Resources
Local, regional, and national resources to help advance your green schools goals.
Program Coordinators
The Show-Me Green Schools suite of programs is co-managed by the Missouri Gateway Green Building Council and the Missouri Environmental Education Association. In addition to Show-Me Green Schools, each organization offers a wealth of resources that are complimentary to these programs.
MGGBC is a community of practitioners and advocates that gives voice to a commitment to improve human health, support economies, and protect the environment through green buildings and sustainability. Monthly Evening Programs, Coffee Breaks, Emerging Professionals Happy Hours, and more offer opportunities to learn and connect.
MEEA’s mission is to help educators inspire Missourians to care about, understand, and act for their environment. MEEA makes connections! From professional development, networking, and funding opportunities to pathways for certification and recognition, MEEA connects classroom teachers and informal educators to a wide variety of environmental education resources.
MEEA Website | Educator Resources | Professional Development
Show-Me Green Schools Partners are nonprofit and for-profit organizations that provide services which can help Missouri schools advance green schools-related initiatives across one or more of the three pillars (environmental impact, health/wellness, eco-literacy), including a wide variety of resources from guest speakers and field trip opportunities to technical expertise, products, and funding support. Our Partners are located across the entire state of Missouri, ensuring that every school can conveniently recognize and utilize their regional and local resources!
The online, searchable Show-Me Green Schools Partner Network Resource Directory allows you to easily to locate resources offered by Partners to help advance your school’s green and healthy goals.
If you’re interested in joining the Partner Network and would like to learn more, click here to view the benefits, requirements, and next steps for joining.
Professional Development
Annual Conferences
Our top picks for annual conferences to attend include local and national options.
Designed for informal and K-12 educators from all roles and environments, the Sustainability Institute challenges participants to help learners build awareness, recognize responsibility and take action as global citizens working to build a sustainable world. The June 25-27, 2024 Institute will be built around the theme “Biodiversity” and take place in St. Louis, MO.
Taking place November 3 & 4 at the Saint Louis Zoo surrounding the theme Sharing Hope & Inspiring Action, the 2023 conference strands include: Youth in Action, Collaboration for Sustainability, Inspiration through Education, and JEDIA Generates Hope (JEDIA = Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility).
Presented by the Center for Green Schools and Green Schools National Network, the Green Schools Conference unites stakeholders for green schools. The three-day, in-person conference promises to educate, connect, and motivate attendees through inspirational and thought-provoking interdisciplinary education. Spring 2024.
The North American Association for Environmental Education’s 2023 conference will take place virtually October 17–20 on the topic: Together We Thrive. Explore vital topics, such as climate change education and climate justice, the benefits of connecting to nature, centering equity in our work, and joy!
The Natural Start Alliance, a project of NAAEE, is a network of people and organizations dedicated to creating a world where every young child has access to a great education that includes nature every day. Their Nature-Based Early Learning Conference is hosted annually. The 2024 Conference will take place July 31-Aug 3 in Portland Oregon.
Key Events
Check the MEEA event calendar for environment education professional development and networking opportunities taking place across the state and nationally.
Check the Missouri Gateway Green Building Council calendar for events that provide education and inspiration for applying sustainability principles and practices within the human-built environment.
A virtual series offering schools and mentors opportunities to connect with each other and learn together. Includes updates from schools on their sustainability projects as well as a featured speaker/topic. Open to participants of all programs within the Show-Me Green Schools suite.
The Missouri Green Schools Meet, Greet, Connect, & Share is held annually in January as an opportunity for school participants to network and learn together. Open to participants of all programs within the Show-Me Green Schools suite.
Each year, Green Schools Quest winners are announced and participants celebrated at the MGGBC Annual Green Schools Event. Schools share their student-driven sustainability projects through presentations and poster displays.
Ongoing Support
Sign up for the Show-Me Green Schools Newsletter to receive updates on the full suite of programs and additional resources throughout the year! Newsletters are sent out every two months.
Access a social network dedicated to school sustainability, including discussion forums, resources, information about upcoming events, and information and inspiration to help you take action. Connect and collaborate with your peers in 50+ sustainability discussion groups, including one just for Show-Me Green Schools participants.
The Rainbow of Sustainability is a framework for integrating sustainability principles into students’ learning, including Importance of Place, Interconnectedness, Respect for Limits, Systems Thinking, Cycles, Social Justice, Global Citizenship. Click here to view a presentation on how to apply the Rainbow of Sustainability.
Within the Partner Network Resource Directory, you are able to search and locate your regional and local resources and services while also accessing national resources. Search by green schools pillars, costs, specific service needed, target audience, and so much more!
MEEA’s searchable Learning Database includes links to hundreds of EE resources (many of which are aligned to MO Learning and NGSS standards!) and new ones are added regularly.
Select National Resources
These organizations offer a wealth of tools and resources to support your school sustainability journey.
The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council is a global leader in advancing green schools and providing the resources needed to create sustainable, healthy, resilient, and equitable learning environments. Website | Education & Events | Peer networks | Advocacy | Research | Green Classroom Professional Certificate
For more than five decades, NAAEE has promoted excellence in environmental education throughout North America and the world. NAAEE is dedicated to strengthening the field of environmental education and increasing the visibility and efficacy of the profession. Website
The Green Schools Alliance provides programs, tools and resources to fast-track sustainable solutions in schools, empowering all members of the school community to become sustainability champions. Website | START | Programs for Schools | Programs for Students | Programs for Districts
The Green Strides School Sustainability Resource Hub is a website that is available for schools to access free resources on healthy, safe, sustainable, 21st learning environments and environmental sustainability education. Resources and webinars on the website are aligned with the three Pillars.
