While it seems residents across the state of California are finding creative ways to “go green” and conserve during the ongoing drought, next week Turlock Unified School District students will get an education in what it takes to be environmentally friendly through the City of Turlock’s Go Green Week.

For the past eight years the City of Turlock’s Municipal Services Department has spearheaded an environmental education campaign to teach students the importance of ecological stewardship through interactive activities. Nearly 11,400 students from kindergarten through 12 grades will receive visits from local business representatives, witness tree planting, have recycling contests, don green wristbands, participate in a District-wide “wear green day” and more.

"Go Green Week provides additional resources for teachers to incorporate environmental education into their everyday lesson plans in a more hands-on learning environment,” said Go Green Week Coordinator Toni Cordell. “The program seeks to engage students in individual and collective activities to improve their health, to improve their schools, and to inspire participation in building solutions for a sustainable future."  

With the hopes of inspiring local students to take ownership over their own environmental contributions, each year students learn a host of environmentally friendly techniques like how to compost, reduce waste, recycle, and conserve water with the help of City staff, local teachers and administrators, volunteers, and community organizations.

Since its inception Go Green Week has helped the environment through the planting of 141 trees and diversion of over 16,871 pounds of material from landfills. The annual program has also fundraised roughly $7,000 for the schools through the recycling contests.

Go Green Week will take place from March 16-20 and in conjunction with Go Green Week the City of Turlock’s BLAST buses are offering free rides to all passengers for all routes all week long.