SEAS brings students together to amplify youth voice in environmental problem-solving. Student presenters, green/eco teams, and classroom groups share their projects reducing waste, conserving energy, improving water quality, and preserving natural habitat in their schoolyards and communities.
SEAS allows students, teachers and administrators to network, build knowledge and gain ideas to further their school’s efforts in environmental stewardship. In addition, two dozen partner organizations such as federal, state and local agencies and NGOs provide hands-on green STEAM learning activities for the students and talk to kids about their careers.
The event is held in partnership with George Mason University’s Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center (PEREC) and with Earth Force, which annually hosts the Chesapeake Bay Caring for Our Watersheds competition finals as part of the event. We also partner with the Thinkabit Lab at Virginia Tech, affording students an opportunity to tackle environmental problems using programming and sensors.
Each year SEAS features an eco-art event. In past years these have included a recycled-material mascot contest, a Video Visions exhibition, a photo contest, and a music festival with performances on instruments built from recycled materials.
Elected officials, senior school personnel, corporations, state education officials, and others are invited to the event to share with the students and to become more aware of the strength of student environmental action in Northern Virginia and the importance of supporting such work.
SEAS 2020 was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but you can view the entire recorded virtual SEAS 2021 and/or check out this detailed recap of SEAS 2019.
NoVA Outside is an alliance of environmental educators, schools, businesses, nature centers, non-profits, “green” groups, government agencies, and others who strive to connect people of all ages to the natural environment. Since 2010, NoVA Outside has served as the regional network offering professional development, networking, and resource sharing in Northern Virginia.
