Embedded Files
This year, Carver Elementary successfully developed and implemented a school-wide Eco-Code as an essential step in our pursuit of EcoSchools Green Flag Certification. Rooted in the EcoSchools Seven Step Framework, the Eco-Code reflects our collective values of environmental stewardship, sustainability, and student-led action. More than a visual symbol, the Eco-Code now serves as a daily behavioral compass—shaping decisions, inspiring environmental citizenship, and uniting our school community around a shared commitment to protecting our local and global ecosystems.
The development process was entirely student-led, meeting EcoSchools’ best practices in student voice and action. Our Action Team—The Guardians of the Triangle—guided the school through a year-long, place-based inquiry. Students explored the biodiversity of the Ogeechee River Basin, studied human impacts on native species, and reflected on their roles in conservation. Collaborations with trusted partners—including the University of Georgia, Georgia Southern University, Georgia DNR, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ogeechee Riverkeeper, and Richmond Hill Garden Club—deepened student learning and ensured the Eco-Code aligned with regional conservation priorities and ecological best practices.
All 675 4th and 5th grade students engaged in the creation process through structured classroom discussions, surveys, and collaborative design sessions. Students reflected on their individual and collective impact and then democratically selected the environmental values that mattered most to them—reducing waste, protecting pollinators, conserving energy, and respecting nature. These student priorities were synthesized into a final Eco-Code, which is now highly visible throughout the school, incorporated into daily outdoor learning routines, and celebrated at schoolwide events like Earth and Arts Night.
This action has had clear, measurable impacts. Student awareness of their ecological footprint has increased, as evidenced by behavioral shifts such as reduced litter, increased recycling participation, and greater student initiative in conservation projects. The Eco-Code is routinely referenced in both instruction and classroom management, reinforcing a whole-school culture of sustainability and accountability.
In terms of social-emotional learning, the Eco-Code process empowered students with a sense of ownership, belonging, and civic purpose. Students reported feeling proud that their voices shaped a policy adopted by the entire school, and teachers observed increased confidence, collaboration, and empathy during Eco-Code activities. By embedding the Eco-Code into curriculum, school culture, and community partnerships, Carver has ensured it is a living, student-authored promise—one that connects learning to action and secures a thriving future for our students and our environment.
Our EcoCode
Why an Eco-Code?
Carver’s Eco-Code serves as the heartbeat of our conservation and stewardship journey: a concise, student-crafted pledge that distills what we believe, how we behave, and where we aspire to lead our community. By codifying our shared values—respect for living things, responsibility for campus habitats, and a commitment to act as guardians of the Ogeechee watershed—the Eco-Code becomes the touchstone against which every project, lesson, and decision is measured. It unites fourth- and fifth-grade scientists, multilingual learners, military families, staff, and local partners around a common language of care, reminding us daily that protecting biodiversity and using resources wisely is not an add-on to school life but the very foundation of Carver’s heart for environmental stewardship.
Student-Led Creation Process: Youth Voice & Decision-Making
Before writing our EcoCode, students at Carver spent several weeks exploring what it means to be stewards of ourselves, our community, our school, and the Earth. During Outdoor Education classes, students engaged in peer discussions, created Earth stewardship posters, and reflected on ways to care for the planet. EcoCode brainstorming materials were always available, encouraging continuous reflection and creativity. Inspired by these conversations, students took initiative by creating video segments for the school news program to promote stewardship messages. To reinforce this shared commitment, Carver hosted our First Annual Earth and Arts Celebration, building school-wide excitement around environmental responsibility. When it came time to finalize our EcoCode, students voted on the values they felt were most important, ultimately choosing to express them through an acrostic poem using the word C.A.R.V.E.R.—a powerful, student-driven expression of our school’s environmental values.
Students created comic books to teach their classmates about the messages of Carver's EcoCode.
Students created a video presentation of Eco Tips for students to encourage them to follow the school's EcoCode. This presentation was shared at our Earth and Arts Night and during the school's student news broadcast. The following students shared their Eco Tips for their classmates:
Evan F., Guardian of the Triangle, Mrs. Castillo's Class
Carter M., Mrs. Castillo's Class
Emma J; Guardian of the Triangle; Mrs. Ruland's Class
Brynn T; Mrs. Ruland's Class
Aoife B; Guardian of the Triangle, Mrs. Crandall's Class
Charlotte G; Guardian of the Triangle
The Guardian's Promise
The Guardian's Promise is a simple way for our Guardian's to exhibit taking action, following, and supporting our EcoCode. The Guardian's Promise is our promise of stewardship and Carver recognizes that stewardship means not just taking care of the Earth, but taking care of ourselves and others.
I am _____________.
I am a steward.
I take care of myself.
I take care of others.
I take care of my school.
I take care of the Earth.
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
To align with the EcoSchools Framework, we incorporated the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into our EcoCode action project.
Carver’s Eco-Code advances SDG 4 – Quality Education by giving every student authentic, curriculum-embedded opportunities to co-design the guiding principles that shape their own learning environment, deepening environmental literacy and empowering them as changemakers. It supports SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions because the Eco-Code is drafted through democratic class meetings and Eco-Action Team votes, modelling transparent governance, inclusive decision-making, and respect for diverse voices—especially multilingual learners, military-connected students, and students with disabilities. Finally, the process embodies SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals by actively engaging families, local scientists, civic leaders, and community organisations who review, translate, and publicly endorse the Eco-Code, forging shared commitments and accountability for campus sustainability goals.
Cross Curricular Connections
Carver’s Eco-Code is deeply woven into our school’s outdoor education curriculum and classroom learning, serving as both a guiding principle and a practical tool for environmental literacy. Students engage with the Eco-Code through hands-on field investigations, journaling, art, and stewardship projects that reflect the core values of care, respect, and responsibility for the Earth. Whether they are measuring biodiversity in our bioswale, analyzing water quality in local wetlands, or composing poetry for the River of Words contest, students consistently return to the Eco-Code as a shared standard for how we interact with the natural world. It is embedded across grade levels and subject areas—through science, ELA, art, and social studies—and referenced during daily outdoor learning, classroom discussions, and special events like Earth and Arts Night. These curriculum connections ensure the Eco-Code is not just a slogan, but a living document that informs student decision-making and cultivates a culture of sustainability and stewardship throughout the school.
How We Live the Eco-Code Daily
We embed the Eco-Code into daily Outdoor Education and school routines and habits in ways that map directly onto EcoSchool's Framework. These layered, daily habits prove that the Eco-Code is not a poster on the wall but the operational engine that drives Carver toward Green Flag excellence. Students created “Eco-Code Spotlights” and Eco Tips to guide classmates to inform and involve. Students conducted "camp fire" round table discussions during Outdoor Education class to evaluate and reflect on our ongoing efforts and to provide feedback on projects. We sent home communications from Camp Wildcat in Spanish to Spanish speaking families. And we supported classrooms as community by each teacher creating and supporting a culture of stewardship within the classroom space.
NWF EcoSchools Framework Connections
Place-Based Learning: Students wrote our Eco-Code after observing local habitats during sit spots.
Systems Thinking: Our acrostic EcoCode links daily behaviors (waste reduction → biodiversity gains) to environmental stewardship.
Action Competency: Guardians of the Triangle led democratic votes to draft and finalize each line.
Community as Classroom: Carver's heart for stewardship and conservation for Georgia's Coast, the Richmond Hill Community, and our school is inspired by and supported by our families, our educational partners and especially the Ogeechee River Keeper and the Richmond Hill Garden Club. Through our vital and meaningful relationships, our partners give us the tools and support we need to live out our EcoCode.
Equity and Inclusion
Equity and inclusion are at the core of our EcoCode, ensuring every voice can contribute to “Respect The Planet as We Grow.” Although translating the acrostic into other languages inevitably alters its letter-by-letter design, each translation faithfully carries the spirit and intent of our pledge—honoring diverse backgrounds, languages, and abilities. By offering the EcoCode in multiple languages and accessible formats, we remove barriers to participation and affirm that stewardship is everyone’s responsibility. In this way, Carver Elementary fosters a learning environment where every student, family member, and community partner can see themselves reflected in our shared commitment to care for the Earth.
SPANISH
SPANISH
Cuidamos nuestro planeta a diario.
Reciclamos siempre y buscamos la manera de hacerlo.
Reducimos los residuos en todo lo que hacemos.
Valoramos la naturaleza y la mantenemos fiel a ella.
Ahorramos energía, usamos luces bajas.
Respetamos el planeta a medida que crecemos.
KOREAN
KOREAN
매일 지구를 돌보고,
항상 재활용하고 방법을 찾고,
모든 일에서 낭비를 줄이고,
자연을 소중히 여기고, 자연을 존중하고,
에너지를 절약하고, 조명을 어둡게 하고,
성장하면서 지구를 존중합시다.
Curriculum Integration
ELAGSE4W2 (Grade 4 Informative/Explanatory Writing)
Students researched environmental concepts and clearly explained EcoCode principles in paragraph form, using facts and domain-specific vocabulary.
ELAGSE5W1 (Grade 5 Opinion Writing)
Learners composed persuasive statements supporting each EcoCode line, providing reasons and evidence to influence peers and school leaders.
ELAGSE4SL1 & ELAGSE5SL1 (Speaking & Listening)
Through brainstorming sessions and debates, students collaborated in groups—posing questions, listening actively, and building consensus on EcoCode language.
SS4CG1 (Grade 4 Citizenship & Government)
By drafting letters to the mayor and voting on EcoCode components, students practiced civic participation and understood how citizen input shapes community decisions.
SEL Competency: Responsible Decision-Making
Learners evidenced goal-setting, ethical responsibility, and consideration of environmental impacts when selecting and approving EcoCode commitments.
SEL Competency: Social Awareness & Relationship Skills
In peer discussions and partner co-creation with community members, students demonstrated empathy, cultural respect, and effective communication across diverse groups.
Student Reflection and Continuing Our EcoCode Into Next Year
Next year, our EcoCode will be included in our family and student handbook! Embedding the EcoCode into more subject areas—math problems that model our waste-reduction goals, art projects that illustrate each line, or writing assignments that explore its meaning—will ensure it lives in every corner of the curriculum. In Outdoor Education students can share reflections on how they’re living the EcoCode every day at school. Camp Wildcat will have and “EcoCode Ambassador” program that can empower new leaders each semester to mentor peers in daily stewardship practices. By continuously collecting brief surveys or “eco-pulse” check-ins, we can track behavior changes and celebrate progress, then circle back to refine the EcoCode’s language and applications, keeping our shared promise ever-evolving and student-driven.
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