December 8, 2023
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.
