Green Incentives At School

Green Incentives at School

Click edit above to add content to this empty capsule.

With the green movement becoming more and more popular, schools are going to have to come up with incentives to encourage the kids and teach them about how to reduce their carbon footprint.

Some creative ideas that they can use to encourage this new way of living is by offering a variety of incentive programs.  For example, the class with the least amount of garbage in a week wins a pizza lunch.  The class who comes up with the best idea to cut down the school's footprint, wins a free field trip.  Use the reading contest ideas in a different way.

Schools can do their part as well by offering the families the opportunity to purchase affordable, reusable totes to carry their money, notes, and important things to school in.  Reusable lunch bags and sandwich wrappers are a great idea as well.  There are so many options out there that you are certain to find something the kids will like!  It can also build a sense of community if everyone has the same type of bag.

The school can also look at instituting the organics waste collection, if it is done in their municipality.  This way, any food that the kids aren't eating can be disposed of in the organics bin instead of the garbage pail.  Also look at having a composter somewhere on the school property, makes a great science lesson as well as a green incentive!!

They could have a contest to see which class in the school can use the least amount of paper, and reusing paper can earn them extra points. 

Kids (and adults) love contests and they thrive at the opportunity to be the best.  This could be used to the schools advantage!  If you live in a region where it is possible to have a city wide contest, imagine how great the impact could be in your area.  How little waste can come out of the school systems.  It is mind blowing what a big difference a small act can make.

As a reward for their hard work the kids could be involved in tree planting in the spring.  There is nothing better then watching kids get their hands dirty and watching their faces while they are planting something that they can watch grow.  It also helps them take pride in their area and in the environment and gives them a great hands on lesson of what they can do to help.

They learn quickly that they are not too small or too young to be involved in such a global movement!