U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) and its Green Strides outreach initiative share promising practices and resources in the areas of safe, healthy, and sustainable school environments; nutrition and outdoor physical activity; and environmental and sustainability education.

To bring additional attention to honorees’ practices, ED-GRS has conducted an annual Green Strides tour, allowing schools, school districts, and postsecondary institutions to share their work with community leaders and policymakers and celebrate their achievements. The following is the tentative tour schedule. Updates will be shared through our newsletter.

Tuesday, September 27          

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – Tour of Albert M. Greenfield Elementary School, 2200 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Tour of Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, 500 W Willow Grove Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19118

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Tour of Harriton High School, 600 N Ithan Ave, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Tour of Radnor Middle School, 150 Louella Ave, Wayne, PA 19087

Wednesday, September 28

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. – Tour of Charles F. Patton Middle School, 760 Unionville Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. – Tour of Westtown School, 975 Westtown Road, West Chester, PA 19382

1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. – Tour of the School District of Jenkintown, 325 Highland Ave, Jenkintown, PA 19046

2:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Tour of Council Rock School District, Bucks County, Location TBD

Thursday, September 29

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – 2016 Tour Discussion Session, Broughal Middle School, 114 West Morton Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – Tour of Broughal Middle School, 114 West Morton Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Tour of Nazareth Area Middle School, 94 Friedenstahl Avenue, Nazareth, PA 18064

2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Tour of Northampton Community College, Monroe Campus, 2411 Pennsylvania 715, Tannersville, PA 18372

All are welcome to join the tour! Past participants have included federal, state, and local agency officials and elected officers, such as governors, state legislators, mayors, and city council members. Members of the press are also invited to attend and amplify honorees’ promising efforts, many of which leverage free resources that are available to all interested parties. Moreover, neighboring schools, districts, and colleges and universities are invited to come and learn from the examples on the tour.

This year we’ll be focusing on how project- and solutions-based learning provides opportunities to expand traditional learning into the real world to create real change for the betterment of our society and the environment. The tour will highlight how schools teaching effective environmental education through authentic learning help students to learn higher-order thinking skills, collaboration, and problem-solving, preparing them for the careers of the future, in addition to making positive contributions to their communities and planet.

I look forward to meeting many representatives that are just beginning their green schools journey and to celebrating the school communities that we have already honored with our award. With a little elbow-grease, strong partnerships, resourcefulness, and leadership, I’m confident that I’ll have the opportunity to read about visitors in a coming awards cycle of ED-GRS.

See you on the road … and don’t forget to carpool!

Andrea Suarez Falken is Director of U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools and Facilities, Health, and Environment Liaison at the U.S. Department of Education.   In her spare time, she explores Colorado’s natural wonders with her toddler on her back.