U.S. Green Building Council awards education grants to schools in UT LEADERS program

September 26, 2013 | Events, News, UToday, Judith Herb College of Education
By Staff



The Northwest Ohio Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council awarded eight grants to area schools for the advancement and study of sustainable ecology.

Material and supplies up to $2,000 were awarded to Central Catholic High School, Gesu Catholic School, Reynolds Elementary School and Robinson Elementary Schools in Toledo, as well as Airport High School, in Carleton, Mich., Ida Elementary and High schools in Ida, Mich., and Sodt Elementary School in Monroe, Mich.

Six of the eight schools are represented by science teachers enrolled through the Leadership for Educators: Academy for Driving Economic Revitalization in Science, or LEADERS program at The University of Toledo. The program is a mathematics and science partnership designed to improve science education by making it relevant to students through the incorporation of project-based science that is linked to the renewable energies industry and its environmental impacts.

The grant money supports projects that vary in scope and include the construction of a small greenhouse, outside learning areas or community gardens.

Two of the eight projects will be completed Saturday, Sept. 28, between 10 a.m. and noon to celebrate Green Apple Day of Service at Central Catholic and Airport high schools.

The Green Apple Day of Service, an initiative from the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, brings together advocates from around the world and encourages them to take action in their communities through service projects at local schools. The day of service, now in its second year, provides an opportunity for students, teachers, parents, elected officials, organizations, companies and more to transform all schools into healthy, safe, cost-efficient and productive learning places.

“These projects could not have happened without the tremendous assistance and expertise our local businesses provided,” said Karen Walker, green schools committee chair for the Northwest Ohio Chapter of U.S. Green Building Council. “Both teachers and administrators welcomed these projects with such enthusiasm.”

The mission of the local chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council is to promote relationships among individuals and organizations toward greener buildings and communities through education, outreach and advocacy. The Green Apple Day of Service projects help the organization work toward its vision to regenerate and sustain the health and vitality of all life within a generation.

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