Students at Copper Mesa Elementary School raise the school’s Eco-Schools USA Green Flag. Photo by Judith Kohler

“Way to go Cougars!” a student at Copper Mesa Elementary in Highlands Ranch exclaimed as the gym full of students cheered.

The occasion was a kind of pep assembly at the Denver-area school, but it was unlike any pep assembly I remember attending. The kids weren’t cheering for a sports team; they were excited about earning a Green Flag, the highest honor in the Eco-Schools USA program. The students didn’t sing the school fight song; they recited Copper Mesa’s “eco-code.”

“You’re part of an elite group of schools and students,” said Ann Morgan, executive director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Rocky Mountains and Prairies Regional Center.

Ann Morgan, executive director of the regional NWF office, presents a Green Flag to Flagstone Elementary School.

The two Douglas County schools are the first in Colorado to earn Green Flags and as of April 25, were just the 14^th and 15^th nationwide.

Students at both schools were clothed in several different shades of green to mark the special day. During an outdoor assembly, Flagstone students waved green paper flags attached to pencils. Parents stood around the outside of the group, taking pictures and clapping along with the kids when the Eco-Schools flag was hoisted up the flagpole.

The raising of the Green Flags followed a lot of work by students and school staffs. Copper Mesa has saved more than 127,000 kilowatt hours of electricity the past three years with the help of energy audits. The school has saved about $400 by using both sides of copy paper and decreased trash pick-ups from five to two days a week.

Flagstone has reduced the amount of waste left from school lunches. The school provides vegetables for the community from its garden and has built and located bluebird houses to enhance the birds’ population.

Flagstone Elementary studets cheer as their school is awarded the Green Flag. Photo by Judith Kohler

“They found I left my light on once and they haven’t let me forget it,” she said.

Members of Copper Mesa’s student “Green Team” said the work has been worth it.

“We’ve had to be like a team,” 10-year-old Hailey Merrill said. “It’d be really cool if all the other schools could do it, too.”

No trash cans? Correct! The 2013 Green Inaugural Ball will not have a need for trash cans. A commitment was made by the Newseum, Wolfgang Puck Catering, and event organizers to compost and recycle all waste generated by the event.

To reach the goal of a zero-waste event, the Newseum will only use serving materials that can be composted, such as bamboo skewers, or reused, such as glass ware. The Newseum will also transform all of their existing trash cans into compost and recycling receptacles so guests and staff will be able to contribute to the event’s composting effort.

The commitment to reducing waste goes beyond the front of the house and into the kitchen. Before the 2013 Green Inaugural Ball, the Wolfang Puck Catering culinary and pantry staff will receive extensive training on compostable materials and source separation from Compost Cab, a pioneer in the area of urban agriculture and community composting. Compost Cab is a locally-based compost pickup service launched by entrepreneur Jeremy Brosowsky that helps urban dwellers turn their food scraps back into food, reducing waste and creating fertile soil in the process.  Subscribers have the option to receive some soil in return for their yard or window-box or donate the soil generated to a local urban farm.  Since the Newseum does not have a need for compost, whatever compost is created from the materials collected from the event will be donated.

Chef Tom Blundell outlines the plan for composting and recycling for the 2013 Green Inaugural Ball. NWF photo by Shelley Cohen.

The Wolfgang Puck Catering kitchen at the Newseum, led by Chef Tom Blundell, has also incorporated into its routine a number of waste minimization strategies, including:

• Cardboard Recycling: large boxes and cardboard items are separated and broken down for recycling.
• Compaction: waste is compacted to minimize space needs on the dock and in the landfill
• Oil: Kitchen oil used for frying is separated and disposed of in a separate grease trap in the dock where it is picked up and recycled.
• Light Bulbs: bulbs are broken down in a Lampinator, an eco-friendly lamp compressor that safely crushes the bulbs and separates the mercury from the glass and compresses it in a carbon filter.  This on-site machine reduces the need to dispose of the bulbs in a landfill, and eliminates the costs and emissions related to transporting the bulbs.
• Bulk Purchases: Chef Tom reduces waste by buying in bulk and carefully calculating food amount.

The 2013 Green Inaugural Ball and the Newsuem have carefully collaborated to find as many areas to reduce waste as possible, and we are excited to offer guests a waste-free experience.

Haven’t purchased your 2013 Green Inaugural Ball ticket yet? Purchase them soon before the event sells out.
Already have you Green Ball ticket? Don’t forget to tweet using the #GreenBall2013 hashtag.

Shelley Cohen is Chair of the Greening Committee for the 2013 Green Inaugural Ball. Ms. Cohen is an urban eco-mom with eighteen years of experience in environment and energy-related fields. She currently serves as a Senior Project Developer for Ameresco where she specializes in developing renewable energy and energy conservation projects, and is responsible for developing over 15MWs of renewable energy. Prior employment included jobs with EPA, the White House, and the office of Senator Joseph Lieberman (CT). Ms. Cohen’s green home includes eco-friendly materials, 12kw of solar PV, a cool roof, rain barrel, organic garden, and has been featured in local and national media. Ms. Cohen serves on the board of the National Wildlife Federation, and in 2012 was trained as a Climate Leader through the Climate Reality Project.

My green roof Halloween costume, inspired by the green roof at PS41 in New York City

I emailed our friends at PS41 this morning to see how they were doing after Hurricane Sandy. Science teacher Joaquin Rodriguez said they were without power still, and could not visit the school to see how it is doing, but we’re hopeful they will be back in the next week. We’re thinking about them!!!

I was so inspired by my visit to see the green roof at PS41 last month, that I dedicated my Halloween costume to their courageous and inspiring efforts.

How did I make the costume?

Here’s the materials that went into my costume:

• My husband donated two pairs of gray work pants that had patches, which I cut up and sewed into the stone walls of the school.
• The windows are used plastic bags.
• The green fabric was part of a tent my son destroyed after much playing.
• The leaves are made from Lindt chocolate wrappers (from a thank you gift that my co-worker Pat gave me) and Fruit-a-Bu fruit leather packages, cut into leaf shapes and glued on to  green twist ties.
• The flat part on my shoulders is made from a piece of cardboard, reinforced by two wooden dowels.

My costume won in the recycled category here at National Wildlife Federation’s Halloween costume contest!

For information on past year’s recycled costumes, check out my recycled Halloween costume blogs.

• My Double Rainbow costume
• My green Halloween costumes over the years

Inspire My Next Costume

Learn more about becoming an Eco-School like PS41!

Her science teacher, Ms. Marple, said she would love our help setting up recycling centers around the school. Ms. Marple registered our school, Armstrong Elementary, as an Eco-School – a program by National Wildlife Federation to reward green schools.

The grade three classes made the recycling bins, set them up around the school, and designed promotional posters. They made announcements about recycling on the morning TV show. Each week, they gathered and weighed the recycling. Ms. Marple took cans and bottles home to her residential recycling. I took the plastic caps and juice pouches for craft projects.

For the plastic cap recycling, we were inspired by this article in Ranger Rick magazine about plastic cap Fridge Flowers by Michelle Stitzlein. She works with schools to make large plastic cap mosaic murals. If we got too many plastic caps, our back-up plan was to bring them to Aveda’s plastic cap recycling program.

For the juice pouch recycling, I have collected them for a few years now, and I sew them together to make bags. But what I really wanted to try was sewing trash clothing so we could have a trash fashion or “trashion” show. We were inspired by the Eco-School trash fashion show at United High School in Armagh, PA. If we gathered too many juice pouches, our back-up plan was to send them to Terracycle.

Check out this video about our project:

Click here to view the embedded video.

So this year we successfully set up the recycling centers. The grade three classes learned how to gather the recyclables as part of their weekly routine.

There was a natural competitive aspect, where they wanted to say that “if we gather the most recycling of all the classes, then we win!” But I cautioned them by saying that when you gather lots of recyclables, that’s not necessarily a good thing. It means you are choosing to eat things in packages rather than making food that doesn’t require packaging. Choosing options without packaging is called “pre-cycling” and it’s the best option.

This kids were very enthusiastic about the project, especially when I showed the first trash fashion items. I am also developing new trash crafts that allow the kids to design their own trash fashion. My family attended a trash fashion show that was part of Alexandria’s Earth Day celebrations for many ideas. More on that in a future blog!

Thank you to Ms. Marple and the grade three classes for taking on this recycling project. Thank you also to the administrators for allowing the project to happen, and to all the students at Armstrong school who recycled.

National Wildlife Federation’s Storytelling Video Diary Series shares the candid tales of 10 NWF staffers from around the country; armed with their cameras in California, Wisconsin, the Pacific Northwest, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC, these nine staffers will share with you their individual trials, epiphanies and stories as they unfold in their daily adventures.

Last month, I was thrilled to learn that Loveland High School in Loveland, Ohio, was officially named a U.S. Green Ribbon School for excellence in environmental literacy and sustainability.

In case you’re not familiar with USGRS, this is a huge deal. The U.S. Green Ribbon Schools program was launched by the U.S. Department of Education, EPA, and the White House’s Center for Environmental Quality, with coordination help from NWF, Campaign for Environmental Literacy, Earth Day Network and U.S. Green Building Council. In this, the program’s inaugural year, 78 schools from 29 states and the District of Columbia have been recognized, and serve as examples for aspiring green schools everywhere. And of those winners, 19 were already registered in NWF’s Eco-Schools USA program.

Until I heard the good news, I was (sadly) unaware of the greening of my former high school. After all, the Cincinnati area isn’t traditionally regarded a hotbed of environmentalism (which I’d argue is largely because hotbeds of media tend to ignore news to the contrary).

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson at the U.S. Green Ribbon Schools announcement (U.S. Dept. of Ed.)

Honoring Teachers Across the Country

Prior to the launch of U.S. Green Ribbon Schools, the environmental efforts of teachers and school administrators rarely received national attention. So it was well-deserved when the Obama Administration hosted an awards ceremony  for the winning schools this past Monday.

Pine Jog Elementary is a U.S. Green Ribbon and NWF Eco-School

Many educators I spoke with loved the idea of dual recognition from USGRS and Eco-Schools USA. The NWF Eco-Schools program recognizes schools for exceptional achievement in creating ‘green’ spaces on school grounds, conserving natural resources and integrating environmental education into curricula. More than 1,200 American schools are enrolled in the program so far, including 19 of the inaugural U.S. Green Ribbon Schools.

Find out how your school can become certified through the Eco-Schools USA program, or read about how its seven step framework and pathways support all three of the Green Ribbon pillars – thus providing a stepping stone for joining this prestigious group.

Acton Boxborough Regional High School in Acton, MA, is the fourth Eco-Schools USA Green Flag awardee. (Liz Soper)

There is no doubt this school deserved this award.

In order to receive the flag, the school had to address three pathways of sustainability. Over the past two years, this has entailed reducing electricity usage by over 10% and boosting lunchroom recycling and composting by over 250%.  The school also performed a water audit on the school grounds, created a rain garden and incorporated a plastic water bottle campaign at the school with three new bottle water fill stations. All great stuff!

But what impressed me the most about this school was the students and the strong leadership roles they were taking to ensure the success of this program.  As I met with groups of students I began to realize that not only were these students obtaining knowledge and skills on how to make their school more sustainable, but they were learning to organize themselves, develop programs, create and distribute communication to the school and community.  They were interacting with adults at the administration level and into the community including their state members of Congress and Senators. They were identifying needs—more curriculum or classes related to sustainability, and they were learning to evaluate their progress.

See a video about the school’s work on the ActonPatch website.

Among the most impressive elements of Acton Boxborough's Green Flag work is its student leadership (Liz Soper)

Many of the students who I spoke with were seniors and were moving on to college next year.  Some were excited to use their Sustainability work at “AB” and pursue further study in the environment or sustainability fields in college.

But even for those that were not planning on further study had gained something. Participating in NWF Eco-Schools USA has given them a big leg up for their future.  They are now strong student leaders and most importantly, they will be taking those leadership skills with them into the world in whatever role they decided to explore.

You can find out more about AB’s great work by reading an article in their local paper or checking out NWF’s press release.  Look at our list of current Eco-Schools to see how many are in your state or find out how your school can become an Eco-School.

Here’s a quick, fun way to get families outside this spring. Invite your neighbors for a community clean-up!

In our neighborhood, folks shared their yard tools and gave each other gardening tips, while parents and kids cleaned up trash from the nearby stream. Find out three tips to improve your community clean-up by watching my video diary:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Some photos from our clean-up:

Here's all the trash we collected, including this baby stroller and styrofoam grave from Halloween - all in a nearby stream!

Daughter and father cooperate on trash pick-up

Have you organized a community clean-up in your area? What worked for you?

If you enjoy organizing community events, you might enjoy our Community Wildlife Habitat program where you encourage your neighbors to garden for wildlife.

National Wildlife Federation’s Storytelling Video Diary Series shares the candid tales of nine NWF staffers from around the country; armed with their cameras in the Great Lakes, California, South Dakota, the Pacific Northwest, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC, these nine staffers will share with you their individual trials, epiphanies and stories as they unfold in their daily adventures.

Mike Garguilo is a passionate middle school science teacher in Sleepy Hollow, NY. He is the host of the Environmental Action Club which received the award for the environmental club of the year in Westchester County and co-writer of the Westchester County sustainability curriculum. His club is currently instrumental in the plastic bag movement in NY state and aided in the recent ban of plastic bags in Rye, NY.

(flickr | currybet)

This year, the school’s Environmental Action Club (motto: “Saving the planet, one student at a time”) is targeting plastic bags and attempting to ban them from the community. Just in time for the holiday shopping season, the club hosted a “Plastic Bag Assembly” this November featuring a screening of the movie “Bag It”, a documentary outlining the economical, environmental and human health costs caused by plastic bags.

After the film, students and staff were each given reusable shopping bags courtesy of the Sleepy Hollow/Tarrytown Chamber of Commerce and the Tarrytown Environmental Action Council. Over 800 reusable shopping bags have been distributed by the club to date.

Our goal for the 2011-2012 school year is to reduce the number of plastic bags used in the Sleepy Hollow/Tarrytown area. Disposable items don’t really go away. I’m sure you have heard of the ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch’ — a vortex of plastic litter wreaking havoc to marine life. Most of that litter comes from land-based sources.

“Bag It” highlighted efforts by other municipalities and nations to reduce or eliminate this problem. The club launched a letter writing campaign to local politicians sharing their concerns about the issue and providing solutions. A nearby community, Rye, NY, recently banned plastic bags with support from the Environmental Action Club, which would like to see plastic bags leave the community forever.

To learn more about the Environmental Action Club visit their website.

Interested in limiting plastics at school and in your community? Eco-Schools USA’s consumption and waste pathway provides a variety of resources and information to help you achieve that goal.

Give more creative presents to your loved ones - they will appreciate it. (photo credit: chatirygirl/Flickr)

1. Use what you have. If your closet is like mine, you have boxes of old mementos and treasures that can be transformed into something beautiful. A personalized gift says so much more than “I picked this up from the store”. Convert old T-shirts into a soft rug, make coasters out of notes and photos, or create a Dali melting record clock. Don’t forget sentimental gifts that require only a little creativity – retouch Grandpa’s childhood photographs, organize Mom’s recipes, or edit that dusty “Disneyland 1998 family vacation” video.
2. Gift experiences. Work and school can prevent families from spending much needed quality time together, so the holidays offer the perfect time to catch up. Families can find escapes and adventures on deal websites like Livingsocial and Groupon which can save them money to spend on more important things. Time is the most valuable gift you can offer, and the added savings are a welcomed bonus.
3. Find alternative wrapping paper. Your works of art have been created, and now it’s time to wrap the gifts. Finish those half-rolls of wrapping paper hiding in the back of your closet and resist the urge to buy more. Use recyclable bags and spruce them up with some festive cheer (you can also use Silk Furoshiki Gift Wrap, but remember, the point is to use what you have – the less you bring into your home, the less you ultimately have to recycle or throw away!). BONUS: Add some colorful flair to your packages by replacing your unrecyclable packing peanuts with shredded strands of discarded wrapping paper.
4. 

   Photo Credit: sdminor81/Flickr

   Know where your Christmas tree comes from. Real Christmas trees have a distinctive smell, but they can be shipped from far away farms and your tree leaves a high carbon footprint before it arrives at your door. On the other hand, fake Christmas trees can be reused, but they are not recyclable and require high amounts of petroleum for their production. Thankfully, there are alternatives – you could find a nursery and chop down a tree or you can build your own Christmas tree.
5. Donate to your favorite nonprofit. This is the gift that keeps on giving throughout the year. The National Wildlife Federation’s new Choose Your Cause campaign allows our donors to choose the cause where they want their donation to be used. In addition, NWF is a member of Earth Share, a nationwide federation of the nation’s most respected environmental and conservation charities. We’ll put your donation straight to work where it’s needed most in our conservation programs across the country.

‘Tis the Season from the National Wildlife Federation:

• 5 Gifts Birds Are “Tweeting” About This Holiday Season
• This Year, Shift Your Gift Into a Gift For Wildlife
• Reindeer: 12 Fascinating Facts About These Amazing Creatures
• Simple Holiday Crafts to Make With Your Kids
• Habitat Certification and Other Gifts for Gardeners
• The Northern Cardinal: Find Out About the Bird That Most Symbolizes the Season

“We have to go through the trash? Are you kidding?”

MA State Senator James Eldridge (photo by Ann Sussman)

We knew that the cafeteria trash barrels held plenty of recyclable bottles and food scraps – it was easy to see when you peered inside.  But breaking open trash bags…?

A little background: a group of students, staff and community members at ABRHS have set a goal of achieving Green Flag certification through the Eco-Schools USA program. We knew that having this goal would help us create a structured approach to improving sustainability.  And we were enthusiastic about being linked to the 50,000 schools around the world that participate in the Eco-Schools program.

I’d done some research into the “Consumption & Solid Waste” portion of Green Flag certification and learned that it begins with a trash audit.  So…yes, we’d be breaking open trash bags and counting and weighing everything inside.

Shock at this prospect turned to laughter, and then to a realization that there was opportunity here: “Let’s make it a party! If we’re going to get down & dirty, let’s have fun with this!”

An enterprising student created an engaging “Trash Party” invitation, and we blasted it out far and wide within the school system and to community groups.  We knew we were on to something important when our State Senator Jamie Eldridge, replied that he would be coming by to support us.

A bold crew assembled on the day of the event, music playing and balloons bobbing nearby.  We were armed with buckets, tarps, gloves, clipboards, and cameras.  The first trash bag was upended into a tub, and the sorting began!  We counted and weighed and hunted for the prizes that two clever students had dropped into the trash during lunch earlier in the day.

Trash sorting at school (photo by Ann Sussman)

So the honest-to-goodness trash was just 5 pounds, and filled just half a bag!  Another surprise:  it was way fun!  We had a great time together, and it was exhilarating to put together solid data confirming our hunches about the trash stream.

After some trash-sorting, Sen. Eldridge spoke with us about legislative proposals to enhance recycling and composting.  Principal Alixe Callen and Director of Facililties J.D. Head came out to lend a hand.  A reporter covered the event and posted a great video report, and we posted a report and photos on the website we’ve been building to publicize our progress toward sustainability. The data we gathered creates a valuable baseline to rethink our waste management, and will inform the planning underway.

The best part of all?  Taking action together…and discovering that a Trash Party can be a blast!

To learn more about how to become a certified Eco-School, click here.