Volume 11 | Issue 4
Happy Holidays!
Wishing you a joyous holiday season filled with warmth, laughter, and cherished moments. As we bid farewell to 2023, may the coming year bring you abundant happiness, success, and new adventures. Join our End of Year Campaign and donate to help us reach our $1,000 goal before 12/31/23 here!
World News
Climate Negotiations are done,
now what?
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) came out with this summary document that provides an overview of the key outcomes of global climate action across 4 pillars:

  1. fast-tracking a just, orderly, and equitable energy transition;
  2. fixing climate finance;
  3. focusing on people, lives, and livelihoods; and
  4. underpinning everything with full inclusivity. 
Check out more pictures from the meeting in Dubai here - UN Climate Change Conference Album

View more reflections and pictures from some of our partners who attended this year.
Local Highlights
Student Highlight

Holly Thorpe has demonstrated remarkable dedication and achievement at MAST Academy in spearheading various Green Initiatives. Holly led the charge in identifying high sources of CO2 pollution and making changes to improve the air quality of both indoors and outdoors. Through her research she was able to provide overwhelming data and advocated to the School Board to apply for available funds where they were awarded $11.6 million to replace 50 old diesel school buses with new electric buses.
School Highlight
Coral Reef Sr. High School students have taken the challenge of reducing their school's waste! Mrs. Martinez's Ecology Club spent the first half of the year creating recycling boxes for teachers to promote recycling at their school. Teams pick up recycling weekly and sort it so it can be disposed of correctly.

Did you know that less than 10% of plastic is recycled in the US? The rest goes into the landfills, which bring hazards such as odor, increased GHGs, bugs, and water supply contamination.
Have a school or student we should highlight? Contact us with a picture and short description of the project/impact at info@dreamingreen.org
Upcoming Events for Teachers
Incorporating citizen science into K-12 classrooms PD
DATE: Friday, Jan. 19th, 2024
LOCATION: Frost Science Museum
TIME: 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM
REGISTRATION: M-DCPS MyLearning Plan or contact barbara@dreamingreen.org

DESCRIPTION: Teachers will be trained on the importance of citizen science and will be exposed to several local and national citizen science opportunities available to them. 
Green Schools Challenge Mid-Year Meeting for Teachers
DATE: Saturday, January 27th, 2024
LOCATION: Virtual
TIME: 10 AM - 11 AM
REGISTRATION: bit.ly/GSCMidYear or contact us

DESCRIPTION: Check-in with all registered schools on progress of program as well as presentation of upcoming opportunities and grants. Bonus points given to schools for attending. No MPP available for this meeting.
Opportunities for Students
NOAA's Ocean Guardian Youth Ambassador Program

Deadline: Jan. 5, 2024
Are you a young person passionate about the ocean and the natural environment? Want to become an environmental leader at your school or in your community? Looking for ways to develop the skills you need to engage in conservation opportunities? Apply to the new NOAA Ocean Guardian Youth Ambassador Program! Any interested individual between the ages of 13 and 18 from the United States and U.S. territories are encouraged to apply.
EPA: 2024 President's Environmental Awards

Deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Do you have an existing environmental stewardship project or an idea for a project? The EPA’s Office of Environmental Education is requesting applications for the 2024 President’s Environmental Youth Awards (PEYA).
For PEYA, EPA will select up to two winners in each of the agency’s 10 regions: one regional winner for Grades K-5 and one regional winner for Grades 6–12. Winning projects will be highlighted on EPA’s website.
Apply for the CRAFT Scholarship @Barry University

Deadline: Feb. 16, 2024
This program, Cultivating Resilience Through Agriculture and Food Training (CRAFT) seeks to provide full scholarships and academic support for motivated students in majors related to the science of food, nutrition, and social and personal interactions, including applications of biology, chemistry, sociology, criminology, and data analysis to promote planetary and community health.
EarthEcho International's OurEcho Challenge Competition

Deadline: March 1, 2024
This STEM competition empowers changemakers to take a closer look at biodiversity in their communities. Young leaders will identify threats to local ecosystems and then propose solutions to help preserve, protect, or restore those natural resources. Open to students ages 13-16. Top prizes of up to $5,000 for project implementation.
Celebrating the Holidays
Origins of Traditions and Celebrations

Ever wonder why we celebrate the way we do? National Geographic has put together their Holiday 101 stories to explain some popular celebrations. Check out some interesting stories below:
Dreaming of a Green Holiday? Start with recycling right!
Thanking Our 2023 Sponsors
Dream in Green | www.dreamingreen.org