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RiverSmart Schools

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The 2023/2024 RiverSmart Schools Application Deadline has been extended to March 1, 2024. For questions, please reach out to P. Trinh Doan, [email protected].

Schoolyard Greening and Conservation

For teachers and their students of all ages, pre-K through 12th grade.

Students plant flowers outside school with RiverSmart gardener supervision

What Students Gain

These innovative schoolyard greening projects focus on incorporating landscape design principles that create habitat for wildlife, emphasize the use of native plants, highlight water conservation, and retain and filter stormwater runoff. They have the added benefits of an outdoor classroom that supports effective teaching practices and promotes student learning.

Creating wetlands, ponds and meadows or planting trees, shrubs and gardens can add beauty and diversity to a site, while fostering ecological awareness and "big picture" thinking in those who participate. These projects will teach gardening and community service skills, improve the aesthetics of school grounds, and build student and community pride.

What Teachers Gain

In addition to installing new schoolyard green space, the program provides teachers with the training and resources they need to use their conservation site to teacher lessons based on the DCPS Standards. The garden will serve as a permanent outdoor learning tool for teachers to provide hands-on learning in many areas of study.

- RiverSmart Schools Application

Service Contact: 
Trinh Doan, Environmental Program Specialist
Contact Email: 
Contact Phone: 
(202) 535-1653
Contact TTY: 
711