Overview

Formed in March 2001, the San Francisco Green Schoolyard Alliance  (SFGSA) promotes inclusive, community-driven processes that create and maintain healthy, environmentally sustainable learning environments in San Francisco's schools.

Alliance Goals and Objectives:

San Francisco Green Schoolyard Alliance (SFGSA) envisions a future in which each schoolyard operates in concert with its neighborhood and local ecology to foster higher academic achievement, increased environmental stewardship, creativity and community building.

In order to realize this vision for schoolyards, the SFGSA:
• Partners with community members, educators, students, public officials and other supporters
• Actively encourages the integration of green schoolyards with student learning
• Makes the case for green schoolyards based on research and best practices
• Advocates for favorable public policy for green schoolyards
• Secures financial and volunteer resources, and
• Advocates and encourages efficacy and sustainability in the creation and stewardship of each
green schoolyard

Our Background:

The SFGSA is a coalition of Bay Area civic organizations, schools and government agencies (see partner list) whose work supports schoolyard transformations from ordinary asphalt yards into ecologically rich green spaces for learning and play. Our member organizations work together to make things happen in San Francisco's public schools, using our collective voices to successfully advocate for schoolyard greening  (securing $7 million in the November ’03 and '06 San Francisco school bond for schoolyard greening AND winning recognition from the City’s Commission on the Environment for our continuing efforts). 

The SFGSA provides support at the grass-roots level by creating learning, networking and resource-sharing opportunities for school communities.  The SFGSA is also learning from others around the world (Sweden, Canada and England) who are focused on schoolyard greening (see links page).

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It is important to note that the term  "green schoolyards" does not only mean school gardens. Potential green schoolyard elements can include permanent artwork designed by children, water elements (like ponds), solar panels, outdoor seating areas/classrooms, play/shade structures made from natural materials, outdoor ovens, sundials, small farm animals, trees, etc... 

The elements of a green schoolyard must be properly considered and chosen by the school community (teachers, parents, students, administrators and surrounding community members) and should reflect the community’s collective knowledge of the site as well as its interests and creative spirit. The process of determining what a green schoolyard will look like is called a master planning process.

A master planning process allows for creative and inclusive planning and, as the green schoolyard is implemented, ensures buy-in from the community. Community buy-in translates into sustainability since people are much more willing to take ownership of, maintain and enhance green schoolyard elements they help create.  

Master planning also gets students involved in the planning process.  How wonderful that children of all ages can actively participate in deciding what their physical learning environment will look like!

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