Last year 21 Clark County schools participated in the TREX Challenge and collected nearly 12,000 pounds of plastic bags, film and wrap! Can you even fathom how much plastic it would take to add up to that? We were overwhelmed by the participation rate by our Clark County schools.

This year’s competition is about to begin! Here are the details:

When: TREX Challenge runs November 15 – April 15

What: Schools who enroll in the TREX Challenge ask their students to bring in plastic bags and other plastic wrap. Their school representative weighs the material, reports the weight online to TREX and then takes the it to the grocery store to get recycled. TREX recycles the material and makes it into composite lumber.

Why: Each year millions of plastic bags go in landfill. Some also end up in the blue curbside recycling carts which clogs the recycling sort machines. Alternatively, these could be turned into something new and we’d love your help in educating students that plastic bags and wrap can be recycled.

How: Go online and sign up today! First place winner will receive a TREX bench!

Students, teachers to participate in Green Schools Student Summit

Vancouver, WA – Students and teachers from more than 30 Clark County schools will gather next week to learn how to increase their environmental leadership in their schools.

Clark County Green Schools will host its annual Student Summit from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, at Clark College’s Gaiser Hall, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way.

The four-hour event will include educational activities, breakout sessions and opportunities for students and teachers to learn from one another.

The Green Schools Summit is a collaboration between Clark County Public Health and Washington Green Schools, a statewide nonprofit that helps create more sustainable school communities. Schools in the program can certify as a green school in these environmental categories: water, waste and recycling, school grounds and gardens, energy, healthy school buildings and transportation.

“This is a great opportunity for students from all over Clark County to connect with other students and hear what exciting projects are happening all around them,” said Michelle Picinich, who leads the Green Schools program. “I’m excited to have some new faces in the room this year with schools that are new to the program. We’re here to help raise the next generation of environmental leaders.”

The Clark County Green Schools program strives to create a cohesive system of environmentally active schools where students, teachers and parents promote sustainable living and earth friendly practices.

In Clark County, 83 schools participate in the Washington Green Schools program, the greatest number in any county in the state. In the 2015-16 school year, 29 Clark County schools earned one or more environmental certifications.

To learn more about the Clark County Green Schools program and how your school can participate, visit www.clark.wa.gov/public-health/clark-county-green-schools.

To:      All teachers and staff members in the Camas and Washougal school districts

From:      The Community Garden Club of Camas Washougal (CGCofCW)

Subject:        2016/2017 CGCofCW Grant Program
Purpose of Grant: Promote knowledge and encourage responsible stewardship of the environment among district students. Innovative projects involving gardening, horticulture, agronomy, entomology, environmental sciences, life sciences and earth sciences will be considered. Project goals will be defined and measurable.

How to Apply:      Complete the Grant Request Form in this packet or download one from the CGCofCW web site at GardenClubOfCamasWashougal.org under the “Grants” tab. Submit the request form as indicated so it is received by October 20, 2016.

Who Can Apply: All teachers and staff in the Camas and Washougal school districts from Pre-K through 12th grades.

Notification of Awards: Award winners will be notified by November 21, 2016.

Need help: The CGCofCW will work with applicants to answer questions. Please contact us via email at CGCofCW_Philanthropy@yahoo.com.

Prepare your school for a year of sustainability success with Washington Green Schools and Clark County Green Schools. At the 5th annual Teacher Training, we invite new and veteran schools to:

• Learn how to implement environmental action projects on campus with your students
• Access resources and collaborative opportunities with local partners
• Hear success stories from other teachers and get your questions answered
• Explore how you can get your school recognized through Washington Green Schools certification

Date and Time

Tue, October 4, 2016

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Location

Pacific Continental Bank

The Community Room

101 East 6th Street

Vancouver, WA

Congratulations-Grass Valley is now certified in School Grounds & Gardens through the Washington State Green School Program.

Students working on environmental science, Grass Valley first graders observe and sketch diverse plants in their science notebooks. They use recycled empty bird seed bags for mats and got to try out the new gravel path!

Grass Valley teacher, Julie Della Valle, has created a WA Green School corner in the main entrance area of the school.

There on display is news and thanks for all the volunteers who work in the school garden. Posted you will find the next garden clean-up dates and information on the plants throughout the garden space.

Earth Day flags are a Grass Valley Earth Day tradition, every student creates an environmental message with his/her teacher’s support and we string inside and outside for all to see.

It’s Fun! – Earth Day is a great time to plan fun, educational, and action-oriented activities. Celebrating Earth Day on or around April 22 can be a great way for schools to showcase classroom environmental education, highlight efforts to “green” the school facility, or engage the whole school community in making a difference.

It’s Flexible – An Earth Day activity can be done in one class period, can take place over the course of a few class periods or a week, or can be a school-wide activity or fair. The best activities offer opportunities to both teach about an issue and make a tangible environmental impact. Even just taking your class outside is

a great way to honor the Earth: do math or spelling with chalk out on the blacktop.

Get Started! We’ve compiled a list of fun and meaningful ideas and links to get you started. But use your and your students’ creativity and dream up your own. Create an Earth Day Committee at your school with students, parents, and teachers to help plan the event. Ideas from our list include actions from each of the Four Pillars of a Green School:

• Strive to be Toxics Free: Make your own green cleaners
• Use Resources Sustainably: Organize a school-wide Swap Meet to reuse items, or a Walk & Bike to School Day
• Create Green & Healthy Schoolyards, Serve Healthy Food: Create a container garden, conduct an organic food taste test
• Teach, Learn, Engage: Create and distribute a petition to eliminate the use of plastic bags in your community

http://www.greenschools.net/article.php?id=160

http://www.wagreenschools.org/

Student Environmental Art & Expression Contest

THEME: What is a Watershed?

ELIGIBILITY: The contest is open to all student artists in grades 3-12. Entries must be the original work of the student.

DEADLINE: Entries must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 1st, 2016.

AGE CATEGORIES: A. Grades 3-6 B. Grades 7-12

JUDGING CATEGORIES (One entry per person):

Traditional Media: Drawings, paintings, or mixed media artwork. Entries will be judged based on interpretation of theme,

creativity, and presentation.

Photography: Unaltered photographs taken within the boundaries of the watershed where you live or go to school. Entries will be judged based on interpretation of theme, creativity, and presentation

Recycled Materials: Sculpture, mixed media, or recycled fashion created from at least 80% recycled or reused materials that would otherwise be thrown away or recycled. Fashion pieces must be durable enough to wear in public. Entries will be judged on percentage of recycled material, creative use of materials, and connection to theme.

Written Word: Written word pieces must be reflections on the watershed you live or go to school in and must be in the form of a short story or poem. Length of piece must be 500 words or less. Entries will be judged on interpretation of theme, creativity, and writing style.

HOW TO SUBMIT: Entries may be mailed, e-mailed or delivered to the StreamTeam office. Please include your name, age category, school, and watershed with your entry.

Delivery address(UPS, FedEx, or hand delivery): 8600 NE 117th Avenue, Vancouver 98662

Mailing Address: StreamTeam, PO Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668

Written word entries can be submitted electronically via email to EnviroEd@clarkpud.com.

Please include “Watershed Reflections” in subject line.

Energy Efficiency and Solar Grants

For higher education, local governments, state agencies and K-12 public school districts

Clark County Educator Session