Our 25-26 EcoSchools
Action Plan

Seeds of Stewardship is the umbrella project of our 25-26 EcoSchools US Green Flag Certification Action Plan. 

At Carver Elementary, our National Wildlife Federation EcoSchools Action Plan is brought to life through Seeds of Stewardship, which turns student curiosity and care for the natural world into meaningful, measurable conservation and stewardship action. The activities outlined in our 2025–26 action plan are the very work our students engage in throughout the year: building a seed library, removing invasive species, creating and maintaining schoolyard habitats, protecting endangered species, collecting and sharing scientific data, contributing to citizen science platforms, growing plants indoors, curating a herbarium, and serving our community through Days of Service. Each Action reflects EcoSchools’ core pillars of Environmental Quality, Biodiversity, Health & Well-Being, and Community & Curriculum Engagement, while giving students authentic opportunities to explore, design, measure, and communicate real ecological stewardship. Through this framework, Seeds of Stewardship not only supports the goals of EcoSchools but also fosters empowered learners who understand that their local actions contribute to global sustainability. 

Tell Your EcoSchools U.S. Story

We share the story of our work so others can learn from us and join in. Telling our story helps spread ideas that make schools and communities better places to live.

Create an EcoCode

Our EcoCode shows what we believe and how we care for people and the planet. It helps us make fair, thoughtful choices and work together as a community.
 

About Our EcoSchools Program

EcoSchools helps us turn our ideas into action. We learn how teamwork, leadership, and partnerships help solve real-world problems.
 

Build a Pollinator Garden

We plant native flowers to help bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Healthy pollinators help plants grow, support wildlife, and strengthen our ecosystem.
 

Become a Citizen Scientist

We collect real data and share it with scientists. Our observations help protect nature and show that kids can contribute to important research.
 

Restoring Biodiversity Balance in the Schoolyard

We remove invasive plants and restore native habitats. This helps wildlife, protects local ecosystems, and keeps nature in balance.
 

Schoolyard Habitats®: Design the Habitat

We design habitats that support plants, animals, and people. Our designs help our schoolyard stay healthy, safe, and welcoming.
 

Schoolyard Habitats®: Assess Your Site

We study our campus to see what plants and animals need. Understanding our land helps us make better choices for nature.
 

Schoolyard Habitats®: Engage the Community

We invite families, neighbors, and partners to help care for our habitats. Working together makes our impact stronger.

Schoolyard Habitats®: Maintain the Habitat

We care for our habitats over time by watering, weeding, and observing changes. Stewardship means protecting what we create.
 

Exploring Green Careers

We learn how scientists, engineers, designers, and leaders help the environment. Green careers show us ways to protect the planet in the future.
 

Days of Service

We serve our school and community by helping people and nature. Service builds kindness, responsibility, and connection.
 

LEAF: Learning About Ecosystems and Forests

We study forests and ecosystems to understand how living things depend on one another. Healthy ecosystems help the whole planet.
 

Indoor Gardening and Greenhouses

We grow plants indoors to learn about food, energy, and sustainability. Growing plants teaches us how to care for living things year-round.
 

Endangered Species Awareness Community Event

We teach others about endangered species and why they need protection. Sharing knowledge helps save plants and animals at risk.
 

Create an Endangered Species Coloring Book

We use art to teach others about endangered species. Creative learning helps people care about protecting wildlife.

The Action Team's Goals

Our primary goal is to connect children to nature while increasing biodiversity across our school campus through student-led, place-based stewardship. This year, the Seeds of Stewardship Action Team at Carver Elementary will expand our native Seed Library, restore and maintain habitats across the forest, wetland, bioswale, and courtyard, and strengthen biodiversity balance by removing invasive species and planting native plants. A central focus of our work is the stewardship and protection of endangered species on our campus, including documenting and caring for rare and at-risk plants and advocating for the importance of the Endangered Species Act, with particular attention to species native to the Ogeechee River Basin. Students will deepen their role as scientists by contributing observations and data to citizen science platforms such as iNaturalist, EDDMapS, and GLOBE, and by using that data to guide conservation decisions.

Our goals also include maintaining and designing Schoolyard Habitats®, growing plants through indoor gardening and greenhouse systems, and engaging the wider community through Days of Service and shared stewardship projects. This work connects student action to broader issues including biodiversity loss, climate resilience, environmental justice, food and water systems, and community health. Through partnerships with local conservation organizations and a strong emphasis on student voice, our action team will use real ecological data, field observations, and storytelling to guide decision-making and share the impact of our work throughout the year.

The Action Team's Purpose and Role at Carver

The Seeds of Stewardship Action Team serves as the school’s student leadership hub for environmental stewardship, scientific inquiry, and community engagement. The team provides structure and continuity for campus-wide conservation work by helping plan, coordinate, and sustain projects such as habitat restoration, invasive species removal, native seed collection, citizen science, and endangered species protection. Action team members act as student scientists, planners, and ambassadors, modeling responsible stewardship and sharing knowledge with peers, teachers, families, and community partners. The team fills a unique niche by connecting classroom learning to real-world action, using data and field observations to guide decisions, and ensuring that student voice drives both the vision and implementation of Carver’s EcoSchools work. Through this role, the action team strengthens school culture, builds leadership capacity, and ensures that environmental responsibility is embedded in daily practice rather than treated as a one-time event.

Community Impact

Through Seeds of Stewardship, students increased green space and native plant cover across the campus by restoring habitats, planting pollinator gardens, and stewarding forest, wetland, bioswale, and courtyard areas. These actions improved ecosystem health, supported biodiversity, and strengthened climate resilience, particularly in areas affected by stormwater and flooding. Students addressed outdoor water quality by restoring wetland and bioswale habitats, removing invasive species, and using soil and plant data to improve water filtration and habitat function. Indoor gardening and seed propagation supported conversations around food systems and food access, while providing hands-on learning connected to food security. Collectively, these actions supported student wellness, environmental health, and community resilience by addressing local ecological challenges through student-led stewardship.

Student Impact

Students demonstrated strong growth across academic, social, and leadership domains through sustained participation in student-led stewardship. Field investigations, habitat restoration, seed collection, and citizen science required perseverance, problem solving, and collaboration. Students developed real-world skills such as data collection, observation, planning, and communication, while deepening their understanding of ecosystems, biodiversity, and conservation. Many students showed increased confidence when presenting findings, explaining stewardship decisions, and advocating for endangered species protection. Regular outdoor learning strengthened students’ connection to nature and fostered a strong sense of ownership, responsibility, and pride in their work, resulting in high engagement, positive behavior, and emerging leadership across grade levels.