Youth led non-profit Teens Turning Green (TTG) is mobilizing high school and college students across the country to green their lifestyles through the 30-day Project Green Challenge, powered by Natracare. From October 1 – 30 students will take on one challenge a day, each focused on a specific action aimed at building a powerful, diverse and far reaching movement that inspires youth to transition from conventional to conscious and take small steps that will help sustain a healthy and just world.
Throughout the month of October, daily challenges will be outlined on ProjectGreenChallenge.com and in emails sent to each registered participant. Participants will share their responses and experiences on ProjectGreenChallenge.com, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Participants that complete the 30-day Challenge can apply for the “challenge finals.” 10 finalists will be selected to participate in Green University, a two-day eco-summit held in the Bay Area, California this December 3 + 4.
Finalists will be flown to San Francisco where they will learn from esteemed eco leaders, present experiences from the 30-day Challenge, and work together to create unique platforms for social action. These platforms will then be implemented by Teens Turning Green and youth nationwide in 2012. Green University will culminate with the selection of the Project Green Challenge Champion by a panel of judges. The champion will win prizes, including a college scholarship, grocery gift certificate, bicycle, head-to-toe eco makeover with clothing, hair, skin and body care products, eco dorm or bedroom makeover, and more, as well as the opportunity to work with TTG in the coming year.
“The challenge aims to raise awareness amongst our generation about conscious living, informed consumption, and the collective impact of individual actions. The idea started as a way to empower my friends and peers to take action in their own lives and on their school campuses,” said Erin Schrode, 20, Project Green Challenge program director and co-founder of TTG. “We want to inspire everyone to make simple, fun changes that will have a lasting impact on our health and that of the planet.”
Schrode, along with her mother, TTG founder and executive director Judi Shils, and 15 TTG interns from around the country spent the last four months developing the concept, partner collaborations, and multimedia platform. They’ve reached out to hundreds of colleges, universities and high schools to take part. Participating schools include Bard College, Boston University, Brown University, Drexel University, Furman University, Harvard University, Indiana University, Marquette University, New York University, Northern Arizona University, Towson University, University of Alabama, University of Arizona, University of Georgia, University of Texas, Wellesley College, and many more.
“Initial response to Project Green Challenge has been incredible and inspiring. Environmental science teachers are using the Challenge as a basis for curriculum during that month. Student government, Greek life and eco councils are spearheading the movement on many campuses,” said Shils. “Our hope is to have hundreds of schools and organizations participating. These students from across the country will collaborate with TTG to develop social action platforms and work to change the world in powerful and impactful ways.”
For more information, to sign up, and get involved,
visit ProjectGreenChallenge.com or call 415.289.1001.
