California Green Ribbon Schools Achievers and Applicants Network: This network meets quarterly and aims to unite past, current, and future CA Green Ribbon Schools applicants dedicated to promoting sustainable practices and programs within their school communities. The network gives participants the chance to network with each other to inspire and share best practices. The network strives to help interested communities to complete the application, and to help returning participants continue applying until they earn “Green Achiever”. For schools that achieve at this highest level, the network helps to identify strategies for continuous improvement and innovation beyond the Green Ribbon framework.
CALIFORNIA GREEN RIBBON NETWORK MEETINGS: 2025-26 Season
September 18, 2025: Completed - see recordings below
December 11, 2025: Register Here
March 12, 2026: Register Here
May 14, 2026: Register Here
CALIFORNIA GREEN RIBBON NETWORK MEETING RECORDINGS: 2025-26 Season
September 2025 CA Green Ribbon Network Meeting: The September 2025 California Green Ribbon Network Meeting focused on supporting schools, districts, and county offices of education during the active Green Ribbon Schools application season. Facilitated by George Garcia and Nate Ivy, the session opened with networking and reflections on where participants are in the application process, then explored essential resources, including the Applicant Toolkit, FAQs, and updates to the 2026 application, alongside an applicant story from Captain Leland Norton Elementary School. Participants reflected in small groups on what resonated most, their next goals, and commitments for advancing Green Ribbon efforts in their communities, before closing with reminders about the November 17 application deadline and upcoming CAELI Green Ribbon Network gatherings.
View agenda and resources at: https://tinyurl.com/CAGreenRibbonNetworkSept2025
View video recording at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ-xt_wY2vk
CALIFORNIA GREEN RIBBON NETWORK MEETING RECORDINGS: 2024-25 Season
May 2025 CA Green Ribbon Network Meeting: The May 2025 California Green Ribbon Network Meeting centered on celebrating success from the 2024–25 Green Ribbon season and preparing for the next application cycle. Facilitated by George and Andra, the meeting began with a welcome and networking session, where participants shared highlights from their Green Ribbon efforts this year. The group then celebrated 2025 awardees, reviewed updated statewide data from 2014–2025, and explored promising practices across California. A segment on preparing for the upcoming Green Ribbon application season followed, with a focus on documenting Pillar III data, using planning tools, and identifying next steps.
View agenda and resources at: https://tinyurl.com/CAGreenRibbonNetworkMay2025
View video recording at: https://youtu.be/vyN-U851ncc
February 2025 CA Green Ribbon Network Meeting: The February 2025 California Green Ribbon Network Meeting focused on engaging students in Green Ribbon initiatives, with a particular emphasis on fostering active student participation in sustainability efforts. Facilitated by George, the meeting began with a warm welcome and networking time, where participants introduced themselves and shared how their students contribute to sustainability in their schools or districts. The conversation then shifted to strategies for involving students in Green Ribbon initiatives, followed by insights from student speaker Kieran, who shared his journey in applying for the CA-GRS, and Jeff Rivero and his students, who discussed student civic engagement through Green Ribbon.
View agenda and resources at: https://tinyurl.com/CAGreenRibbonNetworkFeb2025
View video recording at: https://youtu.be/8tqpSmHSrxY
December 2024 CA Green Ribbon Network Meeting: The December 2024 California Green Ribbon Network Meeting focused on the intersection between policy and Green Ribbon with case studies from Pittsburg Unified School District (presented by Matthew Belasco) and Laguna Beach Unified School District (presented by Gloria Harwood) and reflections on goals and commitments for driving sustainability efforts forward.
View agenda and resources at: https://tinyurl.com/CAGreenRibbonNetworkDec2024
View video recording at: https://youtu.be/rwHrecoCeFg
September 2024 CA Green Ribbon Network Meeting: The September 2024 California Green Ribbon Network Meeting focused on the success with the Green Ribbon Application. George Garcia (CDE) and Andra Yeghoian (Ten Strands) previewed key resources for successfully managing and submitting an application, and provided time for network participants to meet and share resources and best practices in breakout rooms.
View agenda and resources at: www.tinyurl.com/CAGreenRibbonNetworkSep2024
View video recording at: https://youtu.be/kVAQKJMaXTg
CALIFORNIA GREEN RIBBON NETWORK MEETING RECORDINGS: 2023-24 Season
May 2024 CA Green Ribbon Network Meeting: The May 2024 California Green Ribbon Network Meeting focused on the Connections between Living Schoolyards and the Green Ribbon Program. Guest speakers included: Andra Yeghoian sharing an overview to Living Schoolyards and Green Ribbon; Rachel Pringle of Green Schoolyards America providing history on Living Schoolyard Month and where to find resources, John Fisher of Life Lab sharing about the importance of school gardens, and Jas Bains Wright and Heather Merodio sharing their Green Ribbon alumni achievement story from Suisun Valley K-8.
View agenda and resources at www.tinyurl.com/CAGreenRibbonNetworkMay2024
View video recording at: https://youtu.be/01HNCUXKnX8
March 2024 CA Green Ribbon Network Meeting: The March 2024 California Green Ribbon Network Meeting focused on Green Ribbon Pillar III - Environmental Education. Guest speakers included Andra Yeghoian sharing resources for Environmental Education Policy and Environmental Literacy Plans, and Natalie Taylor sharing the Environmental Education journey and programs for Claremont Unified School District.
View agenda and resources at www.tinyurl.com/CAGreenRibbonNetworkMarch2024
View video recording at: https://youtu.be/ImTGuP7FqVg
January 2024 CA Green Ribbon Network Meeting: The January 2024 California Green Ribbon Network Meeting focused on Resource Conservation and connections between Pillar I and Pillar III. Guest speakers included Michelle Cevallos sharing a statewide perspective and resources from CalRecycle, and Fenna Gatty sharing a case study of zero waste in acton at Livermore Unified School District.
View agenda and resources at www.tinyurl.com/CAGreenRibbonNetworkJan2024
View video recording at: https://youtu.be/5neoxTHXPYU
October 2023 CA Green Ribbon Network Meeting: The October 2023 California Green Ribbon Network Meeting focused on systems change and platforms for prioritizing environmental and climate action in districts and schools. The guest speaker for this workshop was Andra Yeghoian, Chief Innovation Officer at Ten Strands.
View agenda and resources at www.tinyurl.com/CAGreenRibbonNetworkOct2023
View video recording at: https://youtu.be/PM1cvSBR8cA
TOURS AND SITE VISITS
Green Strides Tour 2023: Each fall, the ED Infrastructure and Sustainability Initiative shares innovative practices and resources in the areas of sustainable schools by coordinating the Green Strides tour, which highlights ED-GRS honorees. In September 2023, the Green Strides Tour came to Northern and Central California with the theme Schools for Climate Solutions. Check out the recap of this event in the following resources: