Spring 2014 Green Schools Events and Opportunities

Check out all of the great opportunities that are happening in Massachusetts and beyond to promote green schools; stay engaged with all of the events!

Ongoing:

National Green Week
Sign up anytime between February 3 – April 25th

Join the largest K-12 sustainability education movement by signing up for National Green Week 2014! Green Week kicks off February 3 and lasts through April 25, 2014. You choose any week during that time to be your Green Week.  It’s free, and if you join on or before February 3 you will be entered to win Green Packs (reusable water bottles, snack containers and bags) for your entire school! In addition, GEF will be raffling over $10,000 in prizes through Earth Day – so don’t, wait sign up today! Green Week Website  

Renewable Energy Assistance for Massachusetts Schools
Schools and Public Housing Integrating Renewables and Efficiency (SAPHIRE), helps K-12 MA schools combine energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies to achieve significant energy savings while reducing environmental impacts. DOER is seeking proposals for feasibility studies for projects in schools that are primarily heated with oil, propane, or electricity, and Phase 2 proposals to help schools find grants and loans to finance project implementation at the school.

March:

2nd Annual Massachusetts Urban Farming Conference
Saturday, March 8th 8:30am – 4:30pm

This is the who’s who and what’s what in urban farming! You will be able to network with Massachusetts’ diverse, multi-sector stakeholders in this dynamic event that looks at current issues, emerging practices and programs, and markets that can contribute to Massachusetts’ urban farming sector resiliency. The conference takes place at Northeastern University Student Center and registration is $30. Student scholarships are available. To register for conference, click here.

Climate Change in Focus Video Challenge
Deadline: March 10th

The Environmental Protection Agency and the National Environmental Education Foundation have launched a new video contest that asks middle school students to produce a short video about why they care about climate change and what they are doing about it.   Winning videos will be highlighted on the EPA website and the top 3 entries will receive cool prizes like a solar charging backpack. The first 100 contestants to enter will also receive a year’s subscription to National Geographic Kids Magazine. The deadline for submissions is March 10.   Visit the challenge website at http://epa.gov/climatestudents/contest.html for all the details.

Young Reporters for the Environment USA
Deadline: March 15th

National Wildlife Federation is sponsoring a competition for students between the ages of 13-21 to investigate an environmental issue in their community and report on it in an article, photo, or short video.  Chance to win great prizes plus national and international recognition.  Be sure to check out the contest requirements, then submit your entry here.

Green Schools National Conference
March 27-29, in Sacramento, California

Build your skills and knowledge, and make connections with like-minded students from across the country that will last a lifetime. Return to your school energized and ready to lead new environmental projects with a deeper understanding of sustainability and the world we live in.

 

April:

MA Recycle Conference
April 8th 8-5pm

Join MassRecycle at the Best Western Royal Plaza in Marlborough, MA for the largest, annual recycling & organics conference & trade show in the Commonwealth.  Come discuss real world issues and real world solutions with over 450 recycling enthusiasts and industry professionals in five different topic tracks – Policy, Organics, Municipal, Reuse, Emerging Diversion Trends & K-12 Summits. Visit over 70 exhibitors to see waste reduction services.