Basking Ridge Teens Grow GreenWaySquad Through Sustainable Art Workshops

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — A group of Ridge High School juniors with a passion for the environment is working to grow a youth-led effort to expand climate education for students.

GreenWaySquad, founded by Madhavibala Mohanakrishnan in May 2024, says it has reached more than 1,200 children in the local community through sustainable art workshops and related programs.

Mohanakrishnan said the idea grew from her longtime interest in making art from reused materials.

"I've always been super interested in sustainable art. As a kid, I was creating room decor with old pieces of clothing," and Mohanakrishnan. "As I got older, I started to realize that, 'Hey, what I'm doing isn't just art. It can also be a way to help the environment.' And I think art really transformed the way that I thought of the environment."

From there, Mohanakrishnan wanted to start the GreenWay squad, which specializes in sustainable art workshops.

"We really want to make Climate Education super fun, memorable, and solutions-based for youth, and that's really what we're all about," said Mohanakrishnan.

The organization’s work centers on sustainable art workshops held at places such as local libraries and schools.

Students use cut-up plastic water bottles and other materials to create art, with the goal of showing that items often thrown away can be reused in different ways.

GreenWaySquad members, including Madhubala Mohanakrishnan (Co-Founder and Director of Technology) and Catherine Chan (Co-Founder and Director of Media), also said they have brought classroom presentations to Basking Ridge elementary schools, including Liberty Corner, Cedar Hill, and Mount Prospect.

In addition to in-person workshops, Mohanakrishnan described a technology-based program on its website called Wasteway, which helps students track the journey of trash.

The team also participates in larger community events by inviting attendees to add painted plastic pieces to shared canvas projects tied to environmental themes.

Chan said the group is looking for new members and offers several ways to participate.

"We're always looking for new members to help us. We have something on our website where you can apply to either make your own chapter or get involved with more local chapters," she said.

The students said GreenWaySquad also creates articles, videos, and educational content, and is interested in adding game design support.

Mohanakrishnan said the broader goal is to make sustainability feel accessible to children.

"GreenWay squad is all about a solutions-based approach, because as I learned doing sustainable art from a young age, you can make an impact on the environment in your own way," she said.

The group said it now has international chapters in Belgium and India. GreenWaySquad is established in more than three countries worldwide, has conducted more than 15,000 workshops, has impacted more than 1,200 youth, and reached more than 19,000 educators through their guides.

Mohanakrishnan also said GreenWaySquad received the Project Green Schools Green Difference Award in 2025 and that the recognition helped expand the organization’s reach.

The students said they plan to keep growing in New Jersey and beyond while continuing their workshops.

Information about events, chapter applications and the group’s educator guide is available through GreenWaySquad’s website at greenwaysquad.org and Instagram page at instagram.com/greenwaysquad.

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