39 Illinois Schools Recognized for their Sustainability Projects

Since October 2022, participating schools across Illinois have been hard at work identifying, planning, and implementing low-to-no cost sustainability projects for their schools and communities through the Illinois Green Schools Project. As the school year comes to a close, we want to thank all who were involved and reflect on the achievements and impact of your work. Nearly 1,800…

Read More

Uplift Community High School: Plant Parenthood Project

Project Type: Nature, Biophilic design Students: 10 Staff: 2 Location: Chicago, IL Grade Levels: High School Winner: Judges’ Choice Award Uplift Community High’s Green Schools Project was selected by the panel of Illinois Green Schools Project reviewers as the Judges’ Choice winner for holistically addressing sustainability at school. The Project This project follows up on a…

Read More

Immaculate Conception St. Joseph School: Zero Waste Lunch

Project Type: Path to Net Zero, Waste Reduction Students: 18 Staff: 4 Mentor: Amreh Hopkins Location: Chicago, IL Grade Levels: 4th – 7th Winner: 1st Place Middle School Immaculate Conception St. Joseph’s project was awarded the 1st Place Middle School recognition by the panel of Illinois Green Schools Project reviewers. The Project As a participant in…

Read More

Whitney M. Young High School: Green Team

Project Type: Path to Net Zero, Energy Conservation, Indoor Environmental Quality, Waste Reduction, Water Conservation Students: 45 Staff: 5 Mentor: Ajit Naik, Baumann Consulting Location: Chicago, IL Grade Levels: 9th – 12th The Project As a participant in the 2022-23 cohort of the Illinois Green Schools Project, the Whitney Young Green Team counts this year a…

Read More

Family Matters School: The Closed Loop Project: Compost to Garden & Back Again

Project Type: Native Plant & Food Garden, Waste Reduction Students: 20 Staff: 5 Mentor: Celia Ristow, GBCI Location: Chicago, IL Grade Levels: K – 4th The Project As a participant in the 2022-23 cohort of the Illinois Green Schools Project, The Family Matters School engaged the K – 4th children in learning the mechanics of composting…

Read More

Kelvyn Park High School: Butterfly Space

Project Type: Outdoor Learning Space Students: 67 Staff: 5 Mentor: Madeline Schmehling, JLL Location: Chicago, IL Grade Levels: 7th – 12th The Project As a participant in the 2022-23 cohort of the Illinois Green Schools Project, Kelvyn Park students followed up on a project from last year in which Environmental Science students documented that when students…

Read More

Shiloh CUSD #1: Going Wild!

Project Type: Habitat Restoration & Biodiversity Students: 12 Staff: 3 Location: Hume, IL Grade Levels: 9th – 12th The Project Shiloh CUSD #1 is working towards bringing pollinators to their schoolyard and creating a place for students to sit and learn. The Process: Originally, Shiloh hoped to add two things to their schoolyard. The first being…

Read More

River Trails Middle School: Green Cafeteria

Project Type: Path to Net Zero, Indoor Environmental Quality, Waste Reduction Students: 70 Staff: 15 Mentor: Jason Meyering, Jason Meyering Architecture Location: Mount Prospect, IL Grade Levels: 6th – 8th The Project As a participant in the 2022-23 cohort of the Illinois Green Schools Project, River Trails Middle School desired to green up their cafeteria space…

Read More

Solorio Academy High School: Community Green Space & Waste Reduction

Project Type: Path to Net Zero, Habitat Restoration, Native Plant Garden, Outdoor Learning Space, Waste Reduction Students: 25 Staff: 2 Mentor: Jan Clarence Concepcion, HUSArchitecture Location: Chicago, IL Grade Levels: High School The Project Students at Solorio Academy High School developed a plan for improving the campus green space and involving the community in bringing the…

Read More