1. Stewardship Project Motivation Projects are student generated Projects fulfill teacher stipend requirements Projects are sustainable Projects improve our environment

2. EcoSchools 8 Pathways to Sustainable Stewardship international framework helping educators integrate sustainable principles throughout their schools & curriculum http://www.nwf.org/Global-Warming/School-Solutions/Eco-Schools-USA.aspx

3. Juice Box Recycling Join Preexisting Recycling Projects Research & Devise Sustainable Projects http://www.trex.com/plan/why- trex/environmentally- friendly/recycling-programs/index.htm Trex composite deck material = sawdust + recycled bags. Could partner with retailers, trash haulers, high school only, high # bags = free TREX bench. Beverage containers make up (40-60%) of litter, always in top 3 in land/water clean-up efforts. Is recycling effective? Advocate for a bottle bill in Pr. Wm. http://toolkit.bottlebill.org/ http://toolkit.bottlebill.org/ Raise fund/get ideas from: http://www.keepvirginiabeautiful.org

4. Reduce Energy Consumption http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/wue/energy2_procedures.html Kill-A-Watt meter http://www.p3international.com/pr oducts/special/P4400/P4400- CE.html SMART strip Automatically shuts off appliances when not in use Conduct a School energy Audit, distribute results to whole school Persuade students/admin to cut back Seal leaks Shut down computers/smart boards daily, if no updates are occurring Decrease unneeded lighting

5. Climate Change http://usa.zerochallenge.org/ Participate in Chesapeake Climate Action Network http://www.chesapeakeclimate.org/ http://www.chesapeakeclimate.org/ http://www.chesapeakeclimate.org/template/index_va.cfm Decrease school footprint Create/Use social media to increase project impact Track where students old cell phones end up

6. Keep stormwater on site Install a rain garden Decrease mowed lawn areas Plant native trees Stabilize eroded slopes Plant retention pond filtering vegetation More outdoor learning! Green Your Grounds biology.kenyon.edu http://www.gfrpartners.com/06DurfeeTreePlanting.htmlhttp://www.shenandoah.k12.va.us/v.php?pg=890

7. Improve your Watershed Adopt-a-stream Routinely clean school grounds Monitor/decrease fertilizer application on school grounds Prevent debris from entering parking lot storm drains Improve soil, drainage, flow at school or local areas Can school water be reused for irrigation? MD Dept of the Environment http://www.livingclassroomsdc.org Grow & release shad Pr. Wm Co. Clean-Up Pick your date & site! http://www.pwcleancouncil.org/Misc-.html

8. Improve your Watershed THESE  FREE SEEDLINGS from PWC Cooperative Ext. 4-H Order by Jan. 20, 2012 (arrival Mar. – Apr) Linda King, Extension Agent, lking@pwcgov.orglking@pwcgov.org 703-792-4761 Silky Dogwood – moist areas Partial sun Pin Oak– dry or moist Full sun VA Dept. of Forestry 40 species of VA grown bare root seedlings! ~10 for $20 or 25 for $40 Wildflower seed mixes Orders taken Sept.-mid April www.BuyVirginiaTrees.com Arbor Day April 27, 2012 50 FREE Trees from Disney & Arbor Day Foundation Order by April 1, 2012 http://www.arborday.org/disney/ **Celebrate* *

9. Improve Air Quality, Reduce Emissions & Fuel Use Improve School Bus Idling Policy Use propane heaters to warm bus instead of cold weather idling Reduce number of kids driving separate cars, when buses provided http://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/idling_policy.htm http://www.chps.net/dev/Drupal/node/48 International Walk to School Day October 2012: http://www.walktoschool.org/ http://saferoutesvirginia.wordpress.com/2010/09/30/prevention-connections-offers-safe-routes-to-school-grants/ They offer grants to get programs rolling ! If not feasible at your school; have students partner with an elementary or middle school http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/ Encourage PWCS admin to look at improving indoor air quality for new school construction http://www.virginiadot.org/programs/srsm_school_trave l_plans_and_grants.asp Bike to School Day May 9, 2012: http://www.walktoschool.org/

10. Questions to Ask Students Did they define an issue? Did they contact with all stakeholders? – If we plant trees at the base of this slope, erosion will be decreased. – If we clean up trash along the Occoquan River and reported it in our school paper, students will more aware and less likely to throw trash in storm sewers – If 89% of all students walk or ride their bikes on May 9 th, we will have cut down on ____ amount of greenhouse gases. – If we contact all homeowners in __ neighborhood and invite them to the neighborhood stream clean- up, we will have raised awareness and cleaned up this section of the stream… Did their efforts make an impact? Is it measurable? – Amount of trash collected, – Amount of electricity or $$ saved, no longer used, – # of homeowners contacted, – # of kids participating, – # of storm drains stenciled, – Number of trees planted… Is it sustainable? – Is the rain garden effectively slowing storm water run off? Can we add more plants to it next year? – Are trees being watered during first summer? – Are kids participating in watershed clean-up each year? – Are teachers using student recommendations for decreasing electrical consumption…