Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board is proud to be engaged in a partnership with EarthCARE An Environmental Education Partnership. The district has been involved with EarthCARE since 2005. EarthCARE is a unique environmental stewardship program. While it offers curriculum-compliant resources and activity-based learning, it is the delivery strategies that make the program distinct and ensure success in energy reduction and environmental action.

Involvement of students, school staff and senior staff is facilitated through a partnership model
that focuses efforts and generates returns. Students are the drivers of the initiatives; their ideas
and enthusiasm are embraced. Teachers and support staff from each school have taken
on the responsibility as EarthCARE team leaders. Building operators are trained to operate their buildings more efficiently and are active, important members of each school's EarthCARE team. Support is provided to manage the project implementation and provide the training. The return on the investment is as much as three times the cost and these gains can be shared with the participating schools for their use.

EarthCARE's mission is to develop environmental stewardship at school, at home, and in the community. Its goal is to turn energy waste into educational value and savings. Together, students, staff, and parents are making a difference, now and for our future.

Making progress . . . reducing our carbon footprint one step at a time

Making a difference through participation

• 100% school participation - all schools participating at some level (54 elementary schools, eight secondary schools and Education Centre personnel).
• 35 principals, 65 team leaders and 42 building operators in schools make a significant difference every day.
• 685 students involved in planning and leading environmental initiatives.
• Nine schools had parent/guardian and community involvement.

Making a difference through audit results

• Potential for reduction in wasted electricity related only to use of lights and computers is $150,000 - $260,000.
• 2009 spring audit indicated improvement in occupant behaviour in three theme areas: energy, water and waste as compared to baseline data from fall 2005.
  • LOCO (lights off, computers off), dropped 19% since 2005, representing an estimated $208,200 savings for the 2008-2009 school year.

Making a difference through actions

• Overwhelming increase in the interest and number of environmental activities in schools, including the following:
  • Hosting EarthStock and Voltathon events at Moira Secondary School.
  • Campaigning to encourage students to walk to school to save fossil emissions at Park Dale School.
  • Creating a Stream of Dreams at Queen Victoria School to enhance community awareness of cleaner rivers, streams, and creeks.
  • Adding 3,252 One Million Acts of Green by Quinte Secondary School students to the growing international list of accomplishments.
  • Presenting at the Ministry of Education Environmental Education in Ontario – Acting Today, Shaping Tomorrow conference in Toronto.
• Other actions included: litterless lunches, environmental videos, poster contest, celebration slide shows, community partnerships and various Earth Day and Earth Week activities.

Making a difference through curriculum links

• Linking existing curriculum with the EarthCARE initiative provides a meaningful vehicle for instruction.
• Science, Mathematics and Literacy are linked to the EarthCARE initiative.
• There are also links to major HPEDSB initiatives such as Growing with Character and Healthy Active School Communities.

Making a difference through support

• Team coordinator supports schools through school visits, presentations and training.
• Environmental technologist engages students in recycling habits.
• Web resources provide both information and ideas to team leaders and students.
• Information is shared with principals, teachers and students through training, brochures and handouts.
• EarthCARE success stories are published on the EarthCARE website to encourage and support schools.

Making a difference through rewards

• Schools are eligible to receive up to $2,000 for participate in EarthCARE initiatives.
• All schools that participate qualified for gain-sharing incentive.
• All schools receive an EarthCARE kit.

Making a difference through continual improvement

• More special events and presentation are being offered to motivate and encourage staff and students.
• Teams are challenged to build connections with communities and encouraged to establish partnerships.
• Ongoing and increased communication through regular updates, reminders and sharing of ideas.