Welcome to the Green & Healthy Schools Network!

This summer marks an exciting new chapter for our work.

For the past several years, we’ve been the Green Schoolyards Action Network, focusing on providing equitable access to outdoor learning, primarily in Cincinnati Public Schools. Over time, we’ve found that our work is also connected to overall school wellbeing and to K-12 Green Career pathways.

To meet the need for a more holistic approach for green education – and to reach even more students and educators – we have evolved to become the Green & Healthy Schools Network.

Building on the strong foundation we've established with Cincinnati Public Schools, we now partner with districts across Greater Cincinnati to create healthier schools, prepare students for college & careers, and provide more opportunities for youth to connect with nature and environmental education.

Our work focuses on three core strategies:

Together, these strategies help districts create comprehensive sustainability plans that improve educational outcomes while strengthening environmental and community resilience. I outline exactly how this works in the upcoming Green & Healthy Schools Guide, which will be released later this year (see more in the email below).

To match our new name, we have an updated and improved website! Explore the Green & Healthy Schools page on Green Umbrella’s website here.

At the heart of this work is a commitment to collective impact and student leadership. Students aren't simply beneficiaries of healthier schools – they are essential partners in shaping more sustainable and resilient school communities. From district planning to the Green & Healthy Schools Symposium, we intentionally create opportunities for students to share their ideas, elevate their voices, and help lead change.

I’m excited to continue working with you to make a difference in schools throughout our region.

What does this new regional network mean for your school district?

The Green & Healthy Schools Network is expanding opportunities for school districts across Greater Cincinnati to connect, learn from one another, and access technical assistance that supports healthier students, stronger communities, and more sustainable schools.

Green Umbrella Participating Membership is complimentary for school districts.

As a participating member, school districts gain access to:

For districts looking to deepen their engagement, Supporting and Leading Memberships provide additional marketing, professional development, and organizational benefits.

Help us grow the network.

Are you a superintendent, principal, facilities director, food service leader, sustainability coordinator, teacher, or parent who wants to see your district become healthier and more sustainable?

Invite your school district to become part of the Green & Healthy Schools Network.

Learn more about membership benefits here. Contact Cynthia Walters to schedule a conversation.

In June, educators, students, school district leaders, nonprofits, government agencies, and community partners gathered at Rockdale Academy for our inaugural Green & Healthy Schools Symposium as part of the first-ever Cincinnati Climate Week.

The day featured two inspiring keynotes by Brenda Kessler from the Children & Nature Network and graduating CPS student Madz Gerker as part of a day of workshops, learning garden tours, and conversations about how schools can become catalysts for healthier communities.

The Symposium celebrated the incredible work already happening across our region while building new partnerships to help expand Green & Healthy Schools throughout Greater Cincinnati.

Read our event recap blog by our Green & Healthy Schools Fellow, Amanda Kporwofa.

One of our major initiatives this year is the development of a comprehensive Green & Healthy Schools Guide to help school districts embed sustainability throughout the district where every school community member, both students and staff, have access to relevant resources, training, and green infrastructure.

Drawing on the experience of working with multiple school systems and partners from across the region, the guide will provide practical tools, best practices, case studies, and implementation strategies related to green schoolyards, school community wellness, and K–12 green workforce development.

If you would like to receive a digital copy of the Green & Healthy Schools Guide that is projected to be released this fall, please fill out the form here.

We’re delighted to share that our director, Cynthia Walters, has been selected to participate in the 2026-2027 Farm to School Shelburne Farms Leadership Academy.

The Farm to School Leadership Academy brings together a selected group of national leaders committed to transforming food systems in schools. The cohort will explore how transformational leadership, systems change, and community support can help strengthen and sustain farm-to-school work.

Cynthia’s work with the cohort will connect our region with national leaders working to advance healthy schools, sustainable food systems, and outdoor learning, as well as bring new ideas, partnerships, and resources back to Greater Cincinnati.

Green Schoolyards

The Strategic Partnerships for Greener Schools Committee held the last meeting of the school year to share and celebrate 2025-26 highlights and new opportunities:

The collaboration between Career Technical Education staff members and work-based learning partners continues through the collective impact work of the Workforce Development Committee. Highlights from the 2026-25 school year include:

Since a Wellness Policy is required of all school districts participating in any of the federal school meal programs, building a customized school district wellness plan can be the catalyst for embedding outdoor learning, nutrition education, and addressing other issues affecting academic performance. For wellness policy and implementation to be effective, school districts often need support for building inclusive wellness committees, student involvement, and identifying partners who can help implement plans such as building infrastructure and providing programming.

During the Green & Healthy Schools Symposium, sessions dedicated to Wellness Policy aimed at building awareness, equipping participants with resources, and creating action steps for internal and external school district stakeholders to have a voice in the policy-making process. The Local School Wellness Policy Toolkit is a resource for school systems, partner organizations, municipalities, and communities to engage in wellness planning to help ensure there is equitable distribution of resources for all stakeholders across the district.

School district leaders, foodservice and nutrition directors, partner organizations, and health agencies can reach out to the Green & Healthy Schools Network for:

In May, Amanda Kporwofa joined Green Umbrella Climate Action Fellowship (CAF) as the Green & Healthy Schools Fellow. Amanda jumped right in to help plan and participate in the Green & Healthy Symposium.

An essential component of the Green & Healthy Schools fellowship is equipping Green Umbrella fellows working in city and county governments with tools to create a partner matrix for engaging with school districts. Amanda’s other projects are focused on a district recycling & composting program and Student-Driven District Wellness Policy.

Whether you're looking for assessments, planning support, professional development, sustainability consulting, partnership opportunities, or membership, we'd love to connect.

Reply to this email, contact Cynthia directly, or reach out to membership@greenumbrella.org to learn more.

Together, we're building healthier schools and stronger communities across Greater Cincinnati.

Businesses and organizations can help expand Green & Healthy Schools across Greater Cincinnati by becoming a program sponsor.

Program sponsors receive 12 months of recognition:

Your investment helps school districts create healthier, more sustainable learning environments while preparing the next generation of environmental leaders.

Interested in sponsoring the Green Schoolyards Action Network? Email Director of Engagement and Strategic Partnerships Charlie Gonzalez.

Reply to this email to reach Cynthia, or for questions regarding membership, visit here or email membership@greenumbrella.org.