BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) today acknowledged students from 475 classrooms across the state who participated in the Green Team program, making the 2024-2025 school year the highest registration in the program’s history.
MassDEP recognized 94 Green Teams across Massachusetts with Green Team Awards for outstanding environmental stewardship and educational activities. The Green Team is a statewide program sponsored by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) and MassDEP to empower students and teachers to help the environment by acting in their communities.
“Congratulations to all of the participating Green Team teachers and students for their accomplishments,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Their initiative and leadership provides an excellent example of how we can raise environmental awareness and promote waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting in our schools, homes, and communities.”
The Northampton, MA HEC Academy, part of the Collaborative for Educational Services Green Team, led by Amy Stamm, was one of eight Grand Prize Award Winners for the 2024-25 program. They maintained their previous environmental efforts while accelerating new initiatives this school year. The Team was hands-on in the community, maintaining the multi-city bike path, supporting food donation programs, and volunteering at multiple reuse organizations throughout the Pioneer Valley. The Green Team worked with a regional rabbit rescue to distribute nutrient-rich droppings to local farms for fertilizer. Stamm’s Team developed a powerful sense of community, empowerment, and peer-mentorship among the students.
Read more at https://www.mass.gov/news/healey-driscoll-administration-announces-green-team-awards-for-environmental-leadership-in-pk-12-schools
