Green Schools Conference 2024

Posted on December 8, 2023February 5, 2024 by Annie Perkins

The impact of the climate crisis on education and the role schools play is undeniable. To address this, leaders and advocates must unite to make tangible progress towards greener schools, healthier environments, and sustainability literate students and staff. That’s why I’m thrilled to represent Project Learning Tree (PLT) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) at the Green Schools Conference & Expo (GSCE) in Santa Fe, NM, from March 5–7, 2024!

The 14th annual GSCE, set in the LEED Gold city of Santa Fe, will offer three days of immersive education, networking, and inspiration.

As PLT and SFI’s Senior Director of Green Building and Supply Chain, I’m excited to attend GCSE to learn about the newest trends, case studies, and innovations in providing healthy, sustainable learning environments and sustainability education for schools and communities.

This collaborative mission is shared by PLT and reflected in resources like the PLT GreenSchools program, printed and downloadable student-led investigations to improve school sustainability, the Connecting for Health and Planet Activity Collection, and the SFI Community Grants Program.

I will be joining school administrators, educators, architects, and others – all attending to learn how we can collaboratively create “equitable, efficient, and resilient” learning spaces. Collaboration is key, as it will take representatives from the education, community, and green building space to envision greener and more beneficial spaces for students.

Learn About Sustainability Education, Green Design, and Health in Schools

The GSCE is the only national event that brings together people who lead, operate, build, and teach in U.S. green schools.

Teachers, parents, students, school and district staff, educational leaders, building industry professionals, non-profit partners, and others passionate about making green, healthy schools a reality are invited to attend.

Three fun and engaging days of programming include a lineup of inspiring speakers, informative workshops and breakout education sessions, and the opportunity to network with colleagues from across the country.

Join me and learn about sustainability education for all ages of students, energy efficiency, social equity, developing green leaders, improving health in schools, and more.

What to Expect

The goals of GSCE 2024 conference are:

Encourage, celebrate, and facilitate attendees’ commitments to making sustainable choices onsite
Source 35% or more of the event’s food & beverage regionally (within 500 miles) and ensure all event materials are sustainably sourced
Set baseline goals for future events by reporting on 2024 actuals
Increase education around sustainable attendee travel, and support carpooling and shuttling efforts
Build a bridge between conference partners to increase sustainable operations in the City of Santa Fe

GSCE 2024 will focus on critical issues in education and green schools through five education tracks: sustainability planning, student climate action, health and wellness, school as a teaching tool, and green infrastructure.

The conference will kick off on March 4 with off-site tours of sustainable schools, followed by a robust education program starting on March 5. Participants can attend half-day workshops and summits, culminating in a speed-networking event with green resource providers.

March 6 offers a full day of interdisciplinary education sessions covering vital topics like new funding models, sustainability’s intersectionality with equity, student empowerment for climate action, and nature-based strategies for education and wellness. The day concludes with a motivating keynote presentation and the Best of Green Schools Awards ceremony. The event wraps up on March 7 with additional education sessions, expert panels, and a closing keynote presentation.

Want to attend?

Get ready to be part of an inspiring and impactful event that brings together passionate individuals dedicated to transforming education through sustainability – I can’t wait to meet and talk more about how sustainably managed forests can benefit communities and kids!

Register for the Green Schools Conference & Expo today! A variety of registration packages are available, with special rates for employees of PreK–12 schools and districts, as well as government and non-profit employees.

GSCE is presented by the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), in partnership with the Green Schools National Network (GSNN). Project Learning Tree (PLT) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) are proud to be Green Schools Conference & Expo (GSCE) 2024 National Partners.

Visit greenschoolsconference.org for more information and explore the full schedule online.

Green Schools Conference & Expo 2023

Posted on January 17, 2023March 3, 2023 by Annie Perkins

The spaces where we work, learn, and live have a profound effect on our emotional and physical well-being.

Ask any parent or teacher who’s experienced the last few years of isolating to slow the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic: getting outside to play and learn in nature – and, where possible, bringing the outdoors inside with biophilic design and environmental education – makes for happier kids and creates healthier, more engaging, and effective learning environments.

By using trees as windows to the world, communities and kids can benefit from place-based learning that teaches how to think about the actions we can take for a more sustainable future. That’s why I’m excited to attend and represent Project Learning Tree (PLT) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)’s commitment to environmental education, forest literacy, and sustainable buildings and join fellow green professionals in New Orleans at this year’s Green Schools Conference & Expo (GSCE)!

The GSCE brings together hundreds of leaders and advocates to create measurable and lasting progress toward improving our environmental impact, health impact, and environmental and sustainability literacy. This year, the GSCE will be held in New Orleans from February 27-March 1, 2023.

As PLT and SFI’s Senior Director of Green Building and Supply Chain, I’m excited to be back in person at this year’s conference, ready to learn about the newest trends, case studies, and innovations in providing healthy, sustainable learning environments and sustainability education for schools and communities.

Download PLT’s free student investigations to green your school site at greenschools.org.

sfi's annie perkins screenshot of university of idaho video — Take a quick tour of the University of Idaho’s new mass timber sports arena with me.

Learn About Sustainability Education, Green Design, and Health in Schools

The GSCE is the only national event that brings together people who lead, operate, build, and teach in U.S. green schools.

Three fun and engaging days of programming include a lineup of inspiring speakers (including this year’s keynote from author Charles Eisenstein), informative workshops and breakout education sessions, and the opportunity to network with colleagues from across the country.

Join me and learn about sustainability education for all ages of students, energy efficiency, social equity, developing green leaders, improving health in schools, and more.

What’s new in 2023?

Peer-to-Peer Learning Cohorts – New this year, the first two days will be focused on industry sector specific programming for four tracks:
- Educator & School Leaders
- Green School Advocates, Government, & Community Partners
- School Design & Construction Professionals
- School District Capital and Facilities Staff

Peer Cohort Dine Arounds – On February 28, you’ll have an opportunity to connect with your peers at an evening dining and networking event.

photo of classroom featuring sfi certified wood — Explore spaces featuring sustainable wood products at forests.org/better-building-solutions

This year’s program will include:

Education Sessions

Enjoy dedicated time to learn alongside your peers – discussing challenges and sharing best practices related to environmental impact, health and well-being, sustainability literacy, equity, and more.

Networking

Hear from leading experts on priority topics facing the green school community—such as incorporating sustainability into everyday curriculum or designing for social equity—and join peer breakout groups to discuss your experiences and ideas.

Award Ceremony

Celebrate winners of the Best of Green Schools Awards.

Interdisciplinary Programming

On day three, hear from inspiring keynote speaker Charles Eisenstein and participate in various breakout sessions ranging in topics from student driven decarbonization to environmental literacy capacity building.

Register for the Green Schools Conference & Expo today! A variety of registration packages are available, with special rates for employees of PreK–12 schools and districts, as well as government and non-profit employees.

Will you be there?

I can’t wait to meet and talk more about how sustainably managed forests can benefit communities and kids!

GSCE is presented by the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), in partnership with the Green Schools National Network (GSNN). Project Learning Tree (PLT) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) are proud to be Green Schools Conference & Expo (GSCE) 2023 National Partners.

Visit greenschoolsconference.org for more information and explore the full schedule online.

Green Schools Conference & Expo 2021

Posted on April 28, 2021June 4, 2021 by Annie Perkins

This year, the Green Schools Conference & Expo (GSCE) will be held virtually, June 28-29, 2021.

The GSCE brings together hundreds of leaders and advocates to create measurable and lasting progress toward improving our environmental impact, health impact, and environmental and sustainability literacy. Join to learn about the newest trends, case studies, and innovations in providing healthy, sustainable learning environments and sustainability education for students, teachers, and school communities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated creative pivoting after a year of unprecedented change and the GSCE represents a timely and important hub for the green school community to learn from one another. Join to hear and share success stories, adaptions, and strategies for continuing to empower our students and create healthier, more sustainable learning environments.

Learn About Sustainability Education, Green Design, and Health in Schools

The GSCE is the only national event that brings together people who lead, operate, build, and teach in U.S. green schools. Teachers, parents, students, school and district staff, educational leaders, building industry professionals, non-profit partners, and others passionate about making green, healthy schools a reality are invited to attend.

Learn about student sustainability education, energy efficiency, social equity, health in schools, and more during these two fun half-days of programming featuring inspiring keynotes, interactive education sessions, and engaging peer group networking opportunities.

Visit greenschoolsconference.org for more information and explore the full schedule online.

This year’s program will include:

Education Sessions
Learn about practical strategies for healthy schools and pandemic response, building design for sustainability education, expanding learning environments beyond school walls, and much more, and collaborate with presenters and fellow attendees on actionable solutions.
Networking
Hear from leading experts on priority topics facing the green schools community—such as incorporating sustainability into everyday curriculum or designing for social equity—and join peer breakout groups to discuss your experiences and ideas.
Award Ceremony
Celebrate winners of the Best of Green Schools and Green Apple Awards.
Mainstage Programming
Hear from inspiring keynote speakers and participate in a student-designed session geared toward empowering youth sustainability leaders.

Register for the Green Schools Conference & Expo today! A variety of registration packages are available, with special rates for employees of PreK–12 schools and districts, as well as government and non-profit employees. Community scholarships are also available to those who would otherwise not be able to attend, due to financial barriers (applications due May 21.)

Green Schools Conference & Expo 2020

Posted on January 9, 2020February 18, 2020 by Annie Perkins

This year, the Green Schools Conference & Expo (GSCE) will be held in downtown Portland, Oregon from March 2-4, 2020.

We’ll be heading to GSCE to learn about the newest trends, case studies, and innovations in providing healthy, sustainable learning environments and sustainability education for students, teachers, and school communities. We’ll also share information about PLT’s GreenSchools program that provides training for adults and a set of five investigations for students in grades 5-12 to analyze their school’s energy use, waste and recycling, water consumption, school site, and environmental quality – and establish benchmarks. Using the results of their investigations, students identify areas for improvement and take action to green their schools.

Learn About Sustainability Education, Green Design, and Health in Schools

The GSCE is the only national event that brings together people who lead, operate, build, and teach in U.S. green schools. Teachers, parents, students, school and district staff, educational leaders, building industry professionals, non-profit partners and others who are passionate about making green, healthy schools a reality are invited to attend.

Three fun days of programming includes inspiring speakers (including this year’s keynote from TV host and ocean explorer Danni Washington), informative workshops and breakout education sessions, and the chance to network with colleagues from across the country. Learn about sustainability education for all ages, energy efficiency, social equity, health in schools, and more. Visit greenschoolsconference.org for more information and explore the full schedule online.

By registering to attend the GSCE, you will gain access to the following exciting sessions (and many more!):

Biomimicry as a Framework for GreenSTEM Education
This workshop takes place at the Oregon Zoo and explores lessons in biomimicry: an innovative method that looks to examples in nature to solve design and engineering problems.
Advancing Green Schools Through the Lens of Equity and Justice
How do we promote healthy eating and locally-sourced food in schools located within food deserts? Address the intersection of environmental justice and the core practices of green schools.
STEM Seminars: A Model for Engaging Teachers in Climate Science
Prepare to integrate the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in your classroom and explore how to measure your school’s ecological footprint and take action to reduce it.
Incubate Sustainability: Funding Environmental Impact and Literacy
Discover innovative grant programs and explore how city agencies can collaboratively fund projects to produce results and support environmental literacy in K-12 schools.
Lunchroom Learning: Cafeterias are Classrooms
The World Wildlife Fund aims to establish cafeterias as places of learning with their Food Waste Warrior initiative, a science-based approach to conservation education anchored in a project learning curriculum.

Register for the Green Schools Conference & Expo today! A variety of registration packages are available, with discounts for students and PreK-12 school or district/government/nonprofit employees.