Making green schools a reality

The annual Green Schools Conference (GSC) brings together everyone involved in creating and advocating for green schools, with a focus on those leading their schools and school systems toward whole-school sustainability.

The 2025 event will convene the green schools community in the LEED Gold City of Orlando to celebrate 15 years of the GSC during a two-day experience designed to inspire and facilitate the progress of the green schools movement.

Attendees will receive action-oriented training across disciplines and make lasting connections with peers and colleagues during targeted opportunities to exchange best practices and enhance green school initiatives nationwide.

View the 2024 post-show report

GSC is presented by the Center for Green Schools in partnership with the Green Schools National Network.

CFGS
GSNN

2025 Program Advisors

  • Riliwan Abioye
  • Fran Agnone
  • Olukayode Apata
  • Rebecca Baibak
  • Richard Benjamin
  • Olufunke Benson
  • Gabriella Bermea
  • Paul Bocko
  • Lorna Bravo
  • Lori Brown
  • Sarah Chatel
  • Tony Colaneri
  • Robert Douglass
  • Michelle Faggert
  • Lauren Flood
  • Karin Goldmark
  • Emily Guerra
  • Brendan Haggerty
  • Jessica Hawkins
  • Jill Heins Nesvold
  • Meredith Hendricks
  • Samantha Hudson
  • Sarah Koning
  • Laurel Kruke
  • Shivani Langer
  • Stephanie Omakwu
  • Esther Oyedele
  • Annie Perkins
  • Suraj Rahmon
  • Urmi Ray
  • Deborah Rogers
  • Sionainn Rudek
  • Edouard Salomon
  • Jon Schroeder
  • Deborah Stadler
  • Mark Swiger
  • Timothy Unruh
  • Pegah Zamani
  • Co-Chair: Anisa Heming, Center for Green Schools
  • Co-Chair: Jenny Seydel, Green Schools National Network

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Program

Each year, the conference program includes a variety of educational formats that offer a deep dive into the most pressing green school topics within the areas of environmental impact, health and wellness, environmental and sustainability education, and whole-school sustainability culture.

The 2025 GSC Call for Proposals and Call for Reviewers is now open! GSC is now accepting proposals for interdisciplinary education sessions, workshops, and applications for volunteers to review the program to be presented during the February 2025 in-person conference.

Read the full GSC 2025 Call for Proposals Overview here.

Submit a session proposal by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 1.

Reviewer applications are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 1.

Sign up for Center for Green Schools emails to receive the most up-to-date information.

Schedule at a Glance

Monday
March 3
8:15 - 9:15 am GSC Opening Plenary
9:30 - 11:30 am Workshops
12:00 - 1:15 pm Best of Green Schools Awards Luncheon
1:30 - 2:30 pm Education Sessions
2:45 - 3:45 am Education Sessions
4:00 - 5:30 pm Speed Greening
6:00 - 8:00 pm Annual GSNN Friends & Family Event
Tuesday
March 4
8:00 am - 9:00 am GSC Opening Circles
9:00 am - 4:00 pm Exchange Showcase
9:00 - 10:15 am Education Sessions
10:45 - 11:45 am Education Sessions
11:45 am - 1:30 pm Networking Luncheon
1:30 - 2:30 pm Education Sessions
2:45 - 3:30 am Education Sessions
3:45 - 4:30 pm GSC Closing Discussions
4:30 - 5:30 pm Closing Plenary
5:30 - 7:00 pm Closing Reception
Wednesday
March 5
9:00 am - 12:00 pm Immersive Offsite Experiences*

*additional registration required

Sustainability at GSC

Sustainability is the foundation of the Green Schools Conference (GSC). The GSC sustainability program addresses environmental impact through seven objectives.

Seven objectives of the GSC sustainability program

  1. Move toward a zero-waste event
  2. Increase stakeholder education and engagement
  3. Improve sustainable sourcing
  4. Improve performance tracking
  5. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
  6. Positively impact communities
  7. Catalyze the advancement of green building initiatives and sustainable operations within the hospitality industry

2024 goals

  1. Encourage, celebrate, and facilitate attendees’ commitments to making sustainable choices onsite.
  2. Source 35% or more of the event’s food & beverage regionally (within 500 miles) and ensure all event materials are sustainably sourced
  3. Set baseline goals for future events by reporting on 2024 actuals
  4. Increase education around sustainable attendee travel, and support carpooling and shuttling efforts
  5. Build a bridge between conference partners to increase sustainable operations in the City of Santa Fe

2024 Partners