CT Green LEAF Schools
What is CT GLS?
The Connecticut Green LEAF Schools program is Leading, Educating, Achieving, and Fostering healthy, green schools for all! We are committed to making it easier for the state's public and private K-12 institutions to plant, nurture and grow the seeds of environmental literacy in a way that builds more sustainable and just communities.
How does it work?
The self-paced CT Green LEAF Schools program will meet you where you're at with tools, resources, and a network of educators to help you set and track environmental, health, and sustainability education goals.
Acorn
Achievements:
-
Receive approval from school admin
-
Complete the Enrollment Form
Benefits:
-
Access to listserv, newsletter and Facebook group
-
5 points toward your town's SustainableCT certification
Sapling
Achievements:
-
Form a Green Team
-
Complete the Self-Assessment
Benefits:
-
Access to mini-grants to fund your school’s green initiatives
-
15 points toward your town's SustainableCT certification
Oak Tree
Achievements:
-
Accomplish a Green LEAF Goal
-
Fulfill professional development
Benefits:
-
Recognition ceremony to celebrate your amazing accomplishments
-
20 points toward your town's SustainableCT certification
Learn more about SustainableCT and their new Action 8.8: Earn a Green Schools Designation.
CT Green LEAF Schools strive to make progress across three pillars:
Ready to join?
Our Enrollment Form is the only thing required to become a CT Green LEAF School
You might be thinking...
-
I just want to get my students outside more often!
-
We know we can and should be doing more with environmental education.
-
How can we fit climate change education into our school day?
-
Can we do something about our school food waste?
-
What is the best way to connect kids and food?
-
How do we get started reducing our school's carbon footprint?
-
What can we do about air quality?
-
Do we need a Green Team? How do we start one?
What will this look like at my school?
Every school is different and there are so many ways to get started. For example:
-
Implement a garden-based lesson inside or outside the classroom
-
Set up a sorting station to recycle plastics, cartons, or even food in the cafeteria
-
Examine the air quality in the school building and on school grounds
-
Build awareness around your school's energy footprint and identify ways to reduce it
-
Connect the classroom to the community by tackling real-world challenges