Environmental Services 2023-2024
Join the Council Environmental Services Facebook Group! CLICK HERE!
Thank you for being a part of the effort to expand environmental awareness and activism in Richardson ISD! Below are some resources to help you serve your school community.
Protecting our environment is one of the most important things we can do for our children and future generations. We need to teach our children that their future may depend on the environmental awareness they develop now.
How to Start Your Program
For Local PTA Chair
- Meet with your president and principal to discuss potential goals and role of your committee.
- Determine if there is a need for school or community improvements, either inside or outdoors. If so, plan a meeting and invite speakers who can explain the problem and offer possible solutions. Find out how the PTA can help.
- Include students in projects to supplement environmental education, to teach them to care for plant life and respect for other people’s property, to value litter-free and unpolluted surroundings, and to conserve energy and to recycle.
- Encourage campus participation in PTA and community environmental events/activities.
- Sign up for the Go Green Initiative and start implementing some of the elements.
- Encourage recycle, reduce, and reuse strategies on your campus.
- Meet with school staff and parents concerning environmental needs and concerns in the school community.
Additional Strategies:
- Clean up of school grounds or community areas - consider creeks, rivers, and beaches.
- Improve the playground area. Additional benches, foursquare or hopscotch designs on the paved areas, and workout stations with instruction plaques are just a few ideas that can encourage more use of the playground.
- Plan and build an outdoor learning center, nature trail, butterfly or vegetable garden. This may be a long-term project that can involve the community and local business partners. The end result will be very gratifying for those involved and will be appreciated for years to come.
- A PTA might host an environmental contest, or choose to sponsor an anti-litter campaign, or donate books to the library and materials for environmental study.
Download 21-Day Eco-Challenge Flyers
Does your school have an existing school garden? If so, Mortgage on a Mission is offering mini grants to pay for snacks/drinks for volunteer workdays at your existing school garden. Please contact Ben Strube, Mortgage Broker and Owner of Mortgage on a Mission. He can be reached at ben@mortgagemission.org. Thank you to Ben and Mortgage on a Mission for supporting RISD!
New Resource: Green School Playbook
Every day, PTAs throughout the nation are committed to advocating for the environment, promoting health and safety and helping protect our world's finite natural resources. Our association recognizes the importance of environmental issues and the impact they have on the health and welfare of children and their families.
As the new school year gets underway, the Green School Guide by Environment America Research & Policy Center includes fantastic resources with helpful tips on engaging your school district and taking more eco-friendly actions.
Environmental Holidays and Recognitions for May:
National Bike Month
May 17 - World Recycling Day
May 20 - World Bee Day
May 21 - Endangered Species Day
Environmental Holidays and Recognitions for April:
April 3 - World Aquatic Animal Day
April 19-23 - National Environmental Education Week
April 19-27 National Park Week
April 20-26 Dark Sky Week
April 22 - Earth Day
April 26 - Arbor Day
Environmental Holidays and Recognitions for March:
March 3 - World Wildlife Day
March 14 - International day of Action for Rivers
March 15 - Buzzards Day
March 16 - National Panda Day
March 18 - Global Recycling Day
March 20 - World Sparrow Day
March 20 - World Frog Day
March 21 - International Day of Forests
March 22 - World Water Day
March 25 - Earth Hour
March 27 - Manatee Appreciation Day
March 30 - International Day of Zero Waste
Environmental Holidays and Recognitions for February:
February 2 - World Wetlands Day
February 2 - World Ostrich Day
February 2 - World Marmot Day
February 11 - International Day of Women & Girls in Science
February 14 - World Bonobo Day
February 15 - World Hippopotamus Day
February 17 - World Pangolin Day
February 18 - World Whale Day
February 27 - International Polar Bear Day
Environmental Holidays and Recognitions for January:
January 5 - National Bird Day
January 6 - National Play Outside Day (First Saturday of Every Month)
January 28 - Seed Swap Day
January 31 - International Zebra Day
Environmental Holidays and Recognitions for December:
December 4 - Wildlife Conservation Day
December 4 - International Cheetah Day
December 5 - World Soil Day
December 11 - International Mountain Day
December 19 - Look for an Evergreen Day
Environmental Holidays and Recognitions for November:
November 4 - National Day of Community Service
November 13 - World Kindness Day
November 13 - Geography Awareness Week
November 15 - National Recycling Day
November 15 - Geographic Information Systems Day
November 17 - National Hiking Day
November 19 - National Camp Day
November 21 - World Fisheries Day
November 24 - Green Friday
November 27 - National Tree Week
November 28 - Giving Tuesday
November 29 - International Jaguar Day
October is International Walk to School Month! Celebrate by encouraging your students to walk to school! Enjoy the cooler weather, save gas and get some exercise!
Environmental Holidays and Recognitions for October:
October 1 - World Vegetarian Day
October 2 - World Habitat Day
October 4 - International Walk to School Day
October 4 - Energy Efficiency Day
October 14 - International E-Waste Day
October 20 - International Sloth Day
October 21 - National Reptile Awareness Day
October 22 - International Wombat Day
October 23 - Make a Difference Day
October 23 - International Snow Leopard Day
October 24 - International Day of Climate Action
October 24 - Freshwater Dolphin Day
October 24 - International Gibbon Day
October 24 - Sustainability Day
October 27 - World Lemur Day
Environmental Holidays and Recognitions for September:
September 1 - World Beach Day
September 3 - Hummingbird Day
September 3 - Vulture Awareness Day
September 16 - International Red Panda Day
September 17 - World Cleanup Day & Weekend
September 18 - World Bamboo Day
September 20 - Build a Sandcastle Day
September 22 - Elephant Appreciation Day
September 24 - Public Lands Day
September 25 - World Rivers Day
September 29 - Save the Koala Day
21-Day RISD Eco-Challenge September - April here
21-Day RISD Eco-Challenge Introduction here
September 21-Day RISD Eco-Challenge English here
October 21-Day RISD Eco-Challenge English here
Octubre 21-Day RISD Eco-Challenge Spanish here
November 21-Day RISD Eco-Challenge English here
Noviembre 21-Day RISD Eco-Challenge Spanish here
November 15th America Recycles Day English here
Noviembre 15th America Recycles Day Spanish here
December 21-Day RISD Eco-Challenge English here
Diciembre 21-Day RISD Eco-Challenge Spanish here
January 21-Day RISD Eco-Challenge English here
Enero 21-Day RISD Eco-Challenge Spanish here
February 21-Day RISD Eco-Challenge English here
Febrero 21-Day RISD Eco-Challenge Spanish here
March 21-Day RISD Eco-Challenge English here
Mario 21-Day RISD Eco-Challenge Spanish here
Earth Month ways to celebrate here
Help the Earth by writing here
Nationwide Organizations
American Lung Association www.lung.org
Children's Environmental Health Network www.cehn.com
Keep America Beautiful www.kab.org
Sierra Club www.sierraclub.org
Recycling Companies/ Organizations
Plastics Resources www.plasticsresource.com
Waste Management www.wm.com
Educational Resources
EPA's Enviro Kids Club- Elementary Ages www.energyhog.org
EPA's Student Center- Secondary Ages www.epa.gov/kids
Kids Gardening www.kidsgardening.com
North American Association for Environmental Education www.naaee.org
Texas Specific
Clean Texas www.cleantexas.org
Recycling Alliance of Texas www.recycletx.com
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality www.tceq.com
