Seattle Green teams hit the schools with practical ideas for getting kids involved

WALKING THE TALK

Meet Peter Hubbard, a fourth-grade teacher at Lawton Elementary in Seattle.

• Accomplishment: Key organizer of the city's green schools movement.

• True to grass roots: Formed a "green team" at his school and a network to support teachers, parents and students who want to see environmental stewardship grow.

Q: How do you work the environment into your teaching and school?

A: We're out doing habitat restoration in the park, lunchtime composting, and kids come before school to empty recycling bins. Some kids are walking to school instead of getting driven. It's not making a huge impact, just getting kids used to it.

Q: Why do you do it?

A: We're all worried about where it's headed. Schools should be major players in terms of actually doing something.

Q: How involved are Seattle's schools in the green movement?

A: I'm trying to get green teams set up in lots of schools. What's missing is a committed core of people to carry it on for years, because there's not just one solution. The district hasn't thrown its official weight behind it perhaps as much as it could. That would propel it forward.

Q: Do kids get this green thing?

A: I think it's become part of the culture in a lot of ways. They know about it, they care about it.

Q: Any angry parents?

A: Five years ago you could have one or two families in the classroom that, even if you're reading an article about global warming, they would challenge you. That's pretty much gone away.

Q: What's the next phase for schools to tackle?

A: Schools can form green teams and join our networking site: www.seattleschoolsgtn.ning.com. Washington Green Schools also is launching a comprehensive program for action projects schools can do: www.wagreenschools.org.

Michelle Ma is a former Seattle Times staff reporter. Erika Schultz is a Times staff photographer.