This is the first in a two-part series about safer options for athletic fields by guest authors Susan Kaplan and Rachel Massey of the Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Schools, universities, and municipalities often face the need to make a choice between natural grass athletic fields and artificial turf. These choices can involve substantial monetary investments. Reasons some cite for choosing artificial turf can include an […]
Photo: Marshall County Schools The West Virginia Chapter of USGBC has a greener horizon in mind for the state’s famous mountain skyline, and this future starts within the walls of its schools. Following its establishment in recent years, the chapter spurred support for the construction of LEED facilities to create more sustainable communities for everyone. […]
In the multidisciplinary world of healthy schools, there is a dizzying number of webinars, classes, and conferences to sharpen your impact. Of course, making the time to sort through that wealth of knowledge can be a project in and of itself, and educators often have the hardest time prioritizing their own development. So we took […]
This article first appeared in Trim Tab. This is the story of potential. It’s about social equity and environmental healing, it’s about collaboration, and most of all, it’s about a transformational moment. You will hear three different sides of the story, each with a particular yet universal experience. Our cast of characters includes Dr. Chuck Herring, […]
Whether you have kids there, work there, or were recently there yourself: daycares and schools are where we spend a substantial amount of our lives — 1,000 hours for the average child per year to be exact. These places should be safe to spend time in — and free from the risk of lead contaminating the drinking water. In partnership with Women […]
Do you know anyone who has taken a class in empathy? Followed a course in compassion, taken a test in curiosity? These qualities are the foundation for how we interact with others and the world around us, yet most of us developed them without specifically studying them in school. We live in a fast-changing world, […]
At a recent Green and Healthy Schools Academy event, representatives from the Chartiers Valley School District administration, facility designer IKM Inc., and the Green & Healthy Schools Academy spoke about what makes the new Chartiers Valley Middle and High Schools project innovative and unique, and why all schools should be considering this type of approach. […]
This post originally appeared on the Green Schools National Network website. We like to say that every school has had a failed recycling program or something akin to it. What starts out as being a great effort with lots of energy and excitement can often fade over time. Funding runs out, staff turns over, project champions become […]
At first sight, Spectrum Charter School seemed like many other schools, albeit smaller. As we followed Spectrum’s Principal Jenni Carpenter into our first class visit of the day, we realized that Spectrum Charter School approaches education differently, and calling Spectrum ordinary or traditional would be a serious mistake. If you have ever spent much time […]
Volunteer and attend the conference for free! The conference is looking for 15 to 20 volunteers to assist the conference with wayfinding and education session monitoring. This is a great opportunity to help out, and also be able to attend the conference free of charge! Volunteers are required to volunteer for one shift of […]
