Greening Up That Campus

Remember the gross parts of your school campus? I mean we all had them:

​Sections with overflowing trash, classrooms made out of chemicals/materials that had been lingering in the walls since the 50s. In a lot of ways you felt like you might contract something while you were sitting in class…

But times have changed and advances are being made. Founded in 2004 by parent-environmentalists, the Green Schools Initiative is a movement that has been formed to provide our young students with healthier environments to be educated in. Using the template of smaller/third-world villages that have learned to use the resources around them, the Green Schools Initiative holds an emphasis on eliminating toxins from schools, creating green spaces and buildings, the using and reusing of sustainable resources, and serving healthier food to our kids.

It’s been discovered that certain (and somewhat archaic) methods and layouts of American schools is counterproductive to a happy, healthy, and productive student. The “old school” layout of rows of desks in a cramped and cold setting and meals that are two steps above airline food aren’t working and are just plain unhealthy! The Green Schools Initiative, and the many programs that have branched out because of it, is paving the way to make our learning institutions cleaner and healthier.

The environments that we are placing our students in are a big factor in contributing to their overall wellness and health, so it would be irresponsible to not take every step possible to ensuring that those places are well-kept environments that will help positively mold our kids!

For more information on the Green Schools Initiative and the various programs that have currently put in motion, please visit our Greening Schools/Network section for more info!