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

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The students of Herbison Woods School in St. Johns, show off their new recycling bin station and Michigan Green School award. Congratulations!
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See Contact page for a list of current county coordinators for 2018.

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.
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Male Kirtland's Warbler. Photo Credit: Ron Austing
   A Top Goal for 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

April Energy Idea 
Explore the possibility of white roofs.  They save a lot of energy even in Michigan.  The white coating is available at home improvment stores.
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April Green Idea
​Construct a school plastic reduction plan.  Have a plastic straw free week during Earth Week in April.  Have students count how many straws they would have used and what they kept out of the plastic waste stream.  Look for other ways to reduce the plastic footprint. Have a lesson plan on the toxicity of plastic to health, how large the problem is and the long decomposition time for plastic.
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​A MUST READ!  The book, Drawdown A Plan for Climate Change, Paul Hawken editor, is one of the best we have ever read on the environment and what can be done by individuals and organizations. It sold out in two days after its debut and a second printing was needed. The 52 nations of the British Commonwealth are all using it.

Website Picks
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.
GREEN QUIZ Where does Michigan rank in the new air quality ratings for the 50 states?
​Answer is on the activities page.
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Climate Change and the National Park Service
Discover how climate change is affecting our nation's treasures, what the National Park Service is doing about it, and how you can help. 

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.

​Did You Know You Can Buy Wind Power For Your Home?
Contact Arcadia Power! It's easy to switch to totally clean energy. The average home uses 8500 tons of coal each year. (MGS receives no compensation for this and all website tips.)

​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.
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Learning about bees at Go Like the Wind Montessori School in Ann Arbor.
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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.
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Kirtland's Warbler Coloring Sheet
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3rd grader from Pentwater schools poses beside a Honey Locust Tree cutting on a field trip to the Halcyon Nature Center in Pentwater.
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The Great Lakes are a Michigan treasure. You can help keep them safe and clean by responsibly discarding all old prescriptions and pills.
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Kids getting ready to plant at Farley Hill Elementary in Pinckney.
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Rapid City Elementary, Kalkaska Public Schools, show off their Michigan Green School reusable water bottles.
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Preparing an area for a butterfly garden in Ann Arbor. Planting dill will bring in Yellow Swallow Tail butterflies.
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This is the 2018 Michigan Green School emblem. This attaches to the official green flag. There are emerald and evergreen versions as well.
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Dow Gardens Midland MI Photo By mittengalleria.com
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Updated April 21, 2018