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Green Steps Schools

How to become a Green Steps School

Why teachers Love Green Steps

  • Open to everyone: All K-12 South Carolina classroom educators are eligible to participate in the program.
  • Hands-on learning that fits the curriculum: Students lead real-world environmental projects that support academic standards in science and STEAM.
  • Simple and supported: Free training, resources, and mentors help you guide your students every step of the way.
  • Recognized impact: Earn statewide recognition while making lasting improvements to your school and community.
  • Empowers students: Builds leadership, teamwork, and environmental responsibility in a fun, meaningful way.
Fireman holding up pictures of prescribed forest burns.

Follow these steps to give your school a boost towards a greener future:

  • Team Up: At the beginning of the school year, form a Green Team with school faculty, administration, staff, and/or students who are excited about sustainability initiatives.
  • Find Your Mentor: Request a mentor for each project—or suggest someone you already know who can help lead the way.
  • Get Trained: Watch our short Training Video to learn the basics and set your team up for success.
  • Meet/Project Planning: Host a fall meeting with your mentor. Using our project wheel, find a project that best suits the needs and interests of your students. You can also be creative and come up with your own! Your mentor can also help with this.
  • Take Action: Work with your students to complete and document your environmental projects.
  • Review Together: Schedule a follow-up meeting with your mentor to review and critique your progress.
  • Submit and Celebrate: Remind your mentor to submit the final Evaluation Form.
  • Get Recognized: Celebrate your achievements at a state workshop or regional kickoff event (check the calendar for upcoming events). Bonus: Earn just one project award and you’ll receive a special Forever Frame to display your Green Steps pride!
Training Video
Find a Mentor
Pick a Project
A group of students on a field trip, holding binoculars and a species identification sheet.

Timeline

  • Summer/Fall: Request a current GSS form and host a meeting with your school and mentors. Mark your school information, teachers, mentors, and projects on the form. 
  • Fall/Winter:  Post videos or pictures with captions to document each project.
  • Before April 25: Complete documentation and meet with your mentors to discuss projects.
  • No later than May 1: Mentors complete evaluation on forms. All due dates are firm to ensure award recognition.

2025 Green Step Schools

Certified

Aiken Elementary
Beechwood Middle
Brockman Elementary
Brookdale
Conder Elementary
Cutler Jewish Day School
Dutch Fork Elementary
East Point Academy
Irmo Middle
Leaphart Elementary
Mayo High
Ocean Bay Middle
Pleasant Hill Elementary
St. John Catholic School
Taylors Elementary
Walhalla High

Working Towards Certification

AC Moore Elementary
Bluffton Middle
Blythewood Middle
Chapin Elementary
Chapin Intermediate
Columbia Montessori
Diamond Hill Elementary
Dorchester Hill Elementary
Harmony School
HERO Home School Co-op
Lowcountry Montessori
New Ellenton Middle
Newberry Academy
Oconee Academy
Piney Woods Elementary
Richland 2 Institute of Innovation
Sandy Run K-8
St. Matthews K-8
Tall Pines Academy
Uhuru Farms School

Working Towards First Award

EB Morse Elementary
Moore Middle
New Providence Elementary
Newberry High
White Knoll Elementary