Vancouver, WA – Students and teachers from more than 30 Clark County schools will gather next week to learn how to increase their environmental leadership in their schools.

Clark County Green Schools will host its annual Student Summit from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, at Clark College’s Gaiser Hall, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way.

The four-hour event will include educational activities, breakout sessions and opportunities for students and teachers to learn from one another.

The Green Schools Summit is a collaboration between Clark County Public Health and Washington Green Schools, a statewide nonprofit that helps create more sustainable school communities. Schools in the program can certify as a green school in these environmental categories: water, waste and recycling, school grounds and gardens, energy, healthy school buildings and transportation.

“This is a great opportunity for students from all over Clark County to connect with other students and hear what exciting projects are happening all around them,” said Michelle Picinich, who leads the Green Schools program. “I’m excited to have some new faces in the room this year with schools that are new to the program. We’re here to help raise the next generation of environmental leaders.”

The Clark County Green Schools program strives to create a cohesive system of environmentally active schools where students, teachers and parents promote sustainable living and earth friendly practices.

In Clark County, 83 schools participate in the Washington Green Schools program, the greatest number in any county in the state. In the 2015-16 school year, 29 Clark County schools earned one or more environmental certifications.

To learn more about the Clark County Green Schools program and how your school can participate, visit www.clark.wa.gov/public-health/clark-county-green-schools.

CONTACT
Michelle Picinich
Public Health
(360) 397-2121 ext. 5290
michelle.picinich@clark.wa.gov