By the SEPA Green Schools volunteers: Kirk Reinbold, Kathy McDevitt, Julia Nakhleh, Shannon Crooker, Shweta Arya, Bill Sabey, Cate Henning
Volunteers with Community Advocates for Clean Energy (CACE) of Greater Philadelphia have teamed up with Climate Reality’s Green Schools Campaign to encourage high school students to join together and encourage their schools to set renewable energy goals and take actions toward sustainability.
The Green Schools Campaign provides support and assistance to high school students interested in helping their schools and communities transition to clean energy.
CACE is a coalition of volunteers representing Sierra Club, Climate Reality, Generation180 and Community Net-Zero Education Project. CACE volunteers educate the public about the availability of incentives and funds at the federal, state and regional level to help communities transition to clean energy.
CACE volunteers connected with the Green Schools Campaign national youth leader, Cate Henning, to learn how to start a Southeast Pennsylvania Green Schools Campaign. The CACE volunteers reached out to schools and the public to find students and teachers interested in forming a Green Schools Campaign team.
“Young generations are going to be most impacted by climate change, so it is our vision for the future that should guide fights for climate solutions in our communities. Students are especially qualified to advocate for school-based climate solutions, and I’ve seen time and again that school boards want to hear from students in their district. With this in mind, the Green Schools Campaign is investing in developing student leaders to spearhead local campaigns that move school boards to pass resolutions committing to 100% clean energy,” said Cate Henning.
To help raise awareness, the SE PA Campaign volunteers held an orientation webinar on April 1 to reach potential participants. Please share the recording and presentations with your schools, students, parents.
Please share this event with your schools, students, parents, teachers and others in your community. Schools transitioning to clean energy will bring benefits to all of us by improving air quality and, in most cases, reducing the school’s energy expenses. Through the campaign, students can gain critical skills in leadership, advocacy, organization, communication and service.
The SEPA Green Schools campaign is inspired by the successful student-led campaigns in school districts across the country, from Salt Lake City, Utah to Batesville, Arkansas to Tucson, Arizona. We know students across Pennsylvania deserve the same safe and sustainable learning environments. Therefore, we are reaching out to students, parents and educators in SE Pennsylvania to connect with those who would like to join our efforts and bring clean energy to schools.
We would love to discuss the benefits of Green Schools with you. Please do not hesitate to email SEPAGreenSchools@gmail.com. For more information, you can read more here.
This blog was included as part of the April 2025 Sylvanian newsletter. Please click here to check out more articles from this edition!