CELEBRATING GREEN SCHOOLS! Community Collaboration & Education

1. CELEBRATING GREEN SCHOOLS!Community Collaboration & Education Melissa Arthur Education Programs & Outreach Director

2. Festivals & Special Events for Green Schools Green school festivals are educational, interactive, and fun events that will increase awareness and appreciation of local natural resources & issues while celebrating your school’s green projects!

3. Green school festivals typically include structured learning stations and exhibits where students and/or community members actively engage in hands-on activities and investigations

4. Green School Events may also include • Service-oriented activities • Stream clean-up • Storm drain stenciling • Tree Planting • Arts & Entertainment • Live music • Theatre • Games & Contests • Magic Shows • Refreshments • Locally bottled water • Free Food

5. Possible Green School Festival Themes: • Recycling • Energy Conservation • Water Conservation • Air Pollution • Water Pollution • Endangered Species • Agriculture • Earth Day • Nature Art • Trees • Soil Conservation • Renewable Energy • Urban Water issues • School Gardens • Fishing Events • Culture & Environment • Birds & Butterflies • Rain Barrels

6. Any Natural Resource Topic Can BeFUN, HANDS-ON, MINDS-ON & ENGAGING!

7. Serve Your Community

8. Or Get Kids Active & Outside!

9. Why Festivals? • Take a break from the doom & gloom to CELEBRATE your school’s part of the SOLUTION! • Event formats can be adapted to address those issues most important in your local community • Activities can be adapted to meet state standards, enhance your curriculum, and build 21st Century Skills • Structured opportunity for businesses, agencies, community organizations, and local government to interface with schools for a “real world” approach to learning & career opportunities • Build community support for your school’s green projects

10. Sounds Like Fun! But How?7 Key Steps for a Successful Event

11. Step 1: Research & Convene Your Planning Team • Research similar events to get a realistic picture of what kind of skills, resources, or expertise you’ll need • Work with key decision-makers to determine what support the school can provide, and what support you will need to recruit • Invite potential team & be clear about expectations • Define a common mission & objectives for your event • Develop an action plan & time line…then DELEGATE!

12. Potential Partners? Many organizations want to work with local schools! - Rural Water Districts - City Governments - County Governments - State Government - Federal Agencies - Conservation Districts - Business & Industry - Agricultural Organizations - Community Organizations - Local Artists - Colleges & Universities - County Extension - Parks & Nature Centers - Local Museums & Zoos - Non-Profit Organizations - Boards of Public Utilities - Conservation Organizations (PF)

13. Step 2: Build Your Budget • Determine size and scope of your event • List probable expenses for your event • List all available funds from your school, PTA, grants, etc. • Adjust the size and scope of the event to fit your budget • OR Fund raise to adjust your budget to fit the size and scope!

14. Step 3: Fund Raise for a Sustainable Event Diversify your funding resources • Grants • Sponsorships or Donations • In-kind Contributions Help potential funders help you • Create a sponsorship packet that illustrates your event • Be clear and creative with the “ask” • Find at least 4-5 ways to acknowledge each sponsor

15. Step 4: Activity & Program Development • Hands-on, active learning is best! FUN is important! • Know your audience: gear programs toward specific group • Adapt activities to setting and time available • Match activities with abilities & interests of your presenters • Make sure all activities fit your goals & objectives for the event • Be prepared, and be ready with Plan B…..and C!

16. Step 5: Volunteers, Exhibitors & Presenters • Compile job descriptions for each volunteer role • Use your planning team, ask them to recommend volunteers • Be clear about your expectations, provide detailed instructions • Hold a presenter training or meeting if needed • Provide coffee, water, snacks, breaks, and appreciation!!! • Be available to support & guide both before and during the event

17. Step 6: Promotion & Public Relations • Create a marketing plan/strategy for your event, keeping in mind your school’s policies about visitors on site • Use your school’s website, facebook page, or other online resources to get the word out! • Make a list of local news editors in your area, including formats, policies and deadlines • Send out news releases to meet deadlines • Develop a press packet (don’t forget to recognize sponsors!) • Assign a media relations volunteer to answer questions

18. Step 7: Evaluate for a Sustainable Event • Develop your event’s mission and intended outcomes • Brainstorm ways these outcomes can be measured during and after the event • Develop evaluation processes for participants and volunteers • Keep evaluation forms simple, and build in time or motivation to get them turned in • Thank participants and volunteers for their feedback, and act on constructive suggestions

19. KACEE is Here to Help! • Resource CD includes planning guides for festivals, sample activities, checklists and more! • KACEE can help identify local partners and develop an action plan, just give Melissa a call! • Project WET, WILD, LEP and PLT Workshops can provide hundreds of hands-on activities & ideas • Green schools grants can help fund festivals & events www.kacee.org 785-597-5452 marthur@kacee.org