Green Schools Challenge
What is Connect the Dots for Schools?
The James River Green Building Council Chapter is challenging selected central Virginia schools to devise and implement, with the help of professional green mentors, the most creative, effective and no or low cost sustainable practices for their schools & communities.
To initiate this challenge, JRGBC provides interested schools with a group of volunteer mentors to help bridge the connection with local and national environmental resources. Mentors will work with select teachers and students to plan and implement low-cost sustainable projects for a duration of 5-6 months. Possible projects could include planting a rain garden or improving a school’s existing recycling program.
Program begins January 2012 and ends November 2012
Challenge Goals
• Energize sustainable curriculum in the school systems
• Lower school operating & maintenance costs
• Reduce carbon footprint
• Increase facilities indoor air quality
• Improve the learning & teaching environment
• Conserve our natural resources
• Encourage students to think creatively about sustainability
• Promote environmental stewardship in our communities
• Encourage the school to be the community epicenter
• Create a generation of environmentally conscious adults
• Engage the business community and building industry to help the students green their schools
Download the 2012 Program Flyer!
Resources and more information on the 2012 Challenge!
Sponsor the Challenge
Show your support! Your contribution assists us in educating the community about green schools and the importance of environmental stewardship for future generations. This year’s Connect the Dots for Green Schools Challenge Events include a Launch Event in February 2012 and a Finale Event in the fall. We are always ready to hear your ideas and can customize a sponsorship to meet your needs. In-kind contributions are always appreciated, as well! For more information about sponsorship please contact Gwenedd Murray at greenschools@jrgbc.org.
Thanks to Our Current Sponsors:
Green Dot:
Premiere Sponsors: $2,500 and up
• Speaker Role at our Connect the Dots Finale
• Exclusive sponsorship: no more than one sponsorship is available for each Construction Industry Market Sector (Architecture**, Engineering, General Contractor, Etc)
• Free table at JRGBC event
• All of the benefits listed below
Gold Dot Sponsors: $1000 or more
• LEED Project profile on the JRGBC website and for your own marketing
• Spotlight on our e-newsletter and webpage for Green Schools
• All of the benefits listed below
Silver Dot Sponsors: $500 or more
• Speaker Role at a Chapter Membership Event
• Logo on webpage for Green Schools
• Use of the Chapter Logo on your company website and literature (guidlelines apply)
• All of the benefits listed below
Green Dot Sponsors: $100 or more
• Listing at event handouts and literature
• Live web link at our webpage for Green Schools
Contact information
Gwenedd Murray, Cal Trepagnier, Rob Winstead: Green Schools Committee Co-Chairs
greenschools@jrgbc.org
2010 -2011 Challenge
The JRGBC hosted a winter and spring green schools challenge, in which the chapter challenged registered K-12 Virginia schools to devise and implement, with the help of skilled “Green” professional Mentors, the most creative, effective and no or low cost sustainable practices for their schools & communities. The Connect the Dots for Schools Program challenged schools in Central Virginia to work on a green school project or program to increase environmental stewardship. Nearly 30 schools participated in the challenge with 16 schools submitting an entry to be judged.
The four Virginia Chapters; Southwest Virginia, Hampton Roads, James River and National Capitol Region implemented similar projects with the common goal of: Green Virginia Schools for all within this generation. This collaboration between the four Virginia chapters was nationally recognized with a generous Green Schools Innovation Grant by the USGBC. Local supporters include SHW Group, James River Air, and Aero Integrated Solutions.
Judges for the challenge were members of the JRGBC’s LEED for Schools Committee, and included Richard Friesner, George Mason University’s Washington Youth Summit on the Environment; Dan Knox, Aero Integrated Solutions; Kevin Pennock, Timmons Group; and Cal Trepagnier, a graduate student at John Hopkins University.
James River Green Building Council – Connect the Dots from Rocket Pop Media on Vimeo.
Leadership Award First Place – Chesterfield County, Curtis Elementary
Mentor – Kristy Schomaker, Auomated Logic (formerly Aero Integrated Solutions)
Project –The Curtis Conservationists had a platform of reduce, reuse, and recycle. Projects included energy and waste audits, having a paper free week and implementing a recycling program for their school.
Leadership Award Second Place – Chesterfield County, Robious Elementary
Mentor – Bryna Dunn, Moseley Architects, Tiffany Heller
Project – The team worked on lunchroom waste reduction, kitchen cardboard recycling and classroom recycling, as well as a Walking School Bus project and electronics recycling drive.
Leadership Award Third Place – Henrico County, Holman Middle School
Mentor – Carrie Webster, Moseley Architects
Project – The team worked on green curriculum for the math and science classes, and a water conservation project that was done as part of the math curriculum.
Outstanding Sustainability Curriculum Award – Chesterfield County, Greenfield Elementary
Mentor – Jennifer Childress
Weekly meetings were organized by the mentors and covered a range of issues from energy conservation and recycling to bird watching. The students also helped teach Kindergarten, First and Second graders on Earth Day. On Tuesdays, the students helped to share their knowledge during the morning announcements with a “Green Tip”.
Community Outreach Award – City of Richmond, Mary Munford Elementary
Mentor – Jennifer Daoulas, Timmons Group
Project – The team installed a Pollinator Garden at Mary Munford, including a refurbished Green House, rain barrels, and composting bins. They also implemented a compost and recycling program at lunch, recycled Fluorescent Bulbs, and hosted environmental workshops on topics such as Native Plants and Constructing Habitat.
Creativity Award – Albemarle County, Western Albemarle High School
Mentor – Meghan Magennis
Project – Green Team & Energy Conservation Analysis. Green Team repurposed old t-shirts, held an Earth Day event and created a video for the morning broadcast.
Student Leadership Award – Goochland High School, Casey Doody
Established a recycling program for the high school and middle school
