Healthy School Environment Project Resources
The average school building in the Chesapeake Bay watershed is over 45 years old and many are in poor condition due to deferred maintenance or outdated methods. The resulting conditions can have a serious impact on student and staff health & performance. The good news is that there are now excellent guidelines for no-cost, low-cost, logical and affordable measures to help improve the health of schools! Visit theBay Backpack Healthy School Projects page to learn about green cleaning & sustainable purchasing options; safe pest management; responsible transportation choices including anti-idling; healthy food, air quality and drinking water; and how to increase outdoor time and improve students' physical fitness. Check out additional local and regional resources below!
Links to Sections
- Green Cleaning & Sustainable Purchasing
- Healthy & Responsible Transportation Resources
- Healthy & Sustainable Food Resources
- Integrated Pest Management
- Physical Fitness & Outdoor Time Resources
- Safe Drinking Water Resources
- School Air Quality Resources
Green Cleaning & Sustainable Purchasing
Bay Backpack Projects:
Purchase Green & Sustainable Products
Safe Chemical Management in Schools
Regional & National Resources:
Healthy Schools Campaign: Green Clean Schools
EPA Cleaning Effectively for a Healthy School Environment
EPA Overview of Healthy School Cleaning & Maintenance
EPA: Managing Chemicals in Schools
School Classroom & Laboratory Chemical Safety Resources
EPA: Learning & Teaching About the Environment
EPA: Purchasing Environmentally Preferable Products for Schools
Healthy & Responsible Transportation Resources
We can all play a part in helping to clean the air. Vehicle idling results in emissions of carbon dioxide, particulate matter and nitrogen oxide - all pollutants that harm the environment. Additionally, idling represents a significant health issue for children and people with existing respiratory issues like asthma and emphysema. Because of these reasons, many states have identified idling as an important issue that needs to be addressed.
Green Schools can create an idling policy to keep the air clean in and around school communities. Check out tools for Maryland schools here.
Check out State and Chesapeake Bay Regional links below.
Bay Backpack Projects:
Programs to Reduce Vehicle Idling
Walking, Biking & Safe Routes Programs
Regional & National Resources:
Children's School Bus Exposure Study
Adopting Clean Fuels & Technologies on School Buses: Health Impacts in Children
Organize Carpools, Bikepools & Walkpool
Safe Routes to School Partnership
Healthy & Sustainable Food Resources
Bay Backpack Projects:
Healthy, Sustainable School Food Initiatives
Procuring Healthy Food for Schools
Regional & National Resources:
Alliance for a Healthier Generation: School Initiatives
Farm to School Network Resources Search Engine
Healthy Kids School Grants: Improve students' nutrition & activity
Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution
Jamie Oliver's Kitchen Garden Project
USDA Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program
Voices for Healthy Kids: Campaign Toolkits
Where Your Food Comes From: Farm-Based Education Network Resources
Integrated Pest Management
Bay Backpack Projects:
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for Schools
Regional & National Resources
Sustainable Landscape Maintenance Manual (List IPM Websites)
Physical Fitness & Outdoor Time Resources
Bay Backpack Projects:
Projects to Encourage Physical Fitness & Outdoor Time
Projects to Encourage Outdoor Play & Discovery
Regional & National Resources:
Active Design Toolkit for Schools
Action for Healthy Kids: Wellness Policy Tool
Alliance for a Healthier Generation: School Initiatives
CDC: School Health & Physical Activity Guidelines
Green Strides SHAPE America: National Physical Education Resources
Safe Drinking Water Resources
Bay Backpack Projects:
Safe Drinking Water: Train, Test, Tell
Regional & National Resources:
EPA: 3 T's to Reduce Lead in School Drinking Water
EPA: Ground Water & Drinking Water
EPA School Water Quality Resources (scroll down)
Lead in Schools & Lead-Free School Products
Parent Guide to Lead in School Drinking Water
School Air Quality Resources
Bay Backpack Projects:
Projects to Improve & Protect School Air Quality
Regional & National Resources:
EPA: Indoor Air Quality in Schools
EPA: School Air & Water Quality
EPA: All Popular Air Quality Topics
There's Something in the Air - BioEd, Teacher's Resources
The Science of Air - BioEd
Created: December 05, 2017 at 05:38 PM
Updated: April 13, 2020 at 04:34 PM
