Stewardship ProjectMotivationProjects are

student generated

Projects fulfill teacher stipend requirements

Projects are sustainable

Projects improve our environment

EcoSchools 8 Pathways to Sustainable Stewardship

international framework helping educators integrate sustainable principles throughout their schools & curriculum

http://www.nwf.org/Global-Warming/School-Solutions/Eco-Schools-USA.aspx

Juice Box Recycling

Join Preexisting Recycling ProjectsResearch & Devise Sustainable Projects

http://www.trex.com/plan/why-trex/environmentally-friendly/recycling-programs/index.htm

Trex composite deck material = sawdust + recycled bags. Could partner with retailers, trash haulers, high school only, high # bags = free TREX bench.

Beverage containers make up (40-60%) of litter, always in top 3 in land/water clean-up efforts.

Is recycling effective? Advocate for a bottle bill in Pr. Wm.

http://toolkit.bottlebill.org/

Raise fund/get ideas from:

http://www.keepvirginiabeautiful.org

Reduce Energy Consumption

http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/wue/energy2_procedures.html

Kill-A-Watt meterhttp://www.p3international.com/products/special/P4400/P4400-CE.html

SMART strip Automatically shuts off appliances when not in use

•Conduct a School energy Audit, distribute results to whole school •Persuade students/admin to cut back•Seal leaks•Shut down computers/smart boards daily, if no updates are occurring•Decrease unneeded lighting

Climate Changehttp://usa.zerochallenge.org/

Participate in Chesapeake Climate Action Network http://www.chesapeakeclimate.org/

http://www.chesapeakeclimate.org/template/index_va.cfm

•Decrease school footprint•Create/Use social media to increase project impact

Track where students old cell phones end up

Keep stormwater on site•Install a rain garden•Decrease mowed lawn areas•Plant native trees•Stabilize eroded slopes•Plant retention pond filtering vegetationMore outdoor learning!

Green Your Grounds

biology.kenyon.edu

http://www.gfrpartners.com/06DurfeeTreePlanting.html http://www.shenandoah.k12.va.us/v.php?pg=890

Improve your Watershed

•Adopt-a-stream

•Routinely clean school grounds

•Monitor/decrease fertilizer application on school grounds

•Prevent debris from entering parking lot storm drains

•Improve soil, drainage, flow at school or local areas

•Can school water be reused for irrigation?

POTOMAC RIVER WATERSHED CLEANUP9am - 12pm Saturday, April 14, 2012http://www.fergusonfoundation.org/trash_initiative/trash_cleanup.shtml Friends of the Occoquan Spring Clean-Up Day

Saturday, April 14, 2012http://www.friendsoftheoccoquan.org/

MD Dept of the Environment http://www.livingclassroomsdc.org

Grow & release shad

Pr. Wm Co. Clean-UpPick your date & site!http://www.pwcleancouncil.org/Misc-.html

Improve your Watershed

THESE FREE SEEDLINGS from PWC Cooperative Ext. 4-HOrder by Jan. 20, 2012 (arrival Mar. – Apr)

Linda King, Extension Agent, lking@pwcgov.org 703-792-4761

Silky Dogwood – moist areasPartial sun

Pin Oak– dry or moistFull sun

Plant Trees: Soak up Stormwater!VA Dept. of Forestry 40 species of VA grown bare root seedlings!

~10 for $20 or 25 for $40Wildflower seed mixesOrders taken Sept.-mid Aprilwww.BuyVirginiaTrees.com

Arbor Day April 27, 2012

50 FREE Trees from Disney & Arbor Day FoundationOrder by April 1, 2012http://www.arborday.org/disney/

**Celebrate**

Improve Air Quality, Reduce Emissions & Fuel Use

•Improve School Bus Idling Policy•Use propane heaters to warm bus instead of cold weather idling•Reduce number of kids driving separate cars, when buses provided

http://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/idling_policy.htm

http://www.chps.net/dev/Drupal/node/48

International Walk to School Day October 2012: http://www.walktoschool.org/

http://saferoutesvirginia.wordpress.com/2010/09/30/prevention-connections-offers-safe-routes-to-school-grants/

They offer grants to get programs rolling! If not feasible at your school; have students partner with an elementary or middle school

http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/

Encourage PWCS admin

to look at improving

indoor air quality for

new school construction

http://www.virginiadot.org/programs/srsm_school_travel_plans_and_grants.asp

Bike to School Day May 9, 2012: http://www.walktoschool.org/

Questions to Ask Students• Did they define an issue? Did they contact with all stakeholders?

– If we plant trees at the base of this slope, erosion will be decreased.– If we clean up trash along the Occoquan River and reported it in our school paper, students will more

aware and less likely to throw trash in storm sewers– If 89% of all students walk or ride their bikes on May 9th, we will have cut down on ____ amount of

greenhouse gases.– If we contact all homeowners in __ neighborhood and invite them to the neighborhood stream clean-

up, we will have raised awareness and cleaned up this section of the stream…• Did their efforts make an impact?• Is it measurable?

– Amount of trash collected, – Amount of electricity or $$ saved, no longer used, – # of homeowners contacted, – # of kids participating, – # of storm drains stenciled, – Number of trees planted…

• Is it sustainable?– Is the rain garden effectively slowing storm water run off? Can we add more plants to it next year? – Are trees being watered during first summer? – Are kids participating in watershed clean-up each year?– Are teachers using student recommendations for decreasing electrical consumption…