The Green Team FAQs
Get detail information about The Green Team program.
Who can register to The Green Team?
Any teacher, staff, faculty, or volunteer at a Massachusetts school or youth program can register for The Green Team. Multiple Green Teams can be registered at the same school if they work with different groups of students.
Examples of Green Teams: A grade-level teacher registering on behalf of their classroom, a staff member leading an after school club, dining services or facilities staff interested in starting a recycling or food waste reduction program, a principal registering the entire school to start an idling-reduction initiative on campus, a school volunteer registering to start outdoor composting at school gardens – many opportunities to fit the needs of your program! .
When Can I register?
Registration for each school year opens July 1st and closes June 15th. Green Teams must re-register every school year to maintain their status.
How does my class join The Green Team?
→ Get involved by submitting your completed Green Team registration form.
→ Receive your classroom kit with a program guide, poster, lesson plans and other resources.
→ Select activities from the program guide to conduct with your students.
→ Place achievement stickers on the poster for each completed activity and submit Teacher Response Form.
Is the technical assistance really free?
Yes! The recommendations and virtual support we offer are entirely free and funded by Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. It is up to the school to decide whether they move forward with any suggestions or recommendations in whatever way best meets the needs of the school.
What is the Time/commitment of Green Team leader?
Involvement in The Green Team might be as little time as signing Green Team Pledges during regular school hours or as extensive as meeting outside of school hours or initiating an ongoing waste reduction program. Green Team leaders decide the level of commitment that is best for their goals and availability.
How do we earn prizes?
Each class that takes The Green Team Pledge receives a Certificate of Recognition for their classroom and is eligible to win prizes. Classes that complete more activities advance to the next level and are eligible to win more valuable prizes. See the table below for the prizes available at each level.
→ Level 1 Awards: Planet Protectors Certificate and entry into a drawing for recycled denim pencils, book covers, magnets or bookmarks for each student.
→ Level 2 Awards: Conservation Coyotes Certificate and entry into a drawing for all the previous rewards, mini-recycling bin planters, information wheels, or “Green Team” wristbands.
→ Level 3 Awards: Environmental Eagles Certificate and entry into a drawing for all of the previous rewards, a recycling magic show, school-wide recycling performance, or a participatory environmental concert.
