Greater Cincinnati Regional Green Schoolyards Summit

Join school district leaders, elected officials, and community organizations at Aiken High School for a day of learning, networking, and celebrating collaboration – hosted by the Green Schoolyards Action Network.

The Summit will showcase the collaboration between Green Umbrella and key partners, Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS), and the City of Cincinnati to implement a district-wide Green Schoolyards initiative focused on providing equitable access to outdoor learning and environmental educational resources for all students and staff members. Topics covered throughout the day will include Facilities & Maintenance, Curriculum & Instruction, Food Service & Nutrition, Navigating Funding Opportunities, and Green Workforce Skills Development.

~ See the Summit program below ~

Attendees will also enjoy a locally sourced Farm-to-School light breakfast & lunch provided by CPS Student Dining Services and a guided tour of Aiken’s School-Based Community Garden and  Farm. The Summit will feature environmental education partners and green sustainability vendor resource tables.

School staff, students, parents, partners, and elected officials are invited. School districts are encouraged to register representatives from their educators, administrators, facilities, food service, and curriculum staff.

Green Umbrella members at the Supporting and Leading level qualify for a discount. Please email membership@greenumbrella.org to check the status of your membership. You can learn more about membership at https://greenumbrella.org/become-a-member

This is an inclusive event. Scholarships are available for anyone who finds the registration cost-prohibitive. Please contact cynthia@greenumbrella.org.

Questions? Email Cynthia Walters at cynthia@greenumbrella.org.

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Summit Program:

9:00-9:30 am: Check-in

9:15-9:40 am: Breakfast
Enjoy a light Farm to School Breakfast and Awaken Aiken Coffee & Tea

9:40-10:20 am: Keynote Speakers
– Meeka Owens, Cincinnati City Councilmember
– Eve Bolton, Cincinnati Public Schools Board President
– Oliver Kroner, Director, Office of Environment & Sustainability, City of Cincinnati
– Ryan Mooney-Bullock, Executive Director, Green Umbrella

10:30-11:30 am: Morning Breakout Sessions
(choose the session that best fits your area of interest)

1. District Sustainability and the Role of Facilities & Maintenance in Greening Schoolyards
   facilitated by Cincinnati Public Schools Chief Operating Officer, Director of Facilities, and the Green Schoolyards Manager
2. Weeding & Feeding: Removing the Barriers and Building Paths to Green Education
   led by Cincinnati Public Schools Programs and CTE Managers
3. Enjoying the Fruits of Farm to School: Transformational Collaboration across Local Food Businesses, School Gardens, and Dining Services
   presented by a panel of Student Dining Services professionals and partners.
4. The Green Cincinnati Plan Education Goals: Addressing Equity with Green Schoolyards through Partnerships
   facilitated by David Reeves from Councilmember Meeka Owens Office and with members from the Department of Environment & Sustainability

11:30 am-1:15 pm: Throughout this time Networking & Visit Vendors

11:40 am-12:30 pm: Garden-Based Learning Panel
moderated by the Civic Garden Center

12:30-1:10 pm: Farm-to-School Lunch
hosted by Cincinnati Public Schools Students Dining Services

1:15-3:15 pm: Afternoon Rotating Sessions – Green Schoolyards Network in Action
(attendees will be split into three groups and will attend each of the three sessions in series)

1. Life & Work Pathways: Green Industry Steps towards Landscape Design, Agriculture, Horticulture, and Permaculture
   facilitated by Alan Wight, University of Cincinnati, Community & School Forest Garden Liaison
2. Children & Policy: Drivers for Change
   led by Isacc Smitherman, CPS Graduate and intern for Councilmember Owens
3. Navigating Joint Funding for Green Schoolyards between multiple sectors
   hosted by Savannah Sullivan, Senior Director of Programs & Climate Strategy at Green Umbrella
   

3:25-4:00 pm: Student-Led School Garden Tours
(Attendees will sign up for one of several group tours)
Venture outside to tour with Aiken High School students of their School-Based Community Garden and discover the food safety measures being implemented in order to sell their farm produce to CPS Student Dining Services.