GEF Overview

2012 Overview
Creating a Sustainable Future Through Education

Copyright © 2012 Green Education Foundation (GEF). All rights reserved.
www.GreenEducationFoundation.org

GEF Mission
GEF is a non-profit organization committed to creating a
sustainable future through education.

GEF provides curriculum and resources to K-12 students
and teachers worldwide with the goal of challenging youth
to think holistically and critically about global
environmental concerns and solutions


Leading the Sustainability
Education Movement

Sustainability Education provides
educators with the real-world
applied learning models that
connect science, technology, and
math education with the broader
human concerns of
environmental, economic, and
social systems.


Member Demographics and Outreach
• Over 9,000 members
• Over 5 million kids
• All 50 States
• Available to the over 55 million students and
3.8 million teachers in more than 125,000
K-12 schools throughout the U.S.

Outreach
• Schools are reached through teachers unions, administrator and
principals’ organizations, national and local departments of
energy, national and local departments of education, and like-
minded non-profits
• GEF devotes resources to connecting with schools in underserved
communities through advocates like the office of environmental
affairs in urban school districts, state and national associations of
career and technical education, etc.


GEF’s National Green Week
National Green Week is an annual program that empowers schools to
engage in sustainability focused projects or activities for at least one
week between February and Earth Day (April 22). Participating
districts, schools, classrooms or youth groups select from five GEF
sustainability focused programs to be their ‘green theme.’ Each theme
provides standards- based lessons, activities, Green Team projects, and
more!
Green Week Sustainability Themes include:

Green Thumb Challenge
• The largest youth gardening initiative connects new and existing
garden programs nationwide
• 5,000 school and youth group participants signed up for the pilot
year—reaching over 771,000 kids
Green Energy Challenge
• Addresses the science of energy, non-renewable and renewable
sources, and energy and water conservation strategies
• Student projects include school and classroom energy and water
audits

National Green Week Themes Cont.
I Ride Green
• Inspires families and individuals to develop lifelong habits for
sustainable transportation that promote the health of the
environment, the economy, and people

Green Building Program
• Educate students and administrators on how to reduce energy and
water usage, thereby lowering their schools’ operating costs
• Understand the basic components and strategies around green building

Waste Reduction Challenge
• See the power of collective behavior by encouraging everyone to reduce
their waste and recycle
• Start a recycling program, conduct waste-free snack challenge or
participate in fun lessons and activities

Sustainable Water Challenge
• Discover the important role water plays in the survival of our planet
and how our natural systems work together
• Identify and implement conservation methods for the home and school
building

2012 Measureable Results
• 89% of the survey respondents would
recommend GEF’s programs and curriculum to
peers

• 87% of teachers responded that GEF’s
programs were a valuable learning experience
for their students and/or staff

• 92% said they learned important
environmental lessons
“We are pleased to be apart of GEF and feel motivated and directed by great ideas in the
newsletter. Thank you for all you are doing to inspire us and offer opportunities.”

“Students are excited to do the right thing. I am always amazed at how interested they
become when equipped with the knowledge and practices they can do.”

“A school with more than 2000 students started separating their trash and making compost
out of more than 80% of it.”

“Getting out doors and being active is one of our focuses this year. Students were able to
“Get Moving” having fun planting and caring for the garden.”

K-12 Sustainability Lesson
Clearinghouse
• Largest online database of sustainability
focused lessons for K-12 sorted by
grade, subject, eco-area, keyword

• Provides a virtual platform for teachers to
upload and share K-12 sustainability
education curricula

• Educators across the nation rate, comment
and provide feedback on curricula, with the
goal of designing an online social network
that promotes cross-school best practices in
sustainability education


GEF Institute
GEF Institute is a division of GEF, launched in January
2012, established to meet the increasing global market demand for
sustainability education and training. The Institute develops state-
of-the art online courses in sustainability concepts for use by K-12
schools, colleges and universities, corporations and individuals.

• Online Courses
• Online Certificate Programs
• Blended Learning Curriculum
• K-12 Sustainability Blueprint
• CTE Sustainability Certification


GEF Growth
April 2011
Green Building Program
GEF community Green Energy
GEF Gains
grows to Challenge June 2011
501(c)(3)
GEF is 2000 schools launches Launch Lesson
Status, Octobe
founded, Februar by end of 2009 September 2010 Clearinghouse
r 2008
y 2008 250,000 students
uncover energy leaks

GEF is First Inaugural Third Annual
incorporated, National Green Thumb National GEF community reaches over
April 2008 Green Week, Challenge Green Week 8000 schools by 12/2011
Spring 2009 Spring 2010 over February 2011
over 400,000 kids 770,000 kids over 5 MILLION Jan 2012
go green! connect with green stewards GEF Institute launched
nature! are empowered!


GEF Sponsors and Partners


Contact
Green Education Foundation

Victoria Waters
President & CEO
vwaters@greeneducationfoundation.org
508-668-2278|

Molly Hislop
Director, Programs and Marketing
mhislop@greeneducationfoundation.org
508-318-6618


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