A Vancouver organization, Fresh Roots is working with schools to develop "market gardens." The gardens provide food to the cafeteria and to culinary programs, but are also used as a learning tool in curriculum. Known benefits of school-based food programs include, a decrease in bullying and vandalism, improved nutrition and academic scores, greater community connections and support for local farmers. Read more in the Courier.
All BC public institutions are legislated to be carbon neutral. To achieve this they have no choice but to purchase carbon offsets. Those offsets must be purchased from the Pacific Carbon Trust, a crown corporation that charges much more than any other offset company. Pacific Carbon Trust purchases offsets from industry and then sells them to public insttitutions.
BC's Farm to School program is having a transformative effect on student participants. The program provides students with locally grown food served at the school cafeteria, and some classroom time dedicated to learning about local food and nutrition. At participant schools students are enthusiastically lining up at the salad bar and are showing a genuine interest in growing their own food.
School Districts across BC pay carbon tax to the Pacific Carbon Trust which then funnels that money into several private sector energy efficiency projects. Last year the PCT collected $4 million from BC schools. The Kamloops-Thompson School district (No. 73) wants to see its carbon offsets go back into the public sector. Read more at BC Local News.
The belief that adding more traditional playgrounds will encourage activity amongst children has proven to be a false assumption. A study that used GPS (Global Positioning System) to examine the link between environment and activity levels amongst children has shown that traditional playgrounds do little to promote activity. The large metal structures are often intimidating for children and unusable in winter or rainy months.
Not many years ago, Grandview elementary was a hotspot for vandals, but since adding a vegetable garden and an ethno botanic garden, the community and the school have been able to take ownership of the school. To further this transformation, the playground is about to become a natural playscape, that encourages the imagination to take over. Rolling hills, trees, shrubs, winding pathways and logs and boulders will provide outdoor learning environments.
Ontario schools are embracing "energy conservation, waste minimization, ecological literacy and school ground greening." Last year just one school received the "Ontario Eco School Certification," this year the number ballooned to 24. Read more at the CBC.
The Toronto District School board has passed a motion to have solar panels installed on 450 schools in the district. This is the largest green energy undertaking of any school board in Canada. Read more about the project and other TDSB decisions here.
New research is showing that BC's shift towards green schools may be producing healthier, more productive, and more environmentally aware students. Canadian and American studies have shown that the improved natural light, air quality and acoustics required in green buildings help meet the educational and health needs of children and teachers far better than traditional buildings. Read the full story in The Tyee.
Over 1000 schools in Ontario are being given green renovations as part of the national Good Places to Learn Program. The renovations will help lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduce energy costs, and create more than 5500 jobs. Read the fully story in edie.
