Green Education Council 2008 Achievements

1. EcoHuts Exhibit. The GEC assisted with the development and implementation of Fontenelle Nature Association’s EcoHuts Exhibit.
-Exhibits that illustrated a wide range of environmental possibilities as it relates to building
-Exhibits that were fun, informative and hands-on
-Exhibits that included volunteer work from architects, college students and contractors

2. Roundtable Discussion on Green Schools and Environmental Education. The GEC hosted discussions with educators and administrators on what kind of environmental programs are being implemented in schools and their needs as it relates to environmental education and green facilities management. Five school districts were represented at the event.

Here are just a few of the suggested needs:

-Expanded recycling programs
-Educator workshops on environmental education
-Green online database for educators
-Resources for green building maintenance
-Grant information for green projects

3. Omaha Metro Environmental Education Resource Guide. The GEC developed a resource guide for teachers and the general public that provides information about metro area environmental educational programs.

-Developed a database of environmental education program providers in the metro area (40 identified)
-Solicited information from those providers about their programs and assembled the responses into a resource guide (30 responses)
-Developed a bookmark as a direct handout to announce the resource guide and direct people to the website
-Distributed, via e-mail, information regarding the resource guide to Omaha Public Schools, District 66 Schools, Bellevue Public Schools, Creighton Prep and Brownell-Talbot

4. Outreach. The GEC made efforts to develop its relationships with the educational community and promote environmental education and the GEC.
-Coordinate with Brownell-Talbot to start-up a “green” program
-Bellevue’s Two Springs Elementary School Presentation to PTA
-NATS (Nebraska Association of Teachers of Science) Conference Presentation
-Key Women Educators – Delta Kappa Gamma Presentation
-Farm-2-School committee – researching and working on ways to get local, healthy food into schools. Partnering with Activate Omaha Kids to make contact with School Wellness programs.
-High Performance Green Schools presentation review
-On-going discussions with Saddlebrook library and community center to collaborate on a “green library” section at its facility
-Roncalli High School meeting on incorporating environmental education into Cole Creek channel improvements
-Planning efforts started for the 2009 Green Schools Competition (Modeled after Do Something.Org – Increase Your Green)
-Support for recycling efforts in schools through guidance from Nebraska State Recycling Association (particularly with OPS and Hauler Contract)
-Coordination with OPPD on its grant program with UNO

The Green Education Council proudly announces Grassroots: Students Going Green! Grassroots is an annual competition open to middle and high school students in the Metro area. The competition challenges students to develop a project to improve their school's impact on the environment. The competition will be judged on four main criteria.
They are:
1. Innovation and creativity
2. Positive environmental impacts
3. The overall impact of the project
4. Potential for continuation or expansion

The grand prize winner will receive a $1000 grant for his or her school to continue the project. Second and Third place winners will receive $500 grants.

The Education Council plans to make this an annual event to take place every Spring.

Join us at the Earth Day Omaha celebration, April 18th, where we will announce the winners on the main stage.

Registration ends February 6th, enter now!

Green Education Council 2008 Achievements

The Green Education Council has developed as a resource for our local educators. Chaired by David Lampe, the GEC has produced the Environmental Education Resource Guide. This guide was compiled to provide educators a list of the environmental education opportunities that are available in the Omaha area. With Fontenelle Forest Nature Center, David Lampe, Barbi Hayes and Larry Hopp developed EcoHuts, an explorative education exhibit of green technologies and strategies with hands-on operation that enticed children to interact.