Greening School Grounds
Greening your school's grounds and other outdoor areas can make a big difference to the students, staff and community of your school and neighbourhood. Benefits of "greening" school grounds can include:
- increased access to green space for school and community
- less traffic congestion
- reduced traffic accidents/traffic dangers to children
- lower carbon footprint of the school
- preservation of native species and habitats
- improved soil quality for gardens
- locations on school grounds for composters
- reduced exposure to pesticides for students, staff and community
- increased capacity for outdoor education opportunities
- increased appreciation for nature and environmental concern
- promotion of active and safe travel choices for students (healthier, more active children)
- on-site capacity for linking curriculum with the tangible world
- increased sense of well-being and safety
Getting Started
A greening program for school grounds can take many forms and involve many aspects -- traffic management, vehicle idling, natural areas for native plants and wildlife, an outdoor classroom, planitng trees, use of non-toxic pest control methods, composting, making provision for bike lockups, and more. We recommend researching what others have done, involving key stakeholders, identifying costs and savings, making a plan, communicating widely, starting with small and achievable first steps, tracking progress, and evaluating and reporting results.
Check out
To learn more about school grounds and Living Green, Living Well, take a look at some of these resources:
Manitoba Eco-Network Organic Lawn Care Project
Environmental Speakers Bureau
Active and Safe Routes to School
Evergreen Learning Grounds Project
Green Street
Green Schoolyard Resource Directory for the San Franciso Bay Area*
*Please note: LGLW has included this resource here because we think it can offer valuable tips and information on school ground greening. As often as possible we try to find local sources of information. While this guide focuses on resources for the San Francisco Bay Area in particular, which is far from Manitoba, we recognize the value it may offer to schools looking for somewhere to start as a guide for components to think about. If you know of Manitoba or Canadian resources we should be sourcing, please let us know!
