The leaves may be changing colors soon, but students across the country are going green. A youth-led organization is engaging high school and college students in a 30-day challenge to adjust their habits and go green.
The Project Green Challenge, which began October 1, offers participating students 30 daily tips "to raise awareness about conscious living, informed consumption, and the collective impact of individual actions, as well as empower students with actionable steps for their own lives," according to the project's website.
The Project Green Challenge is a campaign by the student-led organization Teens Turning Green. Founded in 2005, the group is "devoted to education and advocacy around environmentally and socially responsible choices for individuals, schools, and communities."
The aim of the 30-day challenge is to both inspire students to alter their own habits and to reach out and touch others. The students who use internet and social media the most to share their experiences will have the opportunity to travel to San Francisco for a two day educational conference called "Green University."
Teens Turning Green co-founder Erin Schrode, 20, describes the Project Green Challenge as "thirty simple steps to take your life from conventional to conscious."
She told The Huffington Post that despite this being Project Green Challenge's first year, her organization has received a strong response from youth in 44 states and across the world.
Schrode was clear about her organization's mission. She said they want "to change the world, to prove that apathy is out, and to empower young people to be the change we wish to see in the world."
She added, "I want to demonstrate to my peers that you can live consciously without sacrificing anything, be it quality, style, time, whatever."
Audubon is also encouraging kids to take action for the environment. They recently launched the year-long Pennies for the Planet campaign encouraging youth to learn about conservation while raising money for environmental projects.
Schools are also taking steps to be more environmentally conscious. Schools in states such as Kentucky, New York and Virginia have all built facilities that implement alternative energy sources and increased efficiency measures. The state of Maryland is now including environmental literacy as a high school graduation requirement.
Be sure to find out how you can be a part of October's International Walk to School Month.
For information about how you can get involved with the Project Green Challenge, visit the campaign's website.