EcoSchools U S – Local Action for National Impact

Workshop with Karen Bishop, Sr. Manager, Education for Sustainability, National Wildlife Federation, Jennifer Hammonds, Educator for Sustainability Director, National Wildlife Federation, Kari Wilcher, Outdoor Education Teacher, Carver Elementary, Bryan County Public Schools (GA), Laure Grove, Early Childhood Inclusion Teacher, Terra Centre Elementary, Fairfax County Public Schools (VA), Carsen Daniel, Sustainability Coordination Manager, Austin Independent School District (TX)

Join us to learn how school communities can pursue sustainability projects and be recognized through the National Wildlife Federation EcoSchools U.S. program. In this session, we will introduce the EcoSchools Framework - used globally by over 75 participating countries - and you will hear from three inspiring guest speakers.

Kari Wilcher and Laure Grove will share how they successfully implemented two elements of the Framework – the Action Team and Community Connections – to create customized plans and motivate local behavior change.

Carsen Daniel will speak to how EcoSchools U.S. aligns with their school district sustainability goals and how they support district educators and students in making a local impact.

The EcoSchools U.S. program helps increase student and teacher engagement, fosters connections with parents and community partners, builds environmental leadership capacity through project-based learning, and contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

By the end of this session, you will understand how school teams apply for EcoSchools U.S. recognition, develop action plans to pursue environment and nature-based actions, engage their communities, and how these local actions build collective national impact to help ensure wildlife and people thrive in a rapidly changing world.