Project Learning Tree’s new national GreenSchools! initiative provides training and funding for students and teachers to investigate environmental issues at their school and engage with their community in service-learning projects that create green and healthy learning environments.  The program builds upon the many PLT schools around the country that incorporate Project Learning Tree into their academic curriculum across multiple grade levels and classes. 

In 2009, we’re working with middle and high schools in Baltimore, Houston, Kansas City and Iowa; PreK-12 public schools in Washington, D.C.; and up to 14 other PLT schools around the country to create model PLT GreenSchools!

The GreenSchools! program has three components
1.  PLT professional development for teachers and students
• Teachers learn how to integrate environmental education into their academic lessons and receive PLT’s curriculum materials.
• Teacher and student teams learn how to assess current environmental conditions in and around their school using five sets of GreenSchools! Investigations
• Teachers and students learn how they can involve their community in a GreenWorks! service-learning project to improve an aspect of their school environment.

2.  GreenSchools! Investigations (GSIs).
The investigations focus on five different topics:
• Energy
• Water
• Waste and Recycling
• School Site
• Environmental Quality
The “Environmental Quality” investigation includes issues such as indoor air quality, school transportation, and use of chemicals.

There are a total of ten investigations in all, as two investigations are being completed for each topic: one for the elementary audience, and one for the middle/high school audience.

All GreenSchools! investigations are protected under copyright laws.  No reproduction of these investigations without prior written consent is allowed.  All requests for permission to reprint must be submitted in writing to the National PLT Office, 1111 19th St. NW, Suite 780, Washington DC, 20036 or by emailing Imad Aoun at iaoun@forestfoundation.org.

3.  GreenWorks! environmental improvement service-learning action projects
Based on their investigations, students will recommend and develop an action plan for projects that would have a positive environmental impact at their school site.  GreenWorks! grants may be made available to schools for service-learning projects that get educators, students, families, and community organizations working together to improve their school’s environment. 

Funding for GreenSchools!
Schools in Baltimore, Houston, Kansas City, and Iowa were chosen to participate thanks to a Learn & Serve grant from the Corporation for National & Community Service.  For this three-year Learn & Serve grant, 20 middle/high schools in four regions of the country will be selected each year.  The five PreK-12 public schools in Washington, D.C. were selected thanks to a two-year U.S. Forest Service grant.  The remaining states were selected based on the work they have already done towards creating “PLT whole schools” since this provides a solid foundation to transition into a PLT GreenSchool.