Eco-Schools USA E-News: June 2012 Welcome to National Wildlife Federation’s Eco-Schools USA e-newsletter for educators, highlighting tools and resources to help you teach in and about the natural environment. Not yet an Eco-School? Register today for this free, exciting program!   Welcome to Summer Eco-Schools USA wishes you a wonderful summer break! It’s a great time to get energized with new ideas for your Eco-work. You’ll find lots of inspiring opportunities in the list of Upcoming Events below. Recycle Across America  All Eco-Schools are eligible for FREE standardized recycling labels. Get yours today! Schoolyard Habitats Survey Last chance to take the survey! Please tell us how your habitat is doing and how NWF can help both your habitat and your students thrive! Fight the Bite Be prepared for outdoor adventures this summer – learn how to outsmart ticks when you walk in the woods or romp through the grass. Upcoming Events Great Outdoors Month  June 2012 Chesapeake Classrooms Courses  All Summer MD, VA, PA, DC National Pollinator Week  June 18-24, 2012 Leopold Education Project Conference  June 20-23, 2012 Peninsula, OH  Great American Backyard Campout  June 23, 2012 Student Climate & Conservation Congress June 24-29, 2012 Conservation Education Webinar: America’s Wildlife  June 27, 2012 Get to Know Contest Deadline  July 16, 2012 CELF Summer Institute  July 16-19, 2012 Purchase, NY  Sustainability Education Summer Institute  July 23-25, 2012 Bainbridge Island, WA  Arkansas EE Association Expo  July 26-27, 2012 Fayetteville, AR              New Eco-Schools USA Pathway: Sustainable Food What’s for lunch? By focusing on food, your school can make a big impact on both health and environmental sustainability. The newest Eco-Schools USA pathway will help you make fresh, local, whole and healthy food choices a part of your school’s culture. Visit the Sustainable Food pathway to find resources, lessons, sample audits and action plans to guide your process.                       Congratulations to Centreville Elementary! The fifth Green Flag Award in the U.S. was awarded to Centreville Elementary School in Centreville, Virginia last week. The diverse population of nearly 1000 students celebrated their achievements outside in the garden and dedicated the day to sharing environmental projects at more than 15 learning stations. Great job, Centreville!                  Case Study: A Team Effort at Lanier Middle School Students at Lanier Middle School in Fairfax, Virginia eagerly stay after school and put in many hours of service to green their school. It’s truly a team effort, and success is reflected in a thriving courtyard garden, energy savings, waste reduction, and – best of all – engaged and enthusiastic students. Read more about the country’s third school to earn the prestigious Green Flag Award here.               Green Ribbon Schools Webinar Series A new Green Strides Webinar Series will help schools working toward the three pillars of the federal Green Ribbon Schools program. The first webinar will take place on Thursday, June 21 from 1-2 pm EDT and focus on the role of indoor air quality in creating a healthy learning environment. Learn more and register here [word document].                 Geocache with Ranger Rick Geocaching is a fun way to get students and families outside and exploring. Bring geocaching to your community by becoming a host for Ranger Rick’s Geocache Trails. Trails posted by August 28 are eligible to win two great prizes. Learn more.                 Eco-Schools Teacher among Presidential Innovation Award Winners Eco-Schools USA congratulates Denise Scribner from Eisenhower High School, a Silver-Award Eco-School in Goddard, Kansas. Scribner’s work as a leader in the field of environmental education earned recognition from the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the U.S. EPA, which recently announced the winners of the 2011-2012 Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators. We featured the accomplishments of Goddard’s two high schools last year in this Eco-Schools USA case study.   © 2012 National Wildlife Federation. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Unsubscribe | www.nwf.org