Learn About Earth Day with Waldorf Schools of North America

There will no doubt be much discussion in classrooms nationwide regarding Earth Day, April 22. Earth Day, according to EarthDay.gov, is a time to celebrate gains mankind has made and create new visions to accelerate environmental progress; a time to unite around new actions and remember that every day is a time to act to protect our planet.

 

In light of Earth Day, all Waldorf schools affiliated with the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) will be able to log-on to detailed purchasing information about the best green products to use in schools by going to a newly launched Green Resources page.

 

According to Patrice Maynard, Development Director for AWSNA, Waldorf schools "strive to be communities that serve as models of how to co-exist in a deeply felt, right relationship with our planet. They practice environmental sustainability through mindful facilities management, buying choices, and building decisions, modeling a way of conscious living."

 

Users will be able to identify green and clean products, green architects, and green building supply companies and products, as well as many other resources. Also, in-depth research about some products will be available so that teachers of chemistry, physics, and ecology in Waldorf high schools will have research to access.

 

In a recent green survey of Waldorf schools in North America conducted by AWSNA showed that Waldorf schools are already committed to being green as. One of the going-green activity students manage are recycling programs where 75 percent of each school composts their food waste.

 

Officials from the school say that The Prairie Moon Waldorf School in Lawrence, Kansas received a grant to establish a market garden on the school grounds. The Sierra Waldorf School, in Jamestown, CA (News - Alert), is part of a schools initiative launched by the Foothill Collaborative for Sustainability that brings together local farmers, parents, and community members to set up community gardens affiliated with schools. 

 

The Shepherd Valley Waldorf School is being developed by an Ecoteam which offers an elective class on sustainability. Academe of the Oaks, in Atlanta, GA, also offers a green club as part of an after school program.

 

In Water's Edge Waldorf School, in Wauconda, IL, the school received a grant to plant and maintain a rain garden after runoff from the roof created a mini sidewalk flooding that was damaging the foundation of the building.

 

According to Kathy Paczysnki, development director, the goals of the proposal were fourfold: "First of all, to mitigate the rainwater runoff problem threatening to damage the building foundation; secondly, to provide an example of the beauty and simplicity of how a properly located rain garden can solve storm water drainage problems for parents, teachers, and community members; third, for students to learn about native plants and where, why, and how about planting a rain garden; and fourth, to improve the quality of wildlife habitat available on our school campus."

 

In addition to the rain garden proposal, a second grant was awarded to build and erect birdhouses around the school property.

“The projects will be completed by the students as part of the curriculum, enhancing their lessons in botany, natural science, and mathematics,” added Paczysnki.

 

For more information about green technology be sure to check out TMCnet’s Green Blog and the Green Vertical.