Green Team
What is a Green Team?
Durango School District supports Green Teams at each of its schools. A Green Team is an after-school club geared toward helping the environment. We will concentrate on getting educated, spreading the word, and then taking action. Green Teams are active and interactive. With an adult advisor’s supervision, students will do their own research and develop group projects around reducing waste, recycling, conserving energy, and creating green spaces. We will be enjoying movement outside as often as possible. Projects will be fun, practical, and focus on improvements that can be made at the school. We will also work on a District-wide Earth Day project combining our efforts across schools.
Who can be a part of the team?
First through fifth-grade students at Riverview may join the club. Healthy snacks, art materials, and other team items will be provided at no cost to families. Please ensure that your child has an interest in sustainability projects and is willing to participate and attend the club regularly. Space on the team for first- and second-grade students is limited, as there will only be one adult advisor present.
What are the team’s meeting details for 2025-26?
Meetings will be held on the first and third Mondays of the month from 2-3 p.m. starting Sept. 15. (There will be no team meetings when school is closed for holidays or professional development.) We will meet in Room B134. We’re excited to welcome Durango High School Green Team members, who will visit occasionally and work with the advisor to lead fun and educational activities for the team.
What do club members do?
This is a student-led group, which means all Green Team members are expected to actively participate, engage in research and discussion, and be respectful of each other’s perspectives and ideas. Possible projects for 2025-26 may include:
- Poster design and support for the City of Durango Bike to School Day on Oct. 13
- Learning about Bulk Milk Program and Film Plastic Recycling; planting seeds in milk cartons
- Making "Seed Cookies" with native plant seeds, presented by Mountain Studies Institute staff
- SOIL Learning Lab and Grow Dome visits and research on Riverview Elementary School campus
- Visits and crafts from members of the Durango High School Green Team
- Solar-power toy cricket racing and sun-print crafts to learn about district's solar power initiative
- Video production for PSA on the installation of low-flow faucets
- Bike-powered blender racing event
- School Recycling Awareness & Contests/Games
- Radio Station Field Trips to record sustainability PSAs
- Video Production for sustainability PSAs
- Collaboration with Durango High School and Big Picture High School students
- Sustainability Art Contest
- Participation in Durango Earth Day "Species Parade"
What did the Riverview Green Team support in the 2023-24 School Year?
- Our Water by cleaning up riverbanks and placing stormwater drain markings around the city
- Our Plants by preparing the SOIL garden beds for winter, planting vegetable seeds in the Grow Dome, and collecting native seeds to share with the community
- Our Pollinators by maintaining the native plant garden beds at the SOIL garden
- Our Community by building relationships with local organizations (Durango High School Green Team, Mountain Studies Institute, City of Durango, SOIL Learning Lab, and the Colorado Native Plant Society) to learn more about developing sustainable practices in our everyday lives
- Our School by reducing each member’s footprint through learning about and practicing proper waste disposal and water conservation
Who is the 2025-26 Riverview Green Team advisor?
The new Green Team Advisor this year is Karla Sluis (last name rhymes with "juice"). Ms. Sluis has two adult children who had a fantastic experience in Durango School District schools. Her daughter is now a fifth-grade teacher in the Denver area! Ms. Sluis is also the Public Information Officer for Durango School District. Contact her at (970) 749-1781 or email [email protected].
How do I sign up?
A parent/guardian must sign a digital permission slip before the student attends the first meeting. If you have questions, please email [email protected].