Student groups are a vital way to engage young people in environmental and sustainability activities, empowering them to take ownership of meaningful initiatives that drive change within their school and community. This START metric focuses on creating and supporting student-led organizations, such as an Enviro-Club, a Student Sustainability Council, or specific project-based teams for activities like collection drives, carbon-offsetting initiatives, or waste audits. These groups should meet regularly and remain active and engaged throughout the year, fostering a culture of collaboration, leadership, and environmental responsibility.
By building student-led sustainability groups, schools provide hands-on opportunities for leadership development and environmental action, helping students gain the skills and confidence needed to make a positive impact on their world.
Strategies for Supporting Student Groups in Sustainability
NOTE: This is not a prescriptive list; it just offers ideas to inspire action and can be tailored to fit the unique needs of each school.
Create Clear Structures for Groups
Establish guidelines for forming student groups, including roles such as president, secretary, or project leads.
Provide templates for group charters or mission statements to help students define their goals and focus.
Support Recurring Meetings
Help students set up a regular meeting schedule and provide a designated space for group activities.
Encourage meetings to include planning sessions, brainstorming, and progress updates on projects.
Provide Staff Mentorship
Assign a teacher or staff member as a mentor to guide the group, provide resources, and assist with logistics.
Allow mentors to take a supportive, not directive, role to ensure that the group remains student-driven.
Promote Leadership Opportunities
Encourage students to take on leadership roles within the group, such as leading meetings, coordinating events, or managing projects.
Provide leadership training or resources to help students succeed in these roles.
Start with Simple, Impactful Projects
Help groups launch small-scale initiatives, such as organizing recycling drives, conducting waste audits, or planting a garden.
Use these successes to build momentum and inspire more ambitious projects.
Foster Collaboration Among Groups
Encourage sustainability groups to work together on large-scale initiatives or events.
Create opportunities for collaboration with other student organizations, such as student government or sports teams, to broaden their reach.
Highlight Real-World Connections
Link group activities to global sustainability efforts, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Bring in guest speakers from local organizations or industries to inspire students and provide professional insights.
Organize Competitions and Challenges
Create friendly competitions, such as energy-saving challenges or waste-reduction contests, to motivate group members and the broader school community.
Offer incentives, like recognition or small prizes, to celebrate participation and achievements.
Provide Financial Support
Allocate a budget or help groups apply for grants to fund their projects and activities.
Encourage students to engage in fundraising efforts to support their initiatives.
Celebrate Group Achievements
Publicly recognize the group’s accomplishments through school assemblies, newsletters, or social media.
Use these celebrations to inspire other students to join or start their own initiatives.
Encourage Peer Education
Empower students to lead workshops, presentations, or campaigns to educate their peers about sustainability topics.
Use these activities to spread awareness and increase engagement across the school.
Involve the Community
Partner with local organizations, government agencies, or businesses to expand the group’s impact and access additional resources.
Include community members in events or initiatives, such as cleanups or tree-planting days.
Incorporate Technology
Use digital tools to organize meetings, track progress, or promote the group’s activities.
Encourage students to use social media or create blogs to share their projects and connect with broader audiences.
Offer Interdisciplinary Opportunities
Link group activities to academic subjects, such as conducting energy audits in science or designing posters in art.
Use these connections to integrate sustainability more deeply into the school experience.
Make Groups Inclusive
Ensure that all students, regardless of background or prior knowledge, feel welcome and able to contribute.
Create opportunities for students with different interests, such as technology, communication, or event planning, to participate in meaningful ways.
Set Goals and Track Progress
Work with groups to establish short- and long-term goals for their initiatives.
Use tools like timelines or progress reports to monitor and celebrate achievements.
Encourage Reflection and Feedback
Provide opportunities for group members to reflect on their experiences and offer feedback for improvement.
Use these insights to refine group activities and increase impact over time.
Integrate Sustainability Groups Into School Culture
Ensure the group is visible and actively involved in school events, such as assemblies or fairs.
Position the group as a core part of the school’s sustainability efforts and culture.
Provide Pathways for Growth
Create opportunities for students to expand their engagement, such as attending sustainability conferences or pursuing certifications.
Encourage older students to mentor younger group members to ensure continuity.
Align Group Activities With School Sustainability Goals
Ensure that student group projects align with the school’s broader sustainability initiatives, such as achieving zero waste or reducing emissions.
Use these projects to make measurable contributions to the school’s goals.
‘How To’ Guides
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How to Lead a Student Sustainability Group
Created by student sustainability group leaders, tips and additional resources to help students lead their own sustainability club.
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Ideas for Student Groups
Ideas for Events were developed and shared by our partners at Missouri Green Schools.
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Student Action Quizzes
From EarthDay.org, are interactive quizzes that engage students in learning about environmental literacy, activism, and climate education!
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School Board Advocacy Toolkit
For students at U.S. Public Schools, this toolkit from the USCGS explains the chain of decision-making in public schools and how to advocate for green schools.
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Schools hold the key to a healthy, sustainable and regenerative future.
They are role-models and incubators that that nurture, educate and prepare each generation for adult life.
Schools have a unique opportunity and profound responsibility to become part the transition to a sustainable, regenerative future in which people and planet can thrive.
But how do we get there?
START: Sustainability Tracking, Analytics & Roadmap Tool was created by schools, for schools, to help them develop comprehensive programs for step-by-step progress towards sustainability, regenerative practice, and student empowerment.
START provides a Roadmap for School Sustainability:
It breaks down school sustainability into clear actions (‘metrics’), such as Minimizing Waste, Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and supporting Sustainable Transportation options.
However, research shows it’s not enough for a school to simply reduce its environmental impact.
Students and staff also need to learn about sustainability, and practice it in day-to-day activities, because this impacts their attitudes and behaviors when they leave school. That’s why START includes metrics like Sustainability Events for Students, Sustainability Course Content, and Sustainable Purchasing Practices.
How sustainable is our school now?
Schools use START to measure how sustainable they are now. A school’s START team investigates how their school currently operates to find their ‘sustainability baseline’ for each metric. For example, is our school a beginner, intermediate or advanced in sustainable water use? START enables schools to benchmark, track and visualize their current sustainability levels, as well as hard data around their waste, water, energy and greenhouse gas emissions.
Where should we go next, and do we collaborate for success?
What do we need to do to ‘level up’ in each metric? Once schools have their baselines, START helps them to set goals and plan for progress. START provides a central hub for school members to collaborate, document, and plan their school’s sustainability journey.
START is a subscription-based Whole School Sustainability dashboard.
It requires at least one adult school member to create a school’s START account, but it will need a team (students, teachers and staff) to grow a Whole School Sustainability program.
Interested schools can sign up for a demo or apply to set up an account.
Learn more about START here, and consider sharing the brochure with your school.
Let’s create a better future, one school at a time.
Contact us at guides@greenschoolsalliance.org if you have a free resource to contribute or recommend that can help schools take action around this specific sustainability metric.