Green Team
Parent volunteers support Wolftrap’s Principal in increasing connections between learning and the environment, schoolwide.
In the 2019-20 school year, Wolftrap will launch work to complete its first Eco-Schools program Pathway!
Eco-Schools USA is a national program by the National Wildlife Federation that FCPS promotes to increase environmental stewardship. Visit the Eco-Schools USA page. By achieving student-set goals, Wolftrap will be officially recognized for this highly regarded commitment to environmental stewardship as a school community!
Established by our Principal for launch in the 2019-20 school year, three teams of 12 students each in grades 4 through 6 will meet during the school year to assess problems and implement solutions to make our school more environmentally sustainable:
1. Consumption and Waste
2. Transportation
3. Energy Conservation
Students applied to participate in Spring 2019, for this first year of the program.
Our work also is guided by the award-winning FCPS Get2Green Program.
Have questions? Contact chair Melanie Meren at gogreen@wolftrappta.org.
Schoolyard Learning
Wolftrap welcomed its first outdoor classroom in Fall 2017! Promoting outdoor learning is a proven strategy for improving academic outcomes, providing physical and mental health benefits, and promoting environmental stewardship.
Teachers requested an outdoor space to bring students to, for learning a variety of subject matter content. To launch the classroom in 2017, Mrs. Khuluki welcomed all teachers to have a read-aloud with each class in the new space.
The outdoor classroom has become a location regularly used by teachers to lead lessons, provide time for writing, explore natural habitat through science activities, and more! Visitors afterschool and on weekends also enjoy and use the space.
Our outdoor classroom space generously received built tables and an easel as a result of a local Eagle Scout's project! Thank you to J&L Tree Service for helping with the first classroom set up
With the success of the space, the Wolftrap community is eager to continue expanding outdoor learning opportunities. And, the space needs continuous upkeep and care. Please contact the Green Team to help with upkeep and to hear about upcoming work and clean up events.
Also, teachers lead students on educational mini-field trips of our namesake Wolftrap Creek behind school, making connections between Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies and more to what is literally in our backyard!
Learn more about outdoor learning from the Children & Nature Network's Green Schoolyards initiative.
Cafeteria Recycling and Food Share
This continuing program helps us responsibly dispose of unopened food that would otherwise go in the trash. We follow the FCPS Recycling Program. Student Green Team members help facilitate separating these items during lunch. The unopened food goes to local families in need - fostering not only waste reduction, but compassion.
How to help:
1. Volunteer to assist students with facilitating the sorting system during lunch
2. Sign up here to deliver unopened food to Food for Others on scheduled days between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Safe Routes to School Transportation Initiatives
Using feet to get to school conserves natural resources and helps students be healthy and engage with their environment. Wolftrap has a history of high participation for walking and biking to school.
Every other Wednesday is “Walking Wednesday”, where there’s even coffee provided by Caffe Amouri to add motivation for parents! We also have regularly scheduled Bike Trains, which will be on the PTA calendar.
Help is welcome on Walking Wednesdays from about 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., and also on Bike Train days, to keep students moving in the right direction and arrive to class on time.
Past Activities
School Environmental Action Showcase (SEAS)
In Spring 2017, the student Green Team attended SEAS at George Mason University, where hundreds of students shared their school greening strategies. Our team exhibited their tactics for improving recycling schoolwide. The team’s work resulted in an estimated 25% increase in the amount of recycling happening in our cafeteria! SEAS is an annual event hosted by NoVA Outside.
Nature Art
Students also participated in nature art activities using loose parts to create mathematical designs and structures.
Contact the Green Team at gogreen@wolftrappta.org.
