Green Schools and Green Centers/ Green Centers Program/

Getting Started: A Step-by-Step Guide

Application Timeline with Tentative Dates

Get started step-by-step (with tentative timeline dates).

1. Put together a Green Center Committee

This committee can include center staff, volunteers, community partners, administrators, parents or Board Members. This will make it easier for you to put the application together. At the first meeting evaluate what you have in place and what you need to plan. September/October of Year 1

2. MAEOE Green School Training
Consider attending one of these trainings which will teach you about the Green School application, the program and the process. The training sign-ups can be found on the home page or the Green Schools Application Page. This will help you when you are assisting schools become Green Schools which is Objective 1.3 and 1.4 of the Green Center Application. Fall of Year 1

3. File Sharing
Set up a File Sharing System in your center to share documents/information. For example the center sharing drive, a google drive, etc. Fall of Year 1

4. Contact Local Support

Another Green Center. Green Centers are established to help provide local support for centers interested in becoming green centers. Here is a list of current green centers.
Green Leader: If you still believe you may need further assistance contact greenschools@maeoe.org who can contact a Green Leaders to see if any are available to mentor you.
MAEOE Office: The MAEOE office is here to offer support for new Green Centers.

5. Receive Professional Development
Have a minimum of half the center's staff attend environmental education professional development (EE PD). There are many opportunities for staff to receive EE PD. Check out the MAEOE calendar for more details on EE PD like MAEOE Conference, Monarch Workshops, Project Wild/Wet, Project Learning Tree, Green Eggs and Sand, etc. Throughout the fall/ winter/spring/summer of Years 1 and 2

6. Offer Professional Development
Offer Professional Development Opportunities to teachers. Throughout the fall/ winter/spring/summer of Years 1 and 2

7. Start Objective 1
Start to populate Objective 1 (Systemic Sustainability) in your application. November Year 2

8. Intent to Apply
Turn in your intent to apply by December deadline. Finish populate Objective 1 and start populating Object 2 by winter break. December Year 2

9. Finish Objective 2
Finish populating Objective 2 (Student-driven Sustainability Practices) in your application. End of January Year 2

10. Mock Review Session
Attend the MAEOE conference for Mock Review Session of your application. MAEOE conference can count towards 1.2.2 of your application. If you cannot attend the conference consider sitting down with your Green Leader or Green Center to do a one-on-one Application review. DO NOT LEAVE THIS UNTIL MARCH. Green Leaders are busy people too, so the earlier you can meet with them, the more time and feedback they can give you. February of Year 2

11. Finish Objective 3
Fully populate Objective 3 (Community Partnerships, Awards and Recognition) in your application. February of Year 2

12. Submit Application and Metrics
Complete final touches of your application and turn in your application. See the Requirements to Apply page for directions on entering your Sustainable Practices into the Metrics Survey.March of Year 2

13. Receive Results
Results of your application will be returned to you. April of Year 2