Green School Guidelines & Application in Arid Regions

Sustainable Built Environments Senior Capstone ProjectThere is a worldwide movement towards sustainability. A stepping-stone towards a sustainability conscience population starts in the education of the younger generation. Focusing on improving education specifically in middle schools in arid regions regarding sustainability will shift and shape youths’ interests and lifestyles into an educated community. This sustainability conscience community will continue to make moral sustainable decisions in their future endeavors. The curriculum implemented will reduce the dropout rate because it is a hand-on curriculum that is interesting and enjoyable for kids. The focus of the curriculum is to rely on outdoor activities to create an outdoor learning environment. The curriculum is based on three different sections: 1) campus-wide adaptable strategies implemented by the students, 2) long term investments implemented by professionals, 3) and hands-on activities that will encourage students to go outdoors and experience real-life problems. To create this education system, the author will propose design guidelines and applications that will be used to improve middle schools particularly in arid regions to become “Green Schools”. This program will validate the sustainable strategies, projects, and efforts done at schools and will also market their school as a model to follow. This will explain what it takes to become a Green School in arid regions and how to achieve these standards.This item is part of the Sustainable Built Environments collection. For more information, contact http://sbe.arizona.edu