☑ 1. An Aspirational Sustainability Vision — and People Actually Know It

Our school has developed a written vision and mission for sustainability, and we’ve shared it with our school community. You’ll see it on our school website, in assemblies, newsletters, staff meetings, student forums, and parent communications. (Resource: Create a Sustainability Vision)

☑ 2. Linked to School’s Core Mission

We consistently show how sustainability supports the school’s existing priorities, from teaching and wellbeing to costs, safety, and future readiness, rather than positioning it as a separate or optional program. (Resources: Benefits of School Sustainability; Align Sustainability with School’s Mission)

☑ 3. A Whole-School Approach

Sustainability is not not confined to a single program, class, or champion. Rather, we find opportunities to integrate sustainability across the full life of the school. (Find resources for integrating sustainability into your Educational Programs, Organizational Culture, and Physical Place.)

☑ 4. Coalitions Across the School

We invest time in conversations with teachers, subject leads, facilities, leadership, and student leaders to identify priorities and co-create what’s realistic this year. (Read how one leader transformed her school by building coalitions through ongoing conversations.)

☑ 5. Shared Ownership

We deliberately create opportunities for shared ownership of sustainability through collaborative brainstorming, input and planning. Educators, staff, leaders, and students are invited to explore, imagine, and shape what sustainability could look like at our school — across learning, culture, and campus.

☑ 6. We Know Our Sustainability Levels

We understand where our school stands - for example, through START’s benchmarking survey, which enables us to assess our sustainability levels across 53 metrics. This helps identify goals, gives leadership confidence in the numbers, and helps us to communicate and rally the school around sustainability. (START Schools receive an annual Sustainability Report after June 30th benchmarking!)

☑ 7. Clear, Shared Goals for the Year

We’ve identified quick wins that build confidence and visibility, and stretch goals that signal longer-term ambition. These goals are shared with the whole school community. (Resource: Set Sustainability Goals)

☑ 8. Our Plan’s in Writing

Our priorities are captured in writing — whether that’s five actions for the year or a comprehensive plan across START’s 53 metrics. It includes input from multiple stakeholders - students, staff, facilities, and leadership, and is shared openly with the school community.

☑ 9. We Celebrate, Often

We celebrate progress as well as what’s already happening. This includes recognising the work of facilities and operations teams, admin staff, teachers, and students — from day-to-day decisions to larger projects. Making these efforts visible helps people feel valued, surfaces leadership across the school, and builds momentum by showing that progress is already underway.

☑ 10. Students are Activated

Students take ownership of sustainability initiatives—through research and data collection, action-planning, hands-on projects, policy, presentations, communications, or curriculum-integrated work. This way, the impact is much greater, more authentic, and longer lasting. And as many school sustainability leaders have found, student-driven work resonates more deeply with school leadership and community members alike. (Read more)

Re:wild Your Campus Bootcamp

January 20th

Want to make real, lasting change on your campus or in your community to combat climate change and biodiversity loss? The Re:wild Your Campus team is very excited to host the next session of our Ground Up Advocacy Bootcamp, a virtual training intensive, on January 20, from 2-5:30pm PT. 

Join the training to learn about toxic chemicals, rewilding spaces, the intersection of human and environmental health, and how these issues tie back to racial and social justice. Upon completion, participants will have the opportunity to join our growing network and connect with experts, alumni, staff, and current students working on rewilding initiatives across the U.S. 

The course is completely free to students and has a suggested donation of $50 for all community members. Click here to register. 

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Green Schools Conference 2026

17-19 February, 2026

The 16th annual Green Schools Conference (GSC) will be held February 17-19, 2026 in San Diego, California. Join education and sustainability leaders from across the the USA to connect, learn, and advance the movement for healthier, more equitable, and more sustainable schools.

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Global Student Changemaker Contest

Apply by April 22, 2026

The Educated Choices Program focuses on empowering healthy, sustainable food choices. Educators around the world are invited to submit student posters, poems, and creative work. All entries may receive recognition on ECP’s website, social media, newsletter, and other materials, and selected winners will also receive a physical, personally engraved award. Learn more.

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International Young Eco-Hero Awards

Apply by February 28, 2026

The International Young Eco-Hero Awards recognizes young people ages 8 to 16 who are taking personal action to protect our planet. Winners receive a cash prize of up to $1,000 to fuel their projects, plus global recognition and a formal certificate. See General Award Information and Application Requirements.

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Young Reporters for the Environment

Apply by June, 2026

The Young Reporters for the Environment programme is an international network & platform for young people to investigate, research and share solutions to global environmental issues. The 2025-2026 YRE International competition is for young people aged 11-25 and centers around the theme of food security & climate change.

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Trust for Sustainable Living Student Competition

Apply by June, 2026

TSL International Student Competition – Sustainability Culture
TSL invites students aged 7–18 (worldwide) to share their ideas and perspectives on Sustainability Culture. Students can submit one free entry in a wide range of formats, including artwork, music, video, podcast, writing, or creative pieces. Entries must be submitted via the TSL Competition Platform by a registered Teacher Champion (teacher/parent account required). Learn More.

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Upcoming Dates

• January 26: International Environmental Education Day AND International Day of Clean Energy

• January 28: International Reducing CO2 Emissions Day

• Last week of January: National Green Week (USA)

• February 2nd: World Wetlands Day

• March 3rd: World Wildlife Day

• March 14th: International Day of Action for Rivers

• March 18th: World Recycling Day

• Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM local time: Earth Hour

• March 30th: International Day of Zero Waste

  Learn more dates for awareness and action + find activity ideas in the GSA Community > #1: Events.

Your support enables us to continue our work in developing tools and programs that empower schools and students to make measurable change for a more sustainable, regenerative and climate-resilient future.