La Center High School Awarded National Green Ribbon Award from U.S. Dept. of Education

La Center High School has been awarded the United States Department of Education's Green Ribbon Award, in national recognition of their inspiring sustainability efforts. Clark County Green Schools has supported La Center High School's sustainability work for over a decade from a local level. Samantha Springs, Clark County Green Schools lead, said that "La Center High School being awarded the Green Ribbon award is a huge accomplishment for this school, and for our county! Clark County schools have long been a leader in promoting environmental sustainability, and LCHS receiving this national award is an important recognition of this effort!"

La Center High School will be sending students to Washington DC in July to accept the Green Ribbon award. Paula Leach, a science teacher at La Center High School said that "The Green Ribbon Award has given my classes a sense of pride and feeling that their efforts have been acknowledged. It is motivating to my current classes to think about the impact of their work in the environment and how their learning can be forwarded to others."

La Center High School has demonstrated an impressive commitment to protecting the environment for well over a decade. La Center High School became the first High School in Washington State to earn the EarthGen Platinum Certification in 2016, a statewide honor recognizing La Center High School's commitment to developing school sustainability policies. They completed all seven school certifications that ranged from energy and water conservation to waste reduction to healthy school grounds and gardens. Over the years, they have worked with the Clark County Green Schools program to reduce waste and learn more about how they can take environmental action at school.

 La Center High School's Environmental Action Team (EAT)

La Center High School's Environmental Action Team (EAT) is a school club focusing on promoting sustainability efforts within the school. Staff mentor and Environmental Science teacher Rebecca Morris was awarded the 2018 Clark County Green Schools Green Apple Award. The club is led by student officers Bella Parke, Sabrina Joner, and Sierra Gram. EAT is responsible for initiating and completing many environmental projects at La Center High School. The school boasts several gardens, including a 4,000 square foot garden where edible produce is grown and used in the cafeteria and donated to the North Clark County Food Bank. High School EAT Club members also mentor 4th grade students in La Center School District, educating them on sustainability topics such as clean energy and healthy watersheds.

The EAT Club is currently working to receive permit approvals to build a GreenShed on school campus, a building that will dually function as an educational learning space and a utilitarian shed. Clark PUD and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation Clean Energy Program has partnered with La Center High School to provide the shed with solar panels, lighting fixtures, educational materials, rain barrels and native plants.

Support La Center High School 

Follow La Center High School EAT Club on Instagram (@e.a.t_lchs) to stay up to date on club happenings and receive news about the National Green Ribbon Award. 

La Center High School's Environmental Action Team will be hosting a fundraiser at the Mod Pizza in Battle Ground on June 8th. 

Monetary donations can be made directly to the La Center High School Environmental Action Team through La Center High School. Donations and fundraised proceeds will be used to carry forth EAT club activities at La Center High School as well as fund the club's trip to Washington DC this July to accept the national Green Ribbon Award.