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Welcome to the Official 
Michigan Green Schools Foundation Website 
Not affiliated with Michigan Green

The students at Lansing Catholic High School show off their flag. Congratulations!

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CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR 2018 GREEN SCHOOLS FANTASTIC ACHIEVEMENTS 
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See Contact page for a list of current county coordinators for 2018-19

Featured Endangered Animal | Kirtland's Warbler 
The endangered Kirtland's warbler is one of the rarest members of the wood warbler family. It nests in just a few counties in Michigan's northern Lower and Upper peninsulas, in Wisconsin and the province of Ontario and nowhere else on Earth! Because of its restricted home range and unique habitat requirements, the Kirtland's warbler probably has always been a rare bird. To learn more about the recovery plan and what you can do to help, visit the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website and print the coloring sheet for a fun activity. The coloring pages are copyright free for particpating Michigan Green Schools.

Male Kirtland's Warbler. Photo Credit: Ron Austing

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   A Top Goal again this school year is reducing food waste.  For every pound of food waste composted six pounds of greenhouse gases are kept out of the atmosphere.  Schools can get a compost bin or compost units for classrooms and know they are making a great contribution to protecting our earth.  Learn more at smarterlunchrooms.org

Reminder All official green schools may use our copyrighted logo on your websites, newspaper and yearbooks. Schools may request the logo vector by emailing us.

September Energy Idea
Start off the school year right and replace vending machines with led lights. The vendor can make the switch for you.  An energy miser unit can be put on cold storage vending machines. Refrigeration is the most expensive electric use.
September Green Idea
Most of our schools adopt an endangered animal through many organizations including the National Wildlife Federation, the Detroit and Potter Zoos and area nature centers to name just a few options. Animals in acute need of ceremonial adoptions right now are tigers, giraffes and rhinos.  
Website Picks
New website we love is b4usa.   You can buy almost anything here that is American made. Buying in USA is environmently wise(especially transit distance) and means your items have to meet American safety and toxicity standards. 
Wonderful new green ideas can be found at Earth911. Another good website is the Tropical Rainforest Coalition. Check out The Crayon Initiative website.   They will recycle crayons, provide a collection box, flyers and they give all recycled crayons to childrens hospitals. 60 million crayons are thrown out annually in the US.

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 A GREEN DID YOU KNOW  It takes 450 years for plastics to decompose. Paper or plastic shopping bags?  Paper is the much better environmental choice.

 GREEN TIP Styrofoam cups, like all styrofoam, contain styrene, a known carcinogen.  Heat from beverages like coffee and tea release even more of the styrene.  Replace with paper, glass or metal for you and your guests health.
 
New Activities for 2018
What do The Detroit Zoo and Disney World share? Both took the No Plastic Straw Pledge. Join The Michigan Green School Honor List and take the No Plastic Straw Pledge for another green point on your application. 500 million are straws are used daily. 
​Prepare lesson plans on Pipeline 5, a 65 year old structure under the Mackinac Straits.  Many environmental groups are rallying against this pipeline fearing a major oil spill.  Learn both sides of the issue.  Have a debate in class.  
​A new recycling idea is recycling the huge amount of clothing that is thrown out each year.   Schools can simply collect and take to a Goodwill location or other options quarterly.

Did You Know?
22 billion plastic bottles are thrown away annually. They could circle the earth four times.  Lake Erie has tested out for 1.7 million plastic particulates per square mile.  These particulates harm people and animals through the release of BPA,  a toxic chemical. Many marine animals also fatally swallow larger pieces of plastic.

​More ideas can be found on our activities page and are updated throughout the school year, so check back regularly. See the new suggestion on crayon recycling. 

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The Mackinac Bridge connecting our two peninsulas and our Michigan Green Schools from Berrien Springs to Keeweenaw.

Learning about bees at Go Like the Wind Montessori School in Ann Arbor.

Allegan High School student tests water quality in a local river that feeds into Lake Michigan. Great Lakes protection is a top goal of Michigan Green Schools.

Kirtland's Warbler Coloring Sheet

3rd grader from Pentwater schools poses beside a Honey Locust Tree cutting on a field trip to the Halcyon Nature Center in Pentwater.

The Great Lakes are a Michigan treasure. You can help keep them safe and clean by responsibly discarding all old prescriptions and pills.

Kids getting ready to plant at Farley Hill Elementary in Pinckney.

Rapid City Elementary, Kalkaska Public Schools, show off their Michigan Green School reusable water bottles.

Preparing an area for a butterfly garden in Ann Arbor. Planting dill will bring in Yellow Swallow Tail butterflies.

This is the 2018-19 Michigan Green School emblem. This attaches to the official green flag. There are green and emerald versions as well.

A poster from Steele Elementary in Mason encouraging water conservation

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Updated September 20, 2018