artifacts, and student/staff work). These will be used to help us build out our Resource Library. If you are not familiar with the Resource Library, log in to your GSNN account and explore!
4. If you have a “problem of practice” that you would like to present to the group, please contact: jseydel@greenschoolsnationalnetwork.org

Travel
There will be a shuttle from Prairie Crossing to Conserve School for those of you who are coming to the Prairie Crossing Site Seminar on October 17-18. If this is your plan, book your arrival at O’Hare International in Chicago for late Wednesday, October 16th. Book your return flight from Rhinelander (RHI) or Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA). We will make a few fun stops along Lake Michigan on our six hour drive up to Conserve School.
For those of you who are not coming to the site seminar, book your flight to arrive late in the day on Friday. We will coordinate shuttles with Conserve School for those who arrive in Rhinelander (RHI) or Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA).
Book your return flight at 3:00 pm or later from either RHI or CWI.
Lodging:
We will be staying in very beautiful dorm suites with single rooms and a shared bath.

Schedule:
Saturday, October 19
7:00 am | Breakfast
8:30 am | Opening Circle
9:00 am | GreenPrint 2.0 – Self-Assessment and Shaping your Case Study
11:00 am | Break/Hike/Paddle
Noon | Lunch
1:00 | Building the Library – Leadership Resources
2:15 | Problem of Practice – Well Spring Dialogues
3:30 | Break/Hike/Paddle
6:00 | Dinner
8:00 | Cocktail Party – Sharing your story
Sunday, October 20
7:00 am | Breakfast
8:30 am | Opening Circle
9:30 am | Building the Library – Health and Well-Being (Including Social and Emotional Learning)
11:00 | Building the Library – Increasing Engagement and Decreasing Your Footprint: Design, Management, and Operations
Noon | Lunch
1:30 | Writing Workshop – Sharing Your Story
3:30 | Hike/Break
6:00 | Dinner off Campus – Wisconsin Supper Club
Monday, October 21
7:00 am | Breakfast
8:30 am | Building the Library – Curriculum and Instruction
9:30 am | Problem of Practice – Well Spring Dialogues
10:30 am | Closing Visioning Portal
11:00 am | Grab your box lunch and head to the airport!

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The Power of Place: A Walk Through Time
2019-10-17 - 2019-10-18 | Prairie Crossing Charter School, 1531 Jones Point Rd, Grayslake, IL, 60030, United States
Scholarships Just Announced

Educators interested in attending GSNN’s October site seminar in Illinois can now apply for available scholarships. Deadline to apply is 11:59 pm CST October 8.
Apply Now

Join Green Schools National Network and 2017 Best of Green Schools award recipient Prairie Crossing Charter School for a two-day exploration of the Power of Place: A Walk Through Time.
This site seminar will provide an opportunity for teachers and school leaders to see place-based, project-based, and problem-based learning in action. Prairie Crossing Charter School, a K-8 school just north of Chicago, was founded in 1999, with an environmental and sustainability lens to match the surrounding conservation neighborhood. Teaching and learning at Prairie Crossing are not restricted to the four walls of a classroom or pages in a book. Instead, teaching and learning are informed by the history of the school and grounds and how best to empower students to become Natural Leaders through place-, project-, and problem-based learning while preparing them for high school and beyond.

Register

Registration
Catalyst Network Members: Two free slots with Catalyst Code/$100 for each additional slot
GSNN Members: $200
Non-Members: $250
Register early! The seminar is limited to 30 participants.

Travel
O’Hare International Airport (ORD) is 45 minutes south of Prairie Crossing. General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) in Milwaukee is 55 minutes north. Travel to and from both airports is best via the rental car company of your choice.

Hotel:
The hotel is a short walk to the school.
Comfort Suites
Room Rate: $89.00 per night
Group Reservation #3844745
Group Reservation Name: Prairie Crossing Charter School1775 E Belvidere RoadGrayslake, IL 60030

Schedule:
Dress is business casual. There will be some outdoor walking and observation involved, so bring a water bottle, umbrella, camera, and something to write with. We will provide a three-ring binder with resources and note catchers.
October 17
8:00 | Coffee and Chatter – Concierge
8:30 | Welcome and Overview of Seminar
9:30 | Campus Tour
10:45 | Panel of Experts – P3BL Teaching
Lunch | Farm to Table Luncheon
1:15| P3BL Immersion
3:00| Conversation Cafe
3:45 | Closing
Evening Reception
October 18
8:00 | Coffee and Chatter
8:30 | Opening Circle
9:00 | Classroom Visits
10:00 | Nuts and Bolts Conversations
11:00 | Closing Panel
Noon | Lunch and Closing

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PD Collaborative Retreat
2019-09-29 - 2019-10-02 | Conserve School, 5400 N Black Oak Lake Road, Land O' Lakes, WI, 54540, United States
The GSNN PD Collaborative is a consortium of service providers who work together to accelerate the implementation of education for sustainability (EFS) through curriculum development and school transformation. The PD Collaborative Retreat is an opportunity to gather together and learn about and from each other as we explore how best to work collaboratively to meet the needs of schools and school districts across the country. The retreat will give us time to develop a vision for the consortium that might include: a shared menu of services that we could provide that would allow us to work and learn from each other while complementing each other’s work; a clearinghouse/marketplace where people can come together to promote each other’s work; opportunities to share our work through links to services/webinars; and a research and evaluation agenda that can be used by the group to tell the story of EfS at scale as it relates to academic achievement, school culture, college and career readiness, and sustainability mindset.

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Webinar | Energy Education and Management: A Foundation for Sustainable Schools and Districts
2019-09-23 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Halifax) | GSNN Online
Hosted by our Western States Catalyst partners, this webinar will focus on two exciting ways that energy can become a foundation for your sustainability initiatives. In the first half of this webinar, Tashanda Giles-Jones, from Environmental Charter Schools (ECS) in southern California, will share how her team used Energy as the Context for Deeper Learning. By leveraging local sustainability issues, ECS has developed a process that integrates field work, service-learning, and civic action to breath life into their curriculum and deepen learning. In the second half of this webinar, Ryder Delaloye, from Whitefish School District in Montana, will share how supporting teachers to Develop a Classroom Energy Management Plan has become an integral part of their District Energy Management Plan, using real-time data to benchmark and develop action plans that ensure the efficient use of resources in their schools. By engaging students in day-to-day operations and management, Whitefish has been able to save money, decrease its footprint, and increase student and faculty engagement.

Watch the Webinar

Food for Thought
2019-08-13 09:00 - 2019-08-15 13:00 (America/New_York) | Discovery Elementary School, 5241 36th St N, Arlington, VA, 5241 36th St N, United States
This education for sustainability seminar will use food production systems as an integrated inquiry for elementary school teachers.
Health, science, engineering, math, social studies, and art come to life when we understand how the food we eat, where it comes from, and our role in growing it can influence our health, cognitive functioning, and how food choices reflect our relationship with and understanding of the natural world. In addition to creating an integrated balanced literacy/STEM unit plan, participants will design an aquaponics or hydroponics growing environments for classroom.

August 13, 9 am to 4 pm
August 14, 9 am to 4 pm
August 15, 9 am to 1 pm

Chance to win a Fork Farms Hydroponic growing system

Cost
Catalyst Network Members:$75.00
GSNN Members:$375.00
Non-Members:$475.00

Science, Stewardship, and Storytelling: An Exploration of Place and Service-Learning
2019-07-22 - 2019-07-26 | Conserve School, 5400 N Black Oak Lake Road, Land O' Lakes, WI, 54540, United States
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Green Schools National Network and Conserve School invite you and your students to a week of service and learning in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.
Throughout the week, participants will explore our relationship with the land and how it has evolved over time. We will investigate Science, Stewardship and Storytelling through Ecological Knowledge, Indigenous Knowledge, Climate Change and invasive species removal. Finally, no summer escape to Conserve School would be complete without a chance to connect with the campus’ 1,200 acres of lakes, woods, and meadows through swimming, canoeing, forest bathing, hammocking, or just relaxing on the beach with a good book. The week is designed so that educators may come by themselves or bring a group of students. There will be a mix of full group activities and opportunities for students and adults to go their separate ways. Outcomes for teachers and students will be a curriculum plan for translating what they learn in the Northwoods to their home communities.

1:4 Chaperone to Student Ratio
Total Registration is limited to 80 – 40 Students/40 Staff
Registration Deadline: July 15, 2019

Cost
Catalyst Network Members:$275.00 /4 Students Free
GSNN Members:$375.00/4 Students Free
Non-Members:$475.00/4 Students Free

Travel

Coordinating travel will be important as we head to the Northwoods.
The closest airport is Rhinelander, Wisconsin (RHI). We will coordinate a shuttle from RHI to Conserve School at a minimal cost to participants. (Delta Airline)
Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA) is a 2 hour drive. Rental cars are available at CWA. (United,
Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) is another option. MSP is 4.5 – 5 hours from Conserve School so plan to arrive early in the day and enjoy a casual ride through the hills and valleys of north-central Wisconsin. Jenny can recommend some highlights if you are up for an adventure!
Plan to arrive at Conserve School by 4:30 PM on Monday, July 22nd. (There are limited flights RHI, so if your best option is to arrive the night before, please let us know and we will make sure your room is ready and there is a shuttle to pick you up!)
Book your flights home based on a 10 am departure from Conserve School on Friday morning July 26th. (Flights at 2:00 pm or later from RHI; Flights at 3:30 or later from CWA; or 5 pm or later from MSP.) Traveling lunches will be available upon request.

REGISTER
