5 years of Eco-Green

5 years of Eco-Green
2015 – 2020
We live in an era of complex and interrelated systems issues that compromise the ability of humans and wildlife to thrive. Over the past 5 years, General Motors, National Wildlife Federation, schools and GM employees across the country have been working together to deliver high quality teacher professional development that empowers students to complete STEM-based conservation projects and contribute to GM’s operational sustainability goals. As we examine the past and look at the road ahead, we aspire to continue to align and strengthen the global movement towards a circular economy and healthy communities.
Content
Eco-Green Program: Moving Humanity Forward in to the Era of Sustainability
- Using the Eco-Schools Framework
- Introduce Eco-Green STEM model
- Year 4 Overview
- Partnership Path to Vision
- Evaluation, Impact, and Value Metrics
- Local Partnership Stories
- Lessons learned
- Looking forward to Year 5, 2019- 2020
- Looking Forward to Year 6, 2020 – 2021
- Feedback and Questions

Who is National Wildlife Federation?

For more than 80 years, the National Wildlife Federation has been educating people about the environment. Our Education efforts annually reach nearly 5 million students through a combination of programs.
• Largest US-based Conservation/ Education Organization
• Focal Education Program: Eco-schools USA
• 6 Regional Offices
• Our Priorities: Climate Change, Safeguarding Wildife and Habitat and Connecting People with Nature
Notes From the Field : Darrell Frazier, Teacher at Beechfield Elementary Middle School
“A happy planet makes a happy life.”
— Darrell Frazier
Eco-Green follows the Eco-Schools USA Framework
Eco-Schools USA is a student team driven framework that creates school and community based projects.
▪Holistic, whole-school approach
▪Experiential learning and project-based
▪Professional development
▪21st Century Skills, metrics-based, data-driven
▪Support for young adults preparing for STEM work careers
Global Program
67 Participating Countries
51,000 K-12 Schools
1 Million Teachers
18 Million Students
Eco-Schools Process


Teacher Development & Resources
All program information and teacher materials are available on the Eco-Schools USA self-guided website found here.
Year 5 Goal

Building and connecting an expansive Eco-Green Schools network
Eco-Green Team
What is the Opportunity?
- Eco-Green brings together local schools with GM facilities, dealers and suppliers to support student-driven sustainability projects. Schools are provided a $700 grant, employee mentors, and complete project implementation support from NWF.
- Through Eco-Green students are exposed to careers in STEM, science, technology, engineering and math, by partnering with local mentors and enacting green STEM projects.
Recruitment
Mentor team can be comprised of facilities, dealers, and/ or suppliers. School teams comprised of administrators, teacher teams, students, community supporters

Initiation
Preparation of the school and the facility to fulfill their roles in the partnership. Connect with NWF resources and support

Collaboration

Initial contact. Create shared vision for the desired outcomes of the school, mentors, and NWF. Plan an initial opportunity for the Mentor team to support students

Implementation
Educational professionals empower students as change agents and begin Eco-Schools process. Mentor Teams support as outlined during planning session. Continued teacher professional development with webinar to develop and connect network as a learning community. View the recording of the 2019 Eco-Green Idea-Sharing Webinar below:

Communications Strategy During Implementation Process Stage
- Group emails
- regional webinar coaching
- peer-to-peer learning sessions
- Individual site check-ins
- phone calls for consulting and guidance
- in person on-boarding of new manufacturing sites
- website updates
- strategic travel to maintain participation at GM priority sites
- 3-4 Individual projects-based mentor support during virtual collaborative check-ins with school
- Partnership specific communications consultation that includes assistance with reaching out to local media with press releases for special events and local Eco-Green project activity
- Social Media toolkit and guidelines for promotion of Eco-Green activity and project awareness
- End of year survey
- Participation branding banners, branded apparel and NWF magazine subscriptions
- Receives email of end of year national impact report
- Individual facilitated check-ins between school educators and mentors
- Access to Eco-Schools USA Program Resources

Celebration

Recognition of the positive contributions and outcomes of the partnership. Continuation of program
Stories From the Field
View Full-Screen Map HERE
Eco-Green Impact
Who: Demographics
Where: Location breakdown
Impacts: Reported educational, environmental and community relations impacts


Year 4: Current Status 2018- 2019

Diversity in Eco-Green

Success Factors



Mentor Involvement

How Mentors Contribute
- People power
- Fabrication
- Content expertise
- Recycling partner
- Sharing career path
- Providing feedback










The Road Ahead: 2020 – 2021 and Beyond

Goals: Maintain alumni sites and deepen learning through regional connections
Network Building by Region

- Regional hubs meet 3 – 4 times per year
- Peer-to-peer learning with facilitated story sharing and feedback
- Content experts in circular economy
- Mentor check in and support
- National Webinar
- Website leadership development resources
- What else is valuable for GM’s operational sustainability priorities?

Manufacturing Facility Involvement


Manufacturing Facilities interested in participating in Eco-Green
National Wildlife Federation Strategic Plan

Click here to read more of the NWF Strategic Plan

Click here to read more of the NWF Action Report