National Schoolyard Forest System

The National Schoolyard Forest System℠ is a new, large-scale initiative to increase tree canopy on public school grounds across the country, to shade and protect PK-12 students from extreme heat and rising temperatures due to climate change. Green Schoolyards America is embarking on this decades-long initiative to create Schoolyard Forest Systems across the country. We envision one in every state, collaboratively established with local partner organizations and state agencies.

 

In June 2022, the California Schoolyard Forest System℠ became the first state in the National Schoolyard Forest System! Green Schoolyards America’s founding partners in California are the California Department of Education (CDE), the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), and Ten Strands. We will be working closely with school districts, county offices of education, and other organizations/agencies as the initiative grows.

Founding Partners in California

 

webinars IN COLLABORATION With Government Agency and nonprofit Partners

 

“Creating Age-friendly Communities with Green Infrastructure: How Addressing Needs of Children and Older Adults Benefits All”
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, April 9, 2024

Speakers
- Danielle Arigoni, National Housing Trust
- Sharon Gamson Danks, Green Schoolyards America
- Juan Mireles, California Department of Education

Moderator
- Clark Wilson, U.S. EPA

 

“Greening Schoolyards to Lower Heat”
YALE SCHOOL OF THE ENVIRONMENT, April 2024

Interview
- Sharon Gamson Danks, Green Schoolyards America

 

“Panel 3: Urban Tree Canopies to Mitigate Heat. Panelists discuss implications of the Urban Heat Island effect and approaches to using trees to mitigate heat”
HIXON CONFERENCE 2023, YALE SCHOOL OF THE ENVIRONMENT
September 15, 2023, New Haven, Connecticut

Speakers
- Associate Professor Ariane Middel, Arizona State University
- Associate Professor Matthew Browning, Clemson University
- Sharon Gamson Danks, Green Schoolyards America
- Brian Knox, City of Tampa, Florida.

Moderator
- Jordana Vasquez, Resilient Cities Network

 

“Introducing the California Schoolyard Forest System℠”
CALIFORNIA SCHOOLYARD FOREST SYSTEM, October 17, 2022

Speakers
- Sharon Danks, Green Schoolyards America
- Alejandra Chiesa, Green Schoolyards America
- Juan Mireles, California Dept. of Education
- Leslie Taylor, California Dept. of Education
- Andra Yeghoian, Ten Strands
- Walter Passmore, CAL FIRE
- Julia Gowin, PhD, CAL FIRE - Q&A
- Closing

 
 

“Growing Green Schoolyards: The Movement for Cooler, Healthier School Campuses"
CALIFORNIA NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY, June 2, 2022

Speakers
- Secretary Wade Crowfoot, California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA)
- Sharon Danks, Green Schoolyards America
- Secretary Crowfoot
- Neelam Patil, Berkeley Unified School District
- Mark Stanley, Rivers and Mountains Conservancy
- Walter Passmore, CAL FIRE
- Group Discussion

 

“Creating Outdoor Spaces: The Infrastructure of Living Schoolyards”
OUTDOOR LEARNING WEBINAR SERIES, SESSION THREE,
May 17, 2022

Speakers
- Nancy Striniste, Green Schoolyards America
- Kimbal Musk, Big Green
- Andrea Falkan, U.S. Department of Education
- Sharon Danks, Green Schoolyards America
- Karina Salazar, Los Angeles USD
- Ghita Carroll, PhD, Boulder Valley School District
- Nancy Striniste, Green Schoolyards America
- Mary Filardo, 21st Century School Fund
- Closing

For additional information, please visit our webpages for the California Schoolyard Forest System℠ and the National Schoolyard Forest System℠.