Kresson Elementary School Earns Eco-Schools Award

National Wildlife Federation and New Jersey Audubon have awarded Kresson Elementary School, the Eco-Schools USA Silver Award for their work in integrating sustainability with school learning. Eco-Schools USA is a nationwide program that engages school students, faculty, and community volunteers in efforts to improve student environmental literacy and skills. The program provides educators with a framework to integrate sustainability principals into the curriculum, providing students with a unique research and application based learning experience. Eco-Schools in New Jersey is a partnership between National Wildlife Federation and New Jersey Audubon and claims more than 230 schools throughout the state.

The Silver Award is the second highest honor given by the program. To win the Silver Award schools must establish an Eco-Action Team, conduct an environmental audit, and develop and monitor a student driven Eco-Action plan that addresses two of ten environmental focus areas or Eco-Schools pathways. Kresson Elementary School focused on investigating and increasing the biodiversity around their school and maintaining an outdoor learning space for students.

Learning is a hands-on experience at Kresson, where kids can be found digging in streams to identify insects or exploring their school’s native grass meadow. Outdoor adventures are followed up with classroom lessons in science, math and language arts. Students have also helped to plant native plants around the school and install three bird feeding stations with feeder cams for observation.

“The students are hungry for knowledge and access to natural experiences,” says Enrichment Program teacher, Anthony Klock. They are transfixed by the feeders and love running along the paths that I have cut into our “Kresson Meadow”.

Kresson’s involvement with the program allows the school to share ideas and best practices with others around the state, while accessing free resources and curriculum ideas from Eco-Schools USA. Allison Mulch, Eco-Schools coordinator with New Jersey Audubon remarks “Kresson Elementary School has really knocked it out of the park when it comes to environmental learning. This type of nature based experiential learning leaves a lasting impression on students throughout their education.”

Ms. Mulch works directly with registered Eco-Schools in New Jersey, providing free trainings for teachers, administrators and school board members. This added benefit is unique to New Jersey thanks to a partnership with New Jersey Audubon, National Wildlife Federation and the PSEG Foundation.

About Eco-Schools: Eco-Schools is an international program hosted by the NWF in the U.S., and coordinated by New Jersey Audubon in NJ. The program serves over 4,300 schools throughout the country. Eco-Schools USA in New Jersey supports and directly aligns with Sustainable Jersey for Schools point-based system. The Eco-Schools USA website has an interactive map that shows locations and distribution of participating schools. For more information: http://www.njaudubon.org/SectionEducation/ProvidingfortheEducationCommunity/NWFEco-SchoolsUSA.aspx

About National Wildlife Federation: National Wildlife Federation is America’s largest conservation organization inspiring people to protect wildlife for our children’s future. NWF focuses its education and policy work on connecting children to nature for a nation of happier, healthier kids. NWF’s state affiliate is NJ Audubon. For more information: www.nwf.org.

About NJ Audubon: New Jersey Audubon is a privately supported, not-for profit, statewide membership organization that fosters environmental awareness and a conservation ethic among New Jersey's citizens; protects New Jersey's birds, mammals, other animals, and plants, especially endangered and threatened species; and promotes preservation of New Jersey's valuable natural habitats. For more information: www.njaudubon.org.

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