In-person Training - Project Learning Tree (PLT) K-8 Workshop Birchview Elementary School 663 Poplar Street Ishpeming, MI 49849

Feb 2, 2026 from 5-8:30pm

Join us for an educator workshop on Project Learning Tree's K-8 guide. During this workshop, we will talk about best practices for outdoor learning, model several activities and develop a plan for incorporating the lessons into your classroom goals.

This workshop is open to K-12 educators, nature centers, conservation district staff, homeschool parents, and natural resource professionals that want to increase their environmental education skills and knowledge.

PLT’s Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide includes 50 hands-on, multidisciplinary activities to connect children to nature and increase young people’s awareness and knowledge about their environment. Activities integrate teaching about the environment into a multitude of subjects using hands-on classroom studies and outdoor field investigations. The guide is user-friendly, and works in classrooms and nonformal settings, in urban, suburban, and rural areas.

Activities are organized by grade level (K-2, 3-5, and 6-8) and align with national standards for science, English language arts, math, and social studies. Many activities offer variations for a different grade level or focus. While lessons can be conducted both indoors and outdoors, all suggest meaningful ways to take student learning outside.

Participants will receive a curriculum book in addition to resources. Educators should bring their PIC # for the 3 SCECHs.

Please email staya@michigan.gov with any accommodation requirements at least 24 hours prior to the workshop.

Register Here

Four Michigan schools reduce waste and forever chemicals in food service while saving money!

Corresponding MI Green Schools Category and Activity: Reduce/Reuse/Recycle - Waste-free lunch program

We ReUSE is helping Michigan schools implement reusable foodware programs. This opportunity is supported by a partnership with Plastic Free Restaurants and the State of Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy Circular Economy Grant.

Click here to read the case studies.

Free assistance is available to help Michigan schools apply for a subsidy, reducing costs by 50-80%.

Interested in learning more? Contact Connie at Connie@wewillreuse.com.

Virtual Workshop - Creating a Culture of Climate Justice & Action

Monday, February 2, 2026 from 4:30pm - 6:00pm 

Registration deadline is January 30, 2026

This interactive workshop will feature a brief guided tour of the Michigan Climate Education Hub that will highlight Michigan-specific resources, teacher guides and cross-curricular connections. Participants will also explore strategies for integrating climate education into daily instruction and class routines to build justice-centered, place-based lessons that will lead students to action.

Presenter: Bridget Booth, Michigan State Lead for SubjectToClimate

Cost: Free to attend

SCECH: 1.5

Register Today!

In-person Training - Project FISH: Fishing Instructor Workshop
Room 152 Natural Resources 480 Wilson Rd. East Lansing MI 48824

March 3rd and 4th, 2026 from 9:30a.m. to 4:30p.m.

Registration Deadline is February 24, 2026

Michigan State University’s Department of Fisheries and Wildlife invites teachers, educators and volunteers to 2 days of “Place Based Learning through Sportfishing and Aquatic Resource Education”. This workshop is open to anyone, even those who may want to learn a bit more about fishing to be able to volunteer for local fishing events or even teach your own family!

This workshop is a partnership with MSU Extension, MSU 4-H Youth Development, Department of Natural Resources, Michigan United Conservation Clubs, schools, and community service organizations and many others to educate young people about our natural resources through FISHING.

This is a workshop based on the Project FISH philosophy of hands on, multiple contact sportfishing and aquatic resource education. We will offer activities in Aquatic Ecology, Tackle Crafting, People and Fish Management and actual Angling Skills. Participants will leave with curriculum activities, equipment, even a fishing rod & reel, and access to supplies and resources to begin a successful fishing program/club with children in the classroom or in an after-school setting. The workshop is partially funded through donors to Project F.I.S.H. (lunch will be provided)

Visit the Project F.I.S.H. website for more information or contact Mark Stephens with any questions at 517-432-2700 or steph143@msu.edu.

Register Today!

Virtual Webinar - Green Chemistry in Action: Bridging Industry and Education for Real-World Impact

Thursday, February 19th, 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Educators and partners are invited to join Dow experts for a virtual conversation on sustainability, with a special focus on green chemistry, its applications in the workforce, and learning opportunities for K-12+ students.

Featured Dow Speakers

Visit the Sustainability Teacher Fellowship website for more information!

Register Here!

Virtual Institute - Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative (GLSI) Winter 2026 Place-Based Educators Institute 101

Wednesdays: weekly in February and March; monthly in April, May, and June
Session Options: 4:40-5:30p.m. ET or 5:45-6:45p.m. ET

Information and Registration Page

If you’re curious about how to make learning more meaningful, community-connected, and student-driven, this is your starting point. In just a few weeks, you’ll gain the frameworks, tools, and peer support to begin designing learning experiences that engage students with the world around them and help them make an impact.

Who Should Participate

• Great Lakes Region K-12 school educators
• Teachers in all subject areas and grade levels
• Educators new to PBE or building early -stage projects

What You'll Learn
Over a series of asynchronous and interactive Zoom sessions, you’ll explore:

• What Place-Based Stewardship Education (PBSE) looks like and how it can work in any classroom, any subject.
• How to identify and build on local assets to design relevant, engaging learning
• How to center student voice and agency through inquiry-based projects
• How to align your teaching with GLSI’s Elements and Guiding Principles for exemplary PBE
• How to move from idea to implementation with a realistic plan and the tools to support it.

Additional Gains

• $200 Stipend once completed
• SCECH credit
• 1:1 coaching and support
• A network of peers
• Access to online platforms and ready to use materials

Questions?
Email Patty Tolly, Director of Programs & Educator Networks at patty@greatlakesstewardship.org, or visit the GLSI website for more information.

Register Now!

The annual MI Green Schools application period is open now through March 8, 2026!

Start Your Journey

• Explore the requirements for certification
• Plan your application using the draft application
• Submit your application through the online form

Application Support 

Before diving into the online portal, make a copy of the draft application. It includes helpful instructions and troubleshooting tips to guide you through the process. Since the online portal doesn’t have a save feature, planning your responses in advance is key. The draft is also a great tool for collaboration when you share it with others who helped complete activities at your school. Plus, you can reuse it year after year to track your progress and build on past efforts! 

In addition to the tips included on the draft application, check out these other resources: 

• Frequently Asked Questions 
• For questions about your school’s application, contact your local County Coordinator 
• For programming questions, contact the Statewide Coordinator, Samantha Lichtenwald, by emailing EGLE-MI-Green-Schools@Michigan.gov  
• For technical issues, contact EGLE’s GIS Services Unit by emailing EGLE-Maps@Michigan.gov  

Reminders 

• Application Deadline: Applications are due March 8, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. EST. Late submissions cannot be accepted due to the tight turnaround needed for reviewing, approving, and preparing awards materials for Earth Day celebrations. 

• Annual Certification Required: MI Green Schools certification is annual. Schools must apply each year to maintain their certified status. 

• Include Current School Year Activities: Applications should reflect activities completed during the 2025-2026 school year. You may include activities planned for March-June, but only if they are well-planned and confirmed, not just ideas. 

• Be Responsive to County Coordinators: Your County Coordinator may reach out for clarification or suggested changes to your application. Please keep an eye on your email and respond promptly to ensure timely certification approval. 

Ready to apply?

Submit your online application!

Watch the webinar recording

View the speaker slides

Join the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) for a virtual webinar to kick off the 2025-2026 MI Green Schools year.  Get inspired through presentations that highlight MI Green Schools activities, partners, and students.

This webinar is geared towards Michigan public and private school students, teachers, staff, and administrators interested in learning how their school can achieve environmental stewardship designation. Local and regional community partners are also encouraged to view the webinar to gain insights on how they can support schools in this journey.

Please reach out to Sam Lichtenwald at LichtenwaldS@Michigan.gov for any questions.