The program will fund 70 student-led sustainability projects in 2019, up from 28 in 2018
The City of Austin’s Office of Sustainability announced today that 58 schools will receive funding support to implement 70 sustainability projects that are expected to benefit over 30,000 students. These projects will offer students hands-on learning opportunities and lessons in environmental stewardship, while also providing tangible community benefits to school campuses and their surrounding neighborhoods. Winning projects are located in every Austin City Council District, and cover five different school districts including AISD, Round Rock ISD, Georgetown ISD, Leander ISD, and Del Valle ISD, as well as several private schools, Travis County Juvenile Justice Alternative, and the Texas School for the Deaf.
“As Austin continues to seek innovative solutions to address climate change and preserve nature in the city, fostering sustainability thinking and practices in the next generation of Austinites is critical. These are the leaders of tomorrow,” said Chief Sustainability Officer Lucia Athens. “The large number of highly creative projects proposed by teachers and parents should give us all hope for a resilient future.”
Projects receiving a Bright Green Future Grant this year demonstrated creative approaches to addressing light pollution, producing energy, caring for trees, and reducing the risk of wildfire:
Bright Green Future Grants will also fund bicycle academies, rain gardens, outdoor learning spaces, community gardens, wildlife habitats, and waste reduction efforts at local schools:
Funding for these 70 innovative sustainability projects at local elementary, middle, and high schools is provided by the City of Austin’s Office of Sustainability, Urban Forestry Program, Austin Resource Recovery, Watershed Protection Department, and Austin Transportation Department.