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…

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Lincoln Middle School Goes Green…Again

Project Type: Waste Reduction Students: 202 Staff: 1 Mentor: Robyn Munici Location: Park Ridge, IL Grade Level: Grades 6-8 The Project As a participant in the 2022-23 cohort of the Illinois Green Schools Project, worked to engage students and community in waste reduction. Lincoln Middle School worked last year to implement a waste reduction program,…

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Marion High School: Human Impacts on Ecosystems in Southern Illinois

Project Type: Environmental Justice Staff: 4 Location: Marion, IL Grade Level: 10th Grade Winner: Community Engagement Award Marion High School’s project was awarded the Community Engagement Award by the Illinois Green Schools Project reviewers. The Project The Marion Green Team set out to create a new Biology unit on environmental justice, centered around the land…

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Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School: What’s Up with Worm Composting?

Project Type: Path to Net Zero, Waste Reduction Students: 20 Staff: 2 Mentor: Richard Katz Location: Oak Park, IL Grade Levels: 6th, 7th, & 8th The Project As a participant in the 2022-23 cohort of the Illinois Green Schools Project, the Brooks Green Team, composed of 20 students across 6th, 7th, and 8th grades, set…

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Pleasantdale Elementary: Zeroing in on Closing the Loop

Project Type: Path to Net Zero, Habitat Restoration & Biodiversity, Food Garden, Outdoor Learning Space, Waste Reduction Students: 111 Staff: 5 Mentor: Theresa Johnston Location: Milledgeville, IL Grade Level: Kindergarten & 1st Winner: First Place Elementary School Pleasantdale Elementary’s project was recognized with the 1st Place Elementary School award by the panel of Illinois Green…

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Milledgeville High School: Trash Analysis & Recycling Awareness

Project Type: Waste Reduction Students: 13 Staff: 2 Mentor: Hannah Nelson Location: Milledgeville, IL Grade Level: Grades 10-11 The Project As a participant in the 2022-23 cohort of the Illinois Green Schools Project, Milledgeville High School engaged in waste reduction activities. Milledgeville High School does not have a recycling program, so students in the Honors…

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Wolcott College Prep: Student Led Green Shield Certification for Healthy Schools

Project Type: Path to Net Zero, Indoor Environmental Quality, Native Plant, Sustainability Plan Development, Waste Reduction Students: 6 Staff: 3 Mentors: Matt Johnson, Melissa Rodas Location: Chicago, IL Grade Level: 12th Grade The Project Wolcott College Prep brought Integrated Pest Management (IPM) expert Dr. Thomas Green to their school to provide students and staff with…

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William H Ray Elementary: Ray East Greenspace EcoLawn Installation

Project Type: Habitat Restoration & Biodiversity, Stormwater Management Students: 70 Staff: 10 Mentors: Leah McSherry, Ryan Anderson Location: Chicago, IL Grade Level: 5th Grade The Project Together with partners from Midwest Grows Green, the Ray School community installed an eco-lawn on the weedy, dusted compacted soil of their east lot. Both the school and the greater…

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Roosevelt Elementary: Composting and Keeping Plastic out of Landfills

Project Type: Path to Net Zero, Waste Reduction Students: 15 Staff: 6 Mentor: Madeline Burnside Location: Park Ridge, IL Grade Level: 5th grade The Project The Roosevelt Green Team, composed of 5th graders on student council and parent leaders, set out to implement a composting system at their elementary school. Students helped with the project’s…

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Grace Holistic Center for Education: Solar Powered

Project Type: Path to Net Zero, Energy Students: 24 Staff: 3 Mentor: Mike Denz Location: Yorkville, IL Grade Level: High School Path to Zero Energy Award Winner Grace Holistic’s project was awarded the Path to Zero Energy Award by the panel of Illinois Green Schools Project reviewers. The Project Students at Grace Holistic Center for…

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