Greater Cincinnati has emerged as a national model for green schoolyards thanks to Green Umbrella’s Green Schoolyards Action Network. Under our umbrella, we’ve helped Cincinnati Public Schools transform 60+ schoolyards into vibrant outdoor learning spaces, engaging nearly 11,000 students in nature-based education.

The Children & Nature Network recently highlighted the work of the Green Schoolyards Action Network in their monthly news, specifically the Ripple Effects Mapping process from last year. As Jory Brass writes, “[The Green Schoolyards Action Network]—like Cincinnati’s “5-Way Chili”—blends five key ingredients, from strong partnerships and policy change to youth leadership and workforce pathways. Together, these efforts are advancing equity, climate resilience, and citywide impact.”

Green Umbrella’s Greenspace Alliance is partnering with Western Wildlife Corridor and Cincinnati Parks to present a special 2-part hiking series designed to discover the most fleeting of flowers: spring ephemerals! These teeny flowers, whose lifespan covers only a few weeks, burst through the cold, spare forest floor just as the sun starts to warm spring soil. They blossom and then recede, resting in their underground roots until next spring.

Ephemerals are a reminder of the beauty and resilience of life even in the darkest winters. The hikes will be at Buckeye Trace Preserve on March 26 with Western Wildlife Corridor staff and at California Woods on April 3 with Cincinnati Parks staff. These hikes are free and open to the public, but registration is required. Learn more here.

What does it take to turn climate research into real-world impact?

Green Umbrella’s Climate Research Incubator (CRI) brings together scholars, local governments, and community members to better understand and respond to climate challenges across Greater Cincinnati. By training regional researchers in climate science communication and community engagement, the CRI moves research into neighborhoods, and neighborhood climate issues into research labs.

Through the 2025–2026 CRI cohort, 16 scholars from eight different institutions brought diverse disciplines, perspectives, and lived experiences to the table. Explore the cohort and their journey here.

Interested in hosting an event during Cincinnati Climate Week? We’re hosting a virtual info session to help you plan. Learn more and register here.

June 12: Midwest Sustainability Summit - Award Nominations
Nominations are open for our annual Sustainability Awards, which recognize outstanding Impact, Innovation, and Leadership. Nominate an inspiring individual or organization here. We’re excited to share this year’s incredible lineup of speakers in April - stay tuned!

June 13: Green & Healthy Schools Symposium - Keynote Announcement!
We’re excited to announce Brenda Kessler of the Children & Nature Network as the keynote for the Green & Healthy Schools Symposium, where she’ll share insights on advancing equitable access to nature through green schoolyards to support children’s health and well-being.. Early-bird registration now available.

On-farm composting allows farms to manage organic wastes such as manure, crop residue, excess yield, and brush while increasing soil fertility, improving soil structure, and decreasing erosion - with the added potential for a new revenue stream.

Hamilton County ReSource is seeking agricultural partners to improve food scrap composting in our region. Funding is available for infrastructure improvement, site design, compost consulting, and compost operator training.

Learn more at the link here.

Congratulations to Green Umbrella member Miami University for beingawarded a Climate Luminary Honor from Second Nature in recognition of their decarbonation efforts from their new Sustainability Park, which is slated to open in April. The park includes more than 3,330 solar panels, which will produce around 2,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity annually, helping the university towards its goal of carbon neutrality by 2040. 

Pictured here: Green Umbrella Climate Fellows Oluwaseun Olubodun, Kate Kozak, and Constance Kammerer on a tour of the solar fields in 2025.

The air we breathe carries more than we can see - shaped by traffic, industry, and heat, with real impacts on community health. Green Umbrella member Groundwork Ohio River Valley is hosting its annual air quality program this April. Participants in the program will learn about health hazards of air pollution, build air quality monitors, and collect data during several workshops. The program is open to residents of Covington, Winton Hills, the West End and Forest Park. Sign ups are open now.

Groundwork’s air quality program is an extension of Climate Safe Neighborhoods, which partners with Green Umbrella to work with people from climate-vulnerable communities to create resilience plans.

March 21 | 1:00 - 3:30 PM

Join us at Camp Washington Perennial Farm for a hands-on workshop in grafting fruit trees led by Chris Smyth, Common Orchard Project Director. Tools needed will be provided, but feel free to bring your own grafting knife. Participants will leave with grafted fruit trees to plant at home or in community gardens.

Proceeds from the workshop will benefit the Common Orchard Project’s ongoing effort to plant public fruit trees throughout Cincinnati and the surrounding region.

Click here for the full Events Calendar. Members can submit events in the Green Umbrella online portal here.

March 31 | 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM

The Clean Rivers, Resilience Communities Workshop, hosted by American Rivers and Green Umbrella’s Greenspace Alliance, will bring together community partners, government representatives, and conservation professionals for a one-day workshop to explore how collaboration can remove roadblocks, unlock funding, and bring projects to life that improve water quality, reduce flood risks, and build community resilience.

Warren County Park District is seeking a Director of Operations to help lead a bold vision for parks, trails, and green space in Ohio’s Largest Playground. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of a growing county-wide park system by helping create safer, more welcoming parks, renewing aging infrastructure, supporting conservation-focused land management, and building systems that deliver positive park experiences for every guest. Learn more about this role here.

Have an event, volunteer opportunity, or job posting to share? Green Umbrella members can submit them via the online Membership Portal. To learn more about the benefits of becoming a member, click here.