PA Environment Digest

Natural Biodiversity announced Monday Greater Johnstown School District is the recipient of technical assistance and project materials through Natural Biodiversity’s Earth Friendly Schools Initiative, a program supported by the Department of Environmental Protection's Environmental Education Grant Program.

Through this initiative, Greater Johnstown High School will create and start to implement a school greening plan that will result in a National Wildlife Federation Eco-Schools USA Bronze Award.

In many municipalities, schools are the leading consumer of energy and water, and produce significant amounts of waste and greenhouse gas emissions, yet they are charged with teaching students up-to-date ecological, energy and environmental subjects.

Natural Biodiversity Executive Director, Kristin Sewak said, “With today’s limited natural and economic resources, it is so important to assist schools in cutting costs and greening their operations, therefore empowering them to lead by example and instill a lasting conservation ethic in tomorrow’s leaders.”

The goal of this initiative is to utilize expert resources from Natural Biodiversity’s growing Earth Friendly Schools Initiative partner network to integrate sustainable principles throughout the school’s daily operations as well as the curriculum and to serve as a model for other schools in the area.

High school students will be involved in every step of the process and will play a large role in the development and implementation of the greening plan.

In accordance with NWF and Natural Biodiversity programs, Greater Johnstown High School will complete a comprehensive environmental audit. Audit results will be reviewed by a committee of students, teachers, administrators, and environmental professionals, whose task will be to develop a greening plan with links to curricula.

The project will culminate shortly following the 2011-2012 school year with an Act-48 accredited symposium provided to the region’s school administrators and educators with the goals of showcasing project results and providing technical assistance to other districts on how to create Earth Friendly Schools.

High School principal Michael Vuckovich commented, "This grant is a wonderful opportunity for students to get involved in a great cause and make a tremendous impact in the area. We are proud and honored to be a part of this wonderful partnership."

Share this: