Happy Halloween! October has been a fun and busy month for us behind the scenes at Green Explorers Club!
In California, Ms. Erin celebrated San Diego Climate Week by getting her hands dirty at a workshop hosted by Cardiff Tiny Farm, where she and other attendees built a garden box, filled it with compost, installed an irrigation system, and planted seedlings. The California team is also thrilled to announce the launch of our Climate Ready Classrooms research study in San Diego County — an exciting step forward in bringing the most effective environmental education techniques to current and future elementary students.
In Illinois, Ms. Kelly and our Chicago crew are welcoming autumn by planting tulips and other bulbs around Cook County, preparing for a colorful spring and another year of outdoor learning adventures.
We wish all of our Green Explorers a Happy Halloween, and extra spooky weekend!
Warm Regards, The Green Explorers Club Team
🌎 San Diego Climate Week This October marked the inauguralSan Diego Climate Week! San Diego Climate Week is a countywide celebration focused on education, action, and community collaboration to address climate change. The event brought together local leaders, organizations, and residents to learn from one another and share ways to build a more sustainable San Diego.
There were a lot of fantastic programs throughout the week, but Ms. Erin's favorites were probably Exploring Ecosystems and Water Pollution at the Tijuana River Estuary and joining the hands-on workshop at Cardiff Tiny Farm, where she built a raised garden bed, filled it with compost, installed an irrigation system, and planted seedlings—demonstrating simple, tangible ways to grow greener communities with the other participants in the workshop and the fantastic direction on Cardiff Tiny Farmer, David Berning.
Next month we are also launching our Climate-Ready Classrooms Research Study in San Diego County!
Climate-Ready Classrooms Study
The California Team is also thrilled to announce the launch of our Climate- Ready Classrooms Study in San Diego County! This new research project will explore access to elementary environmental education in San Diego County, and also examine the best vehicle for teaching elementary students about the environment - are after school programs, summer camps, in-school instruction, scout troops, or volunteer opportunities most effective for 4-10 years olds?
We’re currently recruiting 10 schools and teachers to participate and would love for teachers and principals of public, private, religious, Montessori, and Waldorf schools to register their school as a potential partner. Study participants will receive free Green Explorers Club curriculum and project materials for six months, with both weekly after-school program options and monthly in-class book club options available.
If you’re a teacher or school interested in joining—or if you’d like to support this initiative—please visit our website at greenexplorersclub.com/research.
To register your class, you can use the forms below:
Donations and grant funding will help us fund this research! Donations help us cover the cost of books, activity kits, art and science materials, and teacher support so every participating classroom. These contributions ensure that all students—regardless of school funding—can participate in this study and have access to quality environmental education that inspires them to protect and care for their world. $35 sponsors a session for one student, and $250 provides a full classroom set of books for a San Diego County classroom. If you are able to donate to our study, please use this link to access or donations page!
Fall is the best time of year to get your Spring Bulbs in the ground. Your local garden store will have plenty of options for you to choose from - pick what your like! Each bulb needs to be at a particular depth. Consult the back of your bulb packaging (or use trusty google) to know what depth is best. Remember that the pointy tips of the bulbs face up. Grab your ruler, a shovel and your favorite playlist and get to work on your Spring garden! Is there anything better than seeing the first signs of Spring with the pop of bulbs?
🐦🦩🪺🪶🕊️🦅🦆🐤🐥🐧🦢🐔
(PHOTO - Courtesy of the Missouri Gateway Green Building Council. Photo provided by Forsyth School. Source: Article)
U.S. States Celebrate their 2025 Green Ribbon Schools Honorees
(Sept 2025) Recently, the U.S. Department of Education announced the 2025 Green Ribbon Schools honorees, recognizing schools and districts nationwide for their leadership in sustainability, health, and environmental education. The award celebrates institutions that reduce environmental impact, improve wellness, and provide hands-on sustainability learning opportunities for students.
We are excited to share that several of our local schools were among this year’s honorees! In San Diego County, Bella Mente Montessori Academy in Vista earned California’s highest distinction as a Green Achiever for its student-led conservation projects, solar-powered campus, and garden-to-table programs. In Illinois, John M. Palmer Elementary School in Chicago and Kildeer Countryside Community Consolidated District 96 in Buffalo Grove were both recognized for integrating sustainability throughout their operations—from composting and native landscaping to renewable energy and environmental curriculum.
Learn more about the Green Ribbon Schools program here.
Each year, millions of pumpkins end up in landfills, where they decompose without oxygen and release methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. By composting instead, your pumpkin breaks down naturally, enriching the soil with nutrients that help new plants grow. It’s an easy, earth-friendly way to close the loop and show kids how food waste can become a resource instead of trash!
