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Making green schools a reality

The Green Schools Conference (GSC) brings together everyone involved in creating and advocating for green schools, with a focus on those leading their schools and school systems toward whole school sustainability. The three-day event provides a platform for the green schools community that inspires and facilitates the progress of the green schools movement.

Attendees explore interdisciplinary content in general sessions and collaborate with peers to address specific challenges, exchange best practices, and enhance green school initiatives nationwide.

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GSC is presented by the Center for Green Schools in partnership with the Green Schools National Network.

CFGS
GSNN

2024 Program Advisors

  • Nicole Blackson
  • Ruby Estrada
  • Amanda Gale
  • Laurel Kruke
  • Shivani Langer
  • Reilly Loveland
  • Twyla Neely-Streit
  • Scott Thach
  • Co-Chair: Anisa Heming, Center for Green Schools
  • Co-Chair: Jenny Seydel, Green Schools National Network

2024 Host Committee

  • Genie Stevens
  • Glenn Schiffbauer
  • Greg Miller
  • Lucy Stanus
  • Mollie Parsons
  • Neal Denton
  • Ondine Frauenglass
  • Phil Lucero
  • Ruby Estrada

Children's Privacy Policy

USGBC provides additional privacy protections when children under 13 visit the website. We do not knowingly collect, maintain or store personal information from or about children under the age of 13 without a parent's and/or legal guardian's consent, except in limited circumstances authorized by law and described in this notice. If You are under the age of 18, please read this privacy policy with a parent or legal guardian. If You are under the age of 13, We must have Your parent's or legal guardian's consent before collecting any personal information. Information collected from children consists of data including name, age, e-mail addresses, phone numbers, and birthdates. This information is used to help students register and participate in webinars and access educational courses, and notify students and their parents and/or guardians of opportunities supportive of the educational mission of USGBC. We do not require a child to disclose more information than is reasonably necessary to participate in the foregoing activities. We do not disclose information collected from children to unaffiliated third parties. Parents and legal guardians may review personal information We have collected about their child, request deletion or refuse to allow further collection or use of the information. To do so, please contact USGBC, 2101 L Street NW, St. 500, Washington, D.C. 20037 or [email protected].

Program

Each year, the conference program includes a variety of educational formats that offer a deep dive into the most pressing green school topics within the areas of environmental impact, health and wellness, environmental and sustainability education, and whole-school sustainability culture.

The 2024 GSC Call for Proposals prioritized submissions that educate attendees on leveraging new funding sources and models, understanding the intersectionality of sustainability and equity, empowering youth to participate in climate action, and using nature-based strategies for education and wellness.

View the 2024 education session details.

Schedule at a Glance

Pre-Conference
Monday, Mar 4
8:00 - 9:00 am Registration
9:00 am - 1:30 pm Offsite tours ($)
(lunch provided)
Day 1
Tuesday, Mar 5
7:30 - 9:00 am Breakfast & networking
7:30 am - 5:00 pm Registration
9:00 - 11:30 am Workshops
11:30 am - 12:00 pm Wellness break
12:00 - 12:30 pm Welcome & orientation
12:30 - 1:30 pm Welcome luncheon
2:00 - 3:30 pm Summits
3:30 - 4:00 pm Wellness break
4:00 - 5:30 pm Speed Greening
Day 2
Wednesday, Mar 6
7:30 am - 5:00 pm Registration
7:30 - 10:00 am Breakfast & networking
8:00 - 8:45 am Opening circles
9:00 - 10:00 am General session
10:00 - 10:30 am Wellness break
10:15 am - 4:00 pm Exchange open
10:30 - 11:30 am Education sessions 1
11:45 am - 1:00 pm Hosted lunch
1:00 - 2:00 pm Education sessions 2
2:00 - 2:30 pm Wellness break
2:30 - 3:30 pm Education sessions 3
3:30 - 4:00 pm Wellness break
4:30 - 6:30 pm Best of Green Schools Awards ceremony & reception
Day 3
Thursday, Mar 7
7:30 - 11:00 am Registration
7:30 - 9:00 am Breakfast & networking
8:30 - 9:30 am Education sessions 4
9:30 - 10:00 am Wellness break
10:00 - 11:00 am Education sessions 5
11:30 - 12:30 pm Closing plenary
12:30 - 2:00 pm Networking luncheon

Sustainability at GSC

Sustainability is the foundation of the Green Schools Conference (GSC). The GSC sustainability program addresses environmental impact through seven objectives.

Seven objectives of the GSC sustainability program

  1. Move toward a zero-waste event
  2. Increase stakeholder education and engagement
  3. Improve sustainable sourcing
  4. Improve performance tracking
  5. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
  6. Positively impact communities
  7. Catalyze the advancement of green building initiatives and sustainable operations within the hospitality industry

2024 goals

  1. Encourage, celebrate, and facilitate attendees’ commitments to making sustainable choices onsite.
  2. Source 35% or more of the event’s food & beverage regionally (within 500 miles) and ensure all event materials are sustainably sourced
  3. Set baseline goals for future events by reporting on 2024 actuals
  4. Increase education around sustainable attendee travel, and support carpooling and shuttling efforts
  5. Build a bridge between conference partners to increase sustainable operations in the City of Santa Fe

2024 Sponsors

2024 Partners