Schoolyard stewardship

A green schoolyard is a multifunctional, nature-rich environment. They are designed for play, learning, exploration, and growth. Activities in gardens can encourage students to waste less food, reduce pollution and litter, and show them how organic materials decompose and how nature filters pollutants. Maintaining sustainable schoolyards and incorporating them into school activities improves health and academic performance. Green spaces also foster ecologically diverse learning environments.

School criteria for recognition

Fill out the Schoolyard Stewardship recognition form when you have completed the following criteria:

• Complete at least 1 schoolyard stewardship activity or student project with an adult advisor. Contact your program representative for project ideas.
• Conduct a Waste Walk Through (WWT) every year. Use the information to set goals.
• Share your schoolyard stewardship goals with the rest of the school. Examples could include assemblies, newsletters, announcements, or social media posts.
• Share your schoolyard stewardship efforts and progress with your program representative.

Recognition form

Fill out the Schoolyard Stewardship recognition form. You may fill out the form to receive your benchmark badge at any time during the school year! Contact your program representative if you need assistance filling out the form.

You can complete the recognition form over multiple sessions using the "Save" button. You will be emailed a link that allows you to continue filling out the form. Once the form is complete, select the "Submit" button.

Check out all the schools and districts that were recognized for Schoolyard Stewardship in 2025-2026.

District criteria for recognition

District staff will be invited to apply for recognition once at least 50% of their school are participating in the Green Schools Program. Find the district recognition criteria for this benchmark in the District Benchmark Guide.

Once criteria are met, district staff can fill out the District Schoolyard Stewardship recognition form.

Schoolyard stewardship resources and activities

• Step-by-step guide to designing, creating and maintaining schoolyard habitats
• Guide to creating school gardens as outdoor learning spaces
• Pollinator site assessment form
• Developing a pollinator garden in western Washington
• Storm water assessment guide & rain garden set-up
• Purdue University Extension garden curriculum
• Pacific Northwest growing guide

Interested in learning more? Check out our resource list for more detailed information on this benchmark topic.

Success stories

Chautaqua Elementary School in Vashon Island school district had a goal of revitalizing their school garden this year. For Earth Day, they created an entire day of outdoor learning with a four-station rotation. They created outdoor art, made trail maps for their outdoor space, weeded and planted the garden, and dedicated part of their outdoor space to a beloved teacher who encouraged students to spend more time outdoors.

Students in the Garden Club at Kilo Middle School in Federal Way school district reclaimed part of a small courtyard space and turned it into a native plant garden. To bring awareness to the importance of native plants, the Garden Club grew starts of native plant species to sell at the school's multicultural night.

Gibson Ek High School in Issaquah school district maintains a robust school garden. Harvests from the garden are donated to the Issaquah Food Bank. In addition, ninth grade students participate in a two-month forest restoration lab each year. They work for two months to remove invasive species and plant native species. As a final project, they work in groups to restore a section of the Rainier Trail. Ninth graders have been participating in this project for five years.