Advancing sustainable schools for all

April 8-9, 2019 | Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul RiverCentre

The Green Schools Conference & Expo is the only national event to bring together all the players involved in making green schools a reality: people who lead, operate, build and teach in U.S. schools.

Two days of programming offer inspiring keynote speakers, informative workshops and breakout sessions and the chance to network with colleagues from across the country. In 2019, GSCE will be hosted in partnership with IMPACT, a regional sustainability conference.

For general questions please email us at help@greenschoolsconference.org

Latest news

Inspiring speakers, dynamic sessions & how-to workshops

Discover strategies and solutions at GSCE that strengthen our schools and communities. Education, environmental, and business leaders join GSCE to share current challenges, set future goals and share best practices to advance green schools for all.

Program

GSCE offers engaging educational sessions, case studies, hands-on workshops and lectures from today's green school experts. GSCE provides an unmatched opportunity for green school advocates nationwide to collaborate and learn from one another — all with a vested interest in making a positive difference in our children’s futures.

Keynote Speaker

Zaria Forman

Artist

Schedule/Sessions

Note: This schedule is subject to change without notice

Schedule at a Glance

Monday, April 8, 2019
8:00 AM – 5:30 PM	Registration Open
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM	Opening Plenary
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM	Education Breakout Sessions
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM	Green Schools Awards Luncheon
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM	Education Breakout Sessions
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM	Education Breakout Sessions
4:15 PM - 5:30 PM	Women in Green Presented by Wells Fargo*
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM	Welcome Reception Presented by Marvin*
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM	Registration Open
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM	GSCE x IMPACT Opening Plenary Presented by Xcel Energy
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM	Expo Hall Opening Ceremony
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM	Education Breakout Sessions
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM	Networking Lunch
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM	Education Breakout Sessions
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM	Education Breakout Sessions
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM	Education Breakout Sessions
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM	Happy Hour in the Hall
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM	Workshops + Tours*

*requires additional registration

Student Summit: Become a River Hero

The lakes and rivers of Minnesota and the entire nation need River Heroes. Will you answer the call? Learn about Minnesota’s lakes and rivers and create a plan to protect your community’s waterways and the living things that depend on healthy waters. The Student Summit is hosted by Captain Planet Foundation and is designed for youth in grades 7-12.

Learn more and apply today

“Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.” - Norman Maclean

Water is an element that unites us all. Especially in Minnesota, with an estimated 90,000 miles of rivers and streams and 12,000+ lakes, freshwater is a resource that touches and connects every living thing in the region. But the health of watersheds and the well-being of species that depend on them are being impacted by human activities. The lakes and rivers of Minnesota and the entire nation need River Heroes. Will you answer the call?

As part of the Green Schools Conference, this youth summit is bringing together young people to connect with each other as River Heroes, passionate about protecting water and the living things that depend on healthy waters. Through this one-day intensive workshop, River Heroes will:

Explore the science behind freshwater resource protection and conservation,
Explore the species that depend on healthy waters in the Upper Mississippi Region
Explore the sources of pressure on these resources as well as conservation strategies
Develop skills to become an effective River Hero
Develop plans with other River Heroes to implement a campaign to protect or restore the health of your local waterways.

The summit is designed for students in grades 7-12. The cost for the summit is $100, including meals and supplies, and scholarships are available.

Apply today

Sponsors & Expo

Be a part of the expanding green schools movement as a sponsor or exhibitor at GSCE. Every year, hundreds of educators and decision-makers gather at GSCE for inspiring programming networking and an energetic exhibit hall. GSCE is the only conference uniting three groups vital to the success of green schools:

Academic: school leaders, teachers and parents
Operations: general school or district administrators, facilities operations management
Building design & construction: architects, engineers, product suppliers

Thank you to our sponsors

Platinum sponsors

Gold sponsor

Silver sponsors

Green sponsors

Gausman & Moore

GSCE sponsors enjoy prominent branding onsite throughout the Exhibit Hall, conference sessions, special events and online. As a GSCE sponsor, you can engage with sustainability leaders and demonstrate your support for healthy, high-performing schools all while empowering the green leaders of tomorrow.

For more information, contact Lisa Bowers at lbowers@usgbc.org or 202-742-3766; or Brent Suski at bsuski@usgbc.org or 612-329-9098.

Download our prospectus

Exhibitors

The exhibit floor for GSCE x IMPACT is sold out. To be notified when sales for the Green Schools Conference 2020 begin, contact Katelyn Roberts at kroberts@usgbc.org

2019 Exhibitors

75F
A&M
Action Floor Systems, LLC
Anoka County Recycling & Resource Solutions
ARBNCO
Arbor Day Foundation
ASSA ABLOY
ATG Electronics
AtmosAir Systems
Beyond Green Sustainable Food Partners
Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds
Building Systems Solutions
Center for Green Schools
Ceres Greenhouse Solutions
Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy
Cole Papers, Inc.
Conserve School
DIRTT Haldeman Homme
Energy Panel Structures
Energy Solutions, Intl. Inc.
Fork Farms
GAF
Green Schools National Network PD Collaborative
GreenerU, Inc.
GSNN
IPS Solar
JTH Lighting Alliance
Kappa Delta Pi

Mamac
Marvin Windows
Mary Baldwin University
Minnesota Concrete Council
Mitsubishi Electric
MMS
Mulcahy
Natural Pod
Organix Solutions
Plankton Energy
Playmart, Inc.
Prescription Landscape
Prihoda North America
QA Graphics
remooble
SageGlass
Sussner Design
Sustridge
Tarkett
Tech Dump
Temp-Air
Tierney
Trane
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
USGBC
VS Furniture
WittFitt
Wood from the Hood
Z BioScience Inc.

Partners

GSCE thrives on the collaboration and partnership of supporting organizations nationwide. GSCE is produced by the Center for Green Schools at USGBC in partnership with Green Schools National Network.

View our partners

Volunteer

Volunteers are critical to a successful GSCE x IMPACT and we thank you in advance for volunteering your time and energy. The deadline to sign up as a volunteer is Friday, March 1—please complete the 2019 GSCE x IMPACT Volunteer Form. You will be notified of your acceptance by Friday, March 8.

Learn more

Volunteer roles: Shift preferences will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Registration & Check-In: volunteers will assist at the registration counter and check attendees in for the conference. This includes distributing name badges and answering general conference questions.
Room Monitors: volunteers will assist in education session rooms by scanning attendees as they enter and exit to track attendance. Volunteers may also assist with providing time cues to speakers and resetting the room between sessions.
General Conference Support: volunteers will be available to support wherever needed. This may include stepping in as a registration volunteer or room monitor, or providing general directional assistance.

Requirements

Volunteers must be a minimum of 18 years of age. Priority is given to full time students or young professionals. Full time students are considered 12 credits undergraduate or nine credits graduate. Young professionals are considered age 25 and under.
You must volunteer a minimum of five hours on Monday, April 8 or Tuesday, April 9. The hours must be worked consecutively on one day of the conference.

Benefits: Volunteers will receive a complimentary GSCE x IMPACT conference registration in exchange for five hours of volunteer work.

Complete the Volunteer Form by Friday, March 1

Travel

April is a busy month in Saint Paul and hotels are selling out quickly. Book your hotel as soon as possible.

St. Paul Hotel | 350 Market St, St. Paul, MN 55102
To book by phone: (800) 292-9292
To book online, please use the code listed below.

Rooms start at $189 (plus taxes and fees). The room discount is available for GSCE x IMPACT conference attendees until Friday, March 15, 2019. Please select “group/block” from the special code dropdown menu, and enter 190407USG in the code field. To book by phone, ask for the Official Green Schools Conference & Expo x IMPACT. The St. Paul Hotel is conveniently located a block away from the Saint Paul RiverCentre, the GSCE x IMPACT conference location.

This discounted rate is available for reservations between April 7-10.

Book Your Room

Holiday Inn St. Paul Downtown | 175 W. 7th St, St. Paul, MN 55102
Phone: (651) 225-1515

Update: The Holiday Inn St. Paul Downtown is sold out for the night of April 8, 2019 and the GSCE x IMPACT room block is full. However, the hotel may still have rooms available outside of the block. Please use the reservation link below, or contact the hotel directly by phone to make your reservation.

The Holiday Inn St. Paul Downtown is conveniently located next to the Saint Paul RiverCentre, the GSCE x IMPACT conference location.

Book your room

Registration packages

Attend GSCE x IMPACT 2019 for up to three days of invaluable education and networking opportunities. To get the most out of your GSCE x IMPACT experience, select the GSCE x IMPACT Conference Pass and include a workshop of your choice for a deeper learning experience.

Early bird registration ends February 22.

GSCE x IMPACT Conference Pass (Apr 8-9)* *includes Welcome Reception
Member	Early Bird: $300 Standard: $375
Nonmember	Early Bird: $375 Standard: $450
PreK-12 School or District/Government/Nonprofit Employee	Early Bird: $275 Standard: $325
Student or Emerging Professional	Early Bird: $200 Standard: $225

GSCE Workshops (Apr 10)* Select from any of the following workshops to complete your GSCE x IMPACT experience. *Workshops are concurrent. Please select only one.
Cultivating Student Voice and Advocacy	Early Bird: $75 Standard: $100
Green Classroom Professional Certificate Course	Early Bird: $75 Standard: $100
Transforming Curriculum and Instruction for Sustainability	Early Bird: $75 Standard: $100
Whole School Sustainability	Early Bird: $75 Standard: $100

Special Events
Women in Green Power Hour (Apr 8)	Early Bird: $55 Standard: $65
Welcome Reception (Apr 8)	Early Bird: $35 Standard: $45

Daily Conference Passes are also available at the following rates.

Daily Conference Pass (Apr 8)
Member	Early Bird: $145 Standard: $195
Nonmember	Early Bird: $195 Standard: $245
Student or Emerging Professional	Early Bird: $100 Standard: $125

Daily Conference Pass (Apr 9)
Member	Early Bird: $180 Standard: $230
Nonmember	Early Bird: $220 Standard: $270
Student or Emerging Professional	Early Bird: $100 Standard: $125

Advancing sustainable schools for all

April 8-9, 2019 | Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul RiverCentre