Healthy School Environments
Webinars
This collection of webinars provides helpful information to promote and support healthy school environments. This list includes registration links to upcoming webinars and links to previously recorded webinars. The webinars feature experts from the EPA, other federal, and non-federal programs. Upcoming webinar times are Eastern Standard but may change so please check back here regularly.
Many of these webinars are part of the Department of Education's Green Strides Webinar Series. Sign up for their email updates to receive registration information on future webinars.
Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments Webinar Series
Join EPA for their new webinar series based on the Sensible Steps Brochure (PDF) (26pp, 1.75MB) and the State School Environmental Health Guidelines. The webinars share low- and no-cost actions that schools can take to create healthier environments for students and staff. Each webinar features school district staff from across the country presenting real-life examples of successes. The target audience includes facility maintenance staff, school nurses, administrators, teachers, and other school personnel and stakeholders. Look for the webinars highlighted below.
Some links may leave the EPA.gov domain, and EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of information on that non-EPA page. Providing links to a non-EPA Web site is not an endorsement of the other site or the information it contains by EPA or any of its employees. Also, be aware that the privacy protection provided on the EPA.gov domain (see Privacy and Security Notice) may not be available at the external link.
Previously Recorded Webinars
- June 21, 2012: Discover Why Good Indoor Air Quality is Essential for Green and Healthy Schools (EPA)
- July 18, 2012: Reducing Radon in Schools (EPA)
- Sept. 12, 2012: Strategic Collaboration for Effective Asthma Management in Schools (EPA)
- Sept. 19, 2012: The School Flag Program (EPA)
- Oct. 3, 2012: Environmental Education for Everyone: 'K through Grey' Resources (EPA)
- May 8, 2013: School Siting: Understanding the Challenges and Opportunities for Communities and Decision-Makers (EPA)
Upcoming Webinars
May 21, 2013, 3-4 p.m.: Sensible Steps To Healthier School Environments - Assessment and Team Building
Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments Webinar Series
This webinar kicks off a series of eight informative webinars that focus on voluntary, low or no-cost steps that you can take to create healthier environments in your schools. Join this interactive webinar to: 1) Explore essential building blocks of a model school environmental health program; 2) Evaluate your school health status with the Sensible Steps Quick Assessment; 3) Learn how to build an effective environmental health team in your school or district; 4) Discover steps Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District in Carrollton, Texas took to enhance environmental health conditions in its schools.
May 22, 2013, 4-5 p.m.: Teacher Ranger Teacher (NPS)
Discover how to teach your class about the environment, outdoor recreation and our nation's historic places by participating in the Teacher-Ranger-Teacher professional development program. Work alongside National Park Service rangers and education specialists in the development, implementation and evaluation of environmental education, outdoor recreation, or history and civics education programs. This webinar will explain how the program works and what you can bring back to your classroom.
May 29, 2013, 4-5 p.m.: Authentic Student Voice and Leadership in GreenSchools! (USFS/PLT)
In a growing number of Project Learning Tree GreenSchools! across the United States, students are becoming involved in decision-making activities that affect their environment and community as well as themselves, their peers, and their whole school. When we say student voice we are talking about more than simplylistening to students. Student voice is the individual and collective perspective and actions of young people within the context of learning and education. Many of today's young people share a concern for building, maintaining, and serving community and only lack a platform. This webinar will feature dynamic Green Team student leaders who will share compelling and personal testimonials about the transformative power of student leadership in the Green Schools movement.
June 5, 2013, 4-5 p.m.: A Public Land for Every Classroom (NPS)
Public lands, partners and schools face a common challenge of relevancy to today’s youth. By joining forces, we can build creative, effective, and sustainable bridges to engage students in project-based learning and stewardship of communities. Join the partners of the Public Lands for Every Classroom family of programs exploring techniques to form public-lands-school/community partnerships and engage youth in authentic learning experiences that support the Common Core standards and create new generations of engaged citizenry.
June 12, 2013, 4-5 p.m.: Summer Reading for Environmental Education (EDN)
Summer reading lists offer an opportunity for students to continue their educational journey when school is not in session. Through Earth Day Network’s innovative Reading for the Earth™ campaign, students all over the country are learning about environmental issues and challenges through reading. In this webinar, Earth Day Network will facilitate a discussion on some of the benefits of summer reading for the environment and highlight some effective books to get students engaged in the discussion.
June 18, 2013, 3-4 p.m.: The Role of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in Creating Healthy Learning Environments
Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments Webinar Series
This session is the second in a series of eight informative school environmental health webinars. During this session you will learn how to apply the IAQ Tools for Schools Program Framework to real-world challenges so that everyday obstacles don’t become roadblocks to success. You'll also hear about opportunities to access the expertise and resources you need, as well as interact with your peers, through the IAQ Tools for Schools Connector.
June 19, 2013, 4-5 p.m.: Better Energy Performance through Building Envelope Improvements (BMS)
This webinar will present a description of the challenges faced to increase the energy efficiency and health of schools, particularly as they pertain to building envelope. Topics will include use of daylighting, use of insulation and other materials, evaluating building materials for green schools, and solutions to challenges.
June 26, 2013, 4-5 p.m.: BioDiversity Discovery: Creating Next Generation Standards (NPS)
The National Park Service (NPS) is engaging in "Biodiversity Discovery," a variety of efforts, such as bioblitzes, in which members of the public, including scientists, students, and visitors work together to discover living organisms in the parks. This webinar will offer a historic overview of the growth of biodiversity discovery in the national parks, provide a synopsis of NPS Call to Action #7 "Next Generation Stewards, and identify areas of youth involvement, including the NPS/National Geographic Society Bioblitzes; the Taxonomist in Parks initiative, the Biodiversity Youth Ambassador program, and NPS strategies to further biodiversity education.
July 10, 2013, 4-5 p.m.: School Health Guidelines to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity (CDC)
The CDC will introduce participants to their School Health Guidelines to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity. These guidelines are a synthesis of research and best practices for schools to prevent obesity and promote physical activity and healthy eating among students. Participants will learn about the burden of childhood obesity, the role of schools in promoting health, the nine guidelines CDC recommends for schools to create a healthier environment, and CDC resources to assist with implementation. Click here to learn more about the guidelines.
July 24, 2013, 4-5 p.m.: Recycle-Bowl Competition and Educational Resources (KAB)
KAB’s Recycle-Bowl was created to provide students with a fun, interactive way to learn about waste reduction and environmental responsibility through in-school recycling. At the close of the four-week competition, the school in each state that collects the most recyclable material per capita will win $1,000. A national champion then will be chosen from among the statewide winners to receive an additional grand prize. Educational recycling activities also will be provided online and through a registration toolkit. To learn more about the competition, join Keep America Beautiful for a one-hour Recycle-Bowl kickoff webinar. The webinar will explain the competition, provide an overview of available resources and highlight the use of the recycling competition at a school.
July 31, 2013, 2-3 p.m.: Engaging Parents to Foster Healthier, More Successful Students (CDC)
This webinar will discuss how parent engagement in school health positively influences the health of children and adolescents. Research shows that parent engagement in schools is closely linked to better student behavior, higher academic achievement, and enhanced social skills. Parent engagement also makes it more likely that children and adolescents will adopt healthy behaviors such as healthy eating and being physically active. An adolescent health researcher at the CDC will describe how parent engagement in schools positively impacts adolescent education and health outcomes, and will identify evidence-based strategies and actions for engaging parents in school health as it relates specifically to physical activity, nutrition, and chronic conditions. The webinar will end with an in-depth overview of CDC’s resources for parent engagement in school health.
Aug. 7, 2013, 2-3 p.m.: Mold and Moisture Control in Schools: Potential Health Effects and Safe Clean-Up Practices (EPA)
Aug. 28, 2013 4-5 p.m.: Children and Nature: Prescriptions for Outdoor Activity (NEEF)
Sep. 4, 2013, 4-5 p.m.: STEM Connections (USDA)
Students and teachers will demonstrate how their programs have connected to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) studies.
Sep. 11, 2013 2 p.m.: Green Purchasing (GSI)
Sep. 18, 2013 4-5 p.m.: Schoolyard Habitat Program (FWS)
Sept. 25, 2013, 4-5 p.m.: Junior Duck Stamp (JDS) Conservation and Design Program (FWS)
Created 2 decades ago as an innovative way to teach children about wetlands and waterfowl, the Junior Duck Stamp (JDS) Conservation and Design Program reaches more than 27,000 students each year, giving them the opportunity to learn scientific principles, connect with their natural world, and artistically express their knowledge of the beauty, diversity and interdependence of wildlife. Learn more about the program and the new JDS educational curriculum, released earlier this year, that is designed to spark youth interest in habitat conservation through science, art, math and technology.
Oct. 9, 2013, 4-5 p.m.: The Cool School Challenge: Addressing Energy Efficiency and Climate Change in K-12 Schools (NWF)
US K-12 schools spend almost $8 billion/year on energy, and the Department of Energy estimates that 25% of that is wasted. Learn how you can use the National Wildlife Foundation Eco-Schools USA’s Cool School Challenge and carbon calculator to reduce your energy use and carbon footprint.