The roots of the Elementary Green Schools Program grew out of the work we do in our in-class workshops.  Our workshops are a great start to the sustainability conversations that need to happen in schools and communities.  With over 17,000 students participating in the elementary workshop program over the school-year, we realized our educator was too busy to work one-on-one to progress through the sustainability goals of interested schools.  

Enter Green School Program. The EcoSource Elementary School Programs Coordinator works with three Elementary schools over the course of one year to green the school culture from the inside out...and the outside in!

We do this through interactive educational action challenges.  Sounds like a mouthful, but it is very simple and fun!  Together with students, staff and parents we work on illustrating not only what sort of environmentally responsible behaviour we need in our world, but also why we need it!  At the end of the year students have very clear and tangible results of their environmental efforts, and are able to articulate how they achieved their goals and spread the message on how easy it is for us all to tread lighter on our planet. 

The program takes participants through a full school waste "pop" audit, carried out by all students in all grades.  This gives all of us a good idea about what is being thrown out in the school, what could be diverted elsewhere and what could have been reduced.  With this information the students are able to see where action can improve outcome and set the goal of doing just that by the end of the year.

The year progresses with unique waste reduction actions like wasteless lunch challenges, wasteless community corn roasts, beefed up recycling programs, school-wide outdoor composting and much much more!

It is also complimented by Earth Day entertainment, Holiday programs, special events and teacher workshops.

The final action for the school is to build a Learning Garden on the school property.  This garden can take the shape of a naturalized area or an elaborate outdoor classroom - all designed and planted by the school's students.

The UN Convention on the Rights of a Child Article 12 and 29 - Children have the right to participate in decisions that will effect them, and Children have the right to learn through their education how to live peacefully, respect their environment and other life forms - play a strong role in our programs.  The Green School program encourages and equips students to become the agents of change in their own schools, thus creating sustainable and inspiring environmental behaviour.

Teachers and parents have raved about the change in their students and children, both in school and at home.  Community members and parents join with the students and teachers to celebrate their accomplishments as we all learn together what we can do to change the world.

All expenses of programs, program materials - composters, classroom bins, posters, wasteless community corn roasts, learning garden supplies and equipment - as well as staff support are covered by EcoSource through our very generous funding from the Region of Peel. 

If you think you school is ready to take their environmental interests and actions up to the next level, contact EcoSource to apply for the Green Schools Program.  Contact the Elementary School Programs Coordinator Katya Seckar; kseckar(at)ecosource.ca or call our office 905-274-6222.