Many Milwaukee-area schoolyards are covered in crumbling asphalt and offer little if any green space. Schoolyards were originally paved to reduce lawn maintenance costs, but decades of inertia have left deteriorating infrastructure that is costly to repair and impairs the environmental health of our city and the social-emotional wellbeing of our children. An increasing body of research underscores that students’ access to green schoolyards can result in better academic outcomes, increased engagement and enthusiasm, improved social-emotional skills, and decreased childhood obesity. Redeveloped schoolyards also afford a myriad of co-benefits: improved stormwater management, urban biodiversity, community engagement, and meaningful STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) curricular connections.
NETWORK OF SUPPORT
The time is ripe to capitalize on a growing network of support surrounding greener, healthier schools in the Milwaukee area. Over the past few years, many motivated teachers, parents, nonprofits, governmental agencies, and funders have organized transformational projects through the Green Schools Consortium of Milwaukee (GSCM). Through bi-monthly meetings and an annual conference, hundreds of consortium members have collectively shared ideas, resources, and lessons learned
OBJECTIVE
To promote sustainability projects in Milwaukee-area schools that result in improved triple bottom line outcomes and greater ecoliteracy among students, families, educators, and the community.
TAKE ACTION FOR GREENER, HEALTHIER SCHOOLS!
Great things are being done, but there is still a lot to do! This is still just the beginning of a new movement in the Milwaukee area; many don’t know it exists, and it won’t continue without additional support. The following is a short list of suggested ways to help move green and healthy initiatives forward at our local schools.
Sign up to receive the GSCM newsletter
Tell a friend, family member, or colleague about green and healthy schools and the GSCM
Like the GSCM on Facebook and share posts and newsletters
Attend a bi-monthly consortium meeting
Participate in a GSCM committee (Administrative, Project, and Education)
Sponsor, plan, exhibit, speak, or volunteer at next year’s Green Schools Conference
Explore the Green and Healthy School story shared in the Milwaukee Community Map
Sign up for the EcoLiteracy Challenge
Inquire about what your child’s or your neighborhood’s school is doing to green its campus
Develop a green and healthy school initiative at your school or organization
Apply for your school to go through the schoolyard redevelopment process with Reflo and MMSD
Sign your school up for recognition through the Green and Healthy Schools Wisconsin program
Adopt DPI’s “Wisconsin Standards for Environmental Literacy and Sustainability”
Support and advocate for sustained funding for schoolyard redevelopment projects
Provide funding for the continued administration of the GSCM
Include Reflo’s Green and Healthy Schools Program in your annual charitable contributions
Schedule a meeting with Reflo to learn more about the GSCM and how you can stay engaged
