The Environmental Excellence Recognition celebrates the outstanding efforts of PTA units, Councils and members who demonstrate exceptional dedication to promoting sustainability and environmental awareness within their schools and communities.
This Recognition recognizes initiatives that not only educate and engage students, families, and staff on environmental issues but also inspire practical action towards creating greener and healthier school environments. Through their commitment to environmentally responsible practices and education, these PTAs exemplify leadership in shaping a sustainable future for our children and communities. Winners receive a digital certificate!
Questions? Email environment@nyspta.org
This is a great “giveback” opportunity for PTAs to offer for the whole school/community at minimal cost.
Challenge for classrooms, students and families.
Additional Resources:
🌟 2025 Environmental Excellence Recognition Recipients 🌟
These PTAs went above and beyond to celebrate Earth Day in meaningful, creative, and community-centered ways:
🌿 Copiague PTA Council – They launched the “Fill the Bin” Challenge, a community initiative encouraging families to recycle clothing, shoes, and textiles at the Tanner Park Clothes Bin. The effort supported both environmental responsibility and students, every donation helped fund scholarships! They ran a themed Facebook campaign with daily posts, school shoutouts, and a gift card incentive. Families shared recycling photos using #CopiagueRecycles, and the most engaged school earned a Green School Recognition Award. The challenge blended sustainability and school spirit to benefit students and the planet.
🌿 Tamarac PTA – They celebrated Earth Day with a special student giveback: zinnia seed envelopes to inspire environmental care. The students responded with excitement and thank-you cards, showing enthusiasm for both planting and the planet. The PTA also donated flowers to enhance the school’s front garden, contributing to a greener, more welcoming space for their students and the community. The PTA shared the beauty of flowers and received the gift of gratitude.
🌿 Brookside PTA – Brookside’s “Spring Cleaning” initiative and their FUNDrive was a creative way to combine fundraising with eco-conscious action, diverting over a ton of reusable items from landfills while raising funds for the school. The second graders’ participated in the Cornell Cooperative Extension program, where they learned about gardening, composting, and caring for the environment. They’re teaching sustainability early and showing that a little spring cleaning can make a big impact for both the school and the planet!
🌿 Monroe One BOCES SEPTA – They organized a community cleanup around the school on Earth Day, collecting nearly two pounds of trash! Over several weeks, students planted vegetable seeds and are now conducting science experiments to observe how soil, water, and light affect plant growth. Each class is growing different vegetables, which students will take home at the end of the project. Allowing students to take plants home reinforced environmental responsibility beyond the classroom.
🌿 Seaford Harbor Elementary PTA – For Earth Day, they combined a school grounds cleanup with their annual planting. Families were invited to stay after dismissal, with supplies like gloves, garbage bags, and shovels provided. Volunteers helped clean and plant flowers in front of the school, and each received a seed packet to plant at home – proving that little seeds can grow lots of joy!
🌿 Nokomis PTA – Their transformation of neglected flower beds into a thriving pollinator garden is inspiring. They partnered with the LI Native Plant Initiative, local businesses and families for native/local and organic supplies to create an interactive learning area for students. They introduced green initiatives, sponsored local farm field trips, and created eco-friendly upcycling crafts. Third grade even released butterflies in the garden
