Connect the Dots Green Schools Mentor

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Complete the formal application: https://usgbc.wufoo.com/forms/connect-the-dots-green-schools-mentor

Volunteer Position Overview

The Connect the Dots Green Schools Program challenges schools across DC, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia to make strides towards sustainability. Each participating school is matched with a volunteer mentor in the green building industry to facilitate creative and impactful school wide sustainability initiatives. It is the volunteer mentor’s role to help organize and plan projects that aim to lower energy & maintenance costs, conserve natural resources, promote environmental literacy, and improve the learning environment for students and staff.

For more information on the program, visit USGBC’s Connect the Dots website.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with K-12 school staff, parents, and students to plan and organize a sustainability initiative and/or project. The project may take the form of a year-long awareness campaign, targeted day of service, planning charrette, or other activity focused on improving the school environment. Projects should be able to be reasonably completed over the course of the 2017-2018 school year, and should not engage in any major capital construction campaigns.
• Provide guidance and facilitate connections between the school community and local partners, tools & resources, and subject matter experts.
• Take a leadership role in following up with project members and keeping program deadlines on track for completion. Plan to devote 2-5 hours per month working with the school over the course of the school year.
• Communicate with the USGBC Connect the Dots staff liaison and fellow mentors throughout the duration of the program.

Benefits

Volunteer mentors have the opportunity to engage in community service, gain valuable leadership experience, and network with other industry professionals. Volunteers will be able to use their knowledge to facilitate visible changes and sustainable progress within a school, benefitting teachers, students, and the surrounding community. Volunteers will teach and engage others about topics within the realm of sustainability and will inspire school children to become responsible stewards of the environment. Participating schools and volunteer mentors will be celebrated at the annual Connect the Dots Awards ceremony in the spring.

Qualifications

• Experience with the LEED(r) rating system and/or green building techniques and strategies.
• Creative thinker with strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
• Willingness to connect with local partners, tools & resources, and subject matter experts who can assist in the planning and implementation of the projects as needed
• Must be comfortable working with teachers, parents, and students in a K-12 school environment.
• Must be a member of your local USGBC Community.

Time Commitment

August 2017-April 2018

Milestones throughout the course of the program include:

• August: Program orientation with other volunteer mentors in the region, via webinar
• September/October: Matching with a school and initial planning meetings/kick-off events
• November-December: Project planning
• January: Check in with USGBC Connect the Dots staff liaison and fellow mentors via webinar
• February-March: Project planning/implementation
• March: Wrap up projects, submit for awards consideration
• April: Connect the Dots Awards Ceremony