Grades of Green was a huge part of my high school experience, yet my passion for environmental activism has only grown since being a part of the Youth Corps Eco-Leadership program. I now am a senior studying Earth Systems at Stanford University with concentrations in sustainable food and agriculture, and Spanish. In past summers, I have worked for an urban development non-profit called 100 Resilient Cities in New York and conducted environmental education research based on immersive backpacking trips in Yosemite National Park. More recently, I studied abroad in Santiago de Chile, where, while not learning about Chile’s incredible biodiversity in the classroom, I was lucky enough to explore the country’s natural wonders. I not only made it far South to camp in Torres del Paine in Patagonia, but traveled North to the Atacama Desert, where I sandboarded down massive dunes. I’m now spending the summer interning in Buenos Aires, Argentina with the municipal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As an intern in their urban agriculture sector, I spend half my days in the greenhouse planting in preparation for their future educational farm, and the other half writing and designing a permaculture manual to accompany the city’s workshops
Grades of Green is thrilled to welcome our summer intern, Gunner! Check out his story below to learn about how his passions help Grades of Green carry out its mission to inspire and empower students to care for their environment.
Gunner is an intern at the Grades of Green’s LA office. He is on track to graduate from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in March of 2018 and will earn a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Earth Science with a concentration in Environmental Assessment. Throughout his educational career, he has gained knowledge in the complexities of Earth systems and understands how essential it is that humans protect the environment. After graduating from Cal Poly, he would like to work on developing sustainable technologies that would help preserve Earth’s Environmental systems. Gunner is eager to join the Grades of Green team and hopes he can help them empower youth to care the environment by supporting Grades of Green’s Youth Corps Eco-Leadership Program, Trash Free Lunch Challenge, and 40+ Eco-Activities.
Interested in volunteering or becoming an intern with Grades of Green? Email info@gradesofgreen.org for more information.
Grades of Green celebrated Earth Day by attending the 25th annual Earth Day Celebration at Polliwog Park in Manhattan Beach! The event featured booths with aquarium touch tanks, soy candles, and just about everything in between. Thanks to volunteers from the Manhattan-Hermosa Chapter of the National Charity League and Youth Corps Eco-Leadership students Rylee G., Noah S. Carter C., Elise Y., Nadia W., Johanna J., guests at the Grades of Green booth had the chance to either spin the Grades of Green Jeopardy Wheel and learn fun facts about the environment or take a pledge to help the environment.
Youth Corps Eco-Leadership students were even invited to give presentations on the Eco-Education stage! Johanna J. spoke about her research on vegan diets and how they impact the environment, Emily H. spoke about the Green King and Queen competition she set up at her school, Nathalie A. spoke about her earth hour event, Nadia W. spoke about her lesson on ocean pollution, and Elise Y. spoke about her work on installing a native garden on campus. To top it all off, Grades of Green Youth Corps Eco-Leadership students Allie K., Elise Y., and Maxine F. even received Environmental Hero awards from V.O.I.C.E.! Interested in becoming an eco-leader? Click here to learn more about Grades of Green’s Youth Corps Eco-Leadership program. Interested in keeping the spirit of Earth Day going all year long? Click here to register and unlock Grades of Green’s 40+ Activities to see ways you can make your school community more green!
Grades of Green Youth Corps Eco-Leadership students Lila M. and Sienna A. were interviewed by food coach and fitness & nutrition reporter Lori Corbin on ABC7 News! The segment highlighted Grand View Elementary School where Grades of Green first started back in 2010. Although the school has already taken on multiple Grades of Green Activities from Walk to School Wednesdays and trash-free lunches to composting and replacing paper flyers with reusable chalk boards, Grand View plans to continue its efforts to make a better planet. Check out the video clip here to learn more about how Grades of Green is carrying out its mission to inspire and empower kids to care for the environment.
Grades of Green students in Manhattan Beach teach others on how to save the planet _ abc7.
Grades of Green Youth Corps Eco-Leadership student Johanna J. wrote an article and created a video on ocean pollution that were both featured on Supervisor Kuehl’s website and newsletter! Check out her fun and informative video and learn about her firsthand experiences with Grades of Green by clicking here. Supervisor Kuehl and the Los Angeles County 3rd District support Grades of Green’s Trash Free Lunch Challenge and Youth Corps Eco-Leadership Program. Want to lead an environmental project in your own school community like Johanna but don’t know where to start? Learn more about Grades of Green’s Youth Corps Eco-Leadership Program by clicking here! My Grades of Green Story by Johanna James.
The Grades of Green Youth Corps Eco-Leadership Program is designed to create the environmental leaders of tomorrow while improving the environment today. Youth Corps students Annemarie D. and Lauren S. led the Grades of Green discussion at the SBESC Moving Toward Zero Waste Workshop. Their presentations provided lessons to a classroom of participants on how to reduce waste at home and in the office as well as how to compost! These two amazing high school students are working to improve the environment today through their Grades of Green Activities. Annemarie is currently working to create a set of standards to help green special events at American Martyrs School and Parish and Lauren is currently working to recycle building materials for the construction of Mira Costa High School’s gym facilities. Want to become an eco-leader like Annemarie and Lauren? Click here to learn about Grades of Green’s Youth Corps Eco-Leadership Program! Want to implement a green activity at your school? Click here to register and unlock Grades of Green’s 40+ Activities!
Volunteers are an integral part of Grades of Green. One volunteer group in particular, the Manhattan-Hermosa Chapter of the National Charity League (NCL), has supported Grades of Green in carrying out its mission for years by assisting with outreach events, annual fundraisers, and so much more. On Thursday, Grades of Green had the pleasure of giving a little bit back to the amazing organization by giving a presentation on how NCL members can be more green at home. From recycling resources in Manhattan Beach to tips on how to save water and energy, Grades of Green covered a plethora of steps that will help the organization improve all areas of the environment! Youth Corps Eco-Leadership students Elise and Emily, who are also members of NCL, spoke about their Grades of Green Activities. Their work on creating drought tolerant gardens and hosting recycling competitions truly inspired the group to care for the environment. Interested in becoming a Grades of Green Youth Corps Eco-Leadership student like Emily and Elise? Click to learn more about the program. Want to implement these activities and more at your school? Click here to register and unlock our 40+ Grades of Green Activities!
American science educator Bill Nye once said in his book Undeniable, “To leave the world better than you found it, sometimes you have to pick up other people’s trash.” Grades of Green Youth Corps Eco-Leadership students Lila and Sienna followed Bill Nye’s advice by picking up trash at the beach and then teaching peers at their school science expo different ways to reduce waste! Each attendee who decided to take on an environmental pledge related to waste then got to add a leaf to the team’s “eco tree” display. Youth Corps Eco-Leadership students Will and Marty also took on the trash theme by transforming into trash and recycle monsters! Attendees were able to ask the monsters questions about waste and recycling, and learn what an impact they can truly make. Interested in becoming a Youth Corps Eco-Leadership student and taking on an eco-activity like Lila, Sienna, Will, and Marty? Learn more about the program by clicking here. Want to implement some of these eco-activities and more at your school? Click here to register and unlock Grades of Green’s 40+ Activities!