GREENING YOUTH FOUNDATION

PUBLIC SCHOOL INITIATIVE

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Children Living Energetically Advancing Nature – C.L.E.A.N.

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
• Water Conservation
• Energy Conservation
• Composting/Gardening
• Building Wildlife Habitats and Nature Trails
• Environmental Health

School-Wide Recycling Program

The Greening Youth Foundation’s comprehensive turn-key recycling program is designed to capture recyclable material utilized by students, administrators and staff members in metro Atlanta schools.

Turn-Key Recycling

Greening Youth Foundation will:

• Conduct an analysis of the school’s current waste production
• Assess the school layout to determine how many recycling bins will be needed
• Educate students about the need for recycling
• Organize and conduct recycling contests throughout the school year
• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the recycling program

Eco-Force

The Greening Youth Foundation will work with elementary, middle and high schools to implement Eco-Force, an environmental club.  The primary goal will be to get students excited and interested in protecting the environment.  The E-Forcers (Eco-Force members) will work on various environmental projects throughout the school year.   The club’s primary purpose will be to monitor and promote the school’s recycling program.

Partner Anchor Site (PAS) Program

GYF has developed an incentive based environmental education program designed to expose diverse youth to the opportunities available within the National Park Service.  The program is designed to utilize the learning institution identified as Partner Anchor Sites (PAS)  as a base from which to engage, recruit and promote the shared mission of GYF and NPS to introduce more youth from diverse backgrounds to the natural treasures found in our country’s natural parks.

PAS Program Structure

Each high school/community college partner will receive:

• 1 Team Leader Liaison
• 1 GYF Corp Members and Educators (AmeriCorps)
• Green School Site Curriculum
• GYF Starter Kit

GYF Corp Members

Each corps member (ages 21-25 years) will be responsible for the following;

• Facilitating the Eco-Force Clubs
• Implementing Eco-Force, curriculum at the PAS
• Developing  community engagement programs
• Mobilizing community volunteers and parents to participate in conservation projects
• Documenting various programs (scrapbooks, newsletter, website, etc.) to ensure continuity throughout the school year
• Participating in service Fridays
• Facilitating a part of the GYF curriculum
• Providing leadership to GYF internship program (supervise a crew of youth interns during the summer)

NPS Field Trips

• PAS Eco-Force members will take three to five field trips to NPS sites

NPS Speaker Visits

• GYF coordinates NPS ranger visits to PAS throughout the school year from participating NPS sites
• GYF also coordinates “green speaker” engagements from local professionals to introduce Eco-Force members to alternate “green” career paths