Green Schools Update from Steve Muzzy

Green Apple Day of Service is almost here. The Green Schools Committee has compiled a list of registered projects to help volunteers engage with events in their communities. Use the RSVP link in the compiled list to learn more about the event and to register and lend your support. Remember, it's not too late to organize an event. Green Apple Day of Service projects don't need to happen on September 28th – there is flexibility in choosing a day. With the new school year set to begin, now is the time to coordinate a Green Apple project, please contact me for support. To help with funding, you may be interested in the Center for Green Schools Visa gift card give away to support Green Apple activities through their Green Apple Day of Service Facebook Contest.

On July 30th a number of Green School Committee members participated in the Department of Education's ‘Education Built to Last’ Facilities Best Practice Tour of Manchester Essex Regional Middle High School and Quincy High School, two MA Green Ribbon Award winners. For an overview of the tours and to learn more about these amazing green schools, head over to the USGBC MA blog. Green Ribbon Schools has teamed up with Green Apple Day of Service to outline a potential day of service project. Use the following link to learn more.


New Resource: U.S. Green Building Council’s Center for Green Schools and the American Association of Community Colleges’ Sustainability Education and Economic Development (SEED) Center have released a new resource, Campus as a Living Lab: Using the Built Environment to Revitalize College Education. This guide is designed to help colleges that have greened their campuses, or are thinking about greening their campuses, to use those facilities as real-world teaching tools for students across an array of academic and technical programs.


Opportunity: Free USGBC membership for PreK-12 schools & districts. For a limited time, USGBC is offering schools and districts first time, one year free organizational membership. By becoming a USGBC member, schools and districts have the ability to connect to other member organizations and access a wide variety of resources and benefits.

Green Schools Update (July)

by Steve Muzzy

Green Apple Day of Service is two months away and we are making good progress in Massachusetts. We currently have 9 projects registered, with many more in the works. Be sure to check out the current projects for ideas or to register to attend an event in your area. The Green Schools Committee continues to do a great job marketing this opportunity and has been coordinating a number of green school tours for the fall to coincide with Green Apple. If you'd like to coordinate a Green Apple project, please contact me for support.

Speaking of green building tours, on Tuesday July 30th, the US Department of Education's Facilities Best Practices Tour will be coming to Massachusetts to highlight Green Ribbon Award winners Manchester-Essex Middle/High School and Quincy High School. If you'd like to attend, email me to be added to the list and to receive a detailed agenda.

If you have vacation planned for Washington, D.C. this summer be sure to check out the National Building Museum's  Green Schools Exhibit. Littleton, MA based Triumph Modular, a past supporter of the Chapter, has partnered with Perkins + Will to design Sprout Space, a healthy, high performance modular classroom. Sprout Space is currently on display at the National Building Museum and is a terrific example of design with education in mind.

Finally, the Green Schools Committee is seeking volunteers. We have a number of exciting projects to work on. Please contact me or Green School Committee Chair, Kathy Arthur Tyler to be added to the distribution list. Our calls are scheduled for the second Thursday of every month from 8-9AM.  

Opportunity: Free USGBC membership for PreK-12 schools & districts

For a limited time, USGBC is offering schools and districts first time,  one year free organizational membership. By becoming a USGBC member, schools and districts have the ability to connect to other member organizations and access a wide variety of resources and benefits. 

(Excerpted from USGBC MA's July 2013 Newsletter)

Green Apple Day of Service

The USGBC's Center for Green Schools is once again promoting Green Apple Day of Service to advance healthy, sustainable schools! 

 

The inaugural Green Apple Day of Service held on September 29, 2012 had more than 1,250 service projects in 49 countries. The second Green Apple Day of Service will be held September 28, 2013 - advocates around the world, including students, teachers, parents, business owners and more will come together in support of healthy, sustainable schools by participating in local service projects.

The Green Schools Committee of USGBC MA Chapter is aiming to have more than 50 projects registered across the state in 2013. Mygreenapple.org has put together a terrific list of resources to describe and support organizing a day of service - and we have pulled the following list of resources to help you help us spread the word:

• About the Green Apple Day of Service

A one-page information sheet describing the Green Apple Day of Service.

• 2013 Green Apple Day of Service Webcasts

Free 20-minute-or-less webcasts that will introduce you to project ideas, volunteer recruitment tips, fundraising ideas and more.

• Step by Step Toolkit for Organizing a Day of Service Project

The Project Captain Toolkit covers how to get a Day of Service project started, establishing project goals, getting volunteers and organizing your project.

If you have questions or if your company is looking to partner with a local school to execute a project, please let us know - we are happy to help!