The Get2Green Scene

April Showers Bring #FCPSEarthWeek - April 20-24

Spring is almost here, and that means Earth Week is around the corner! Get2Green is hosting FCPS Earth Week April 20-24, 2026. The themes for Earth Week are:

• Monday, April 20 – wear nature print for Wildlife Day
• Tuesday, April 21 – wear white for Zero Waste Day
  • Since FCPS schools will now be closed Tuesday, April 21 for the state-wide special election, Get2Green recommends schools incorporate Zero Waste throughout the week or shift days as it makes sense for your school

• Wednesday, April 22 – wear green for Earth Day
• Thursday, April 23 – wear red for Climate Change Day
• Friday, April 24 – wear blue for Watershed Day

Engage students with FCPS Earth Week BINGO boards, Days of Service, and more. Check the Get2Green Earth Week webpage for everything you need to get started. Use #FCPSEarthWeek to share how you’re celebrating.

Calling All FCPS Students: You’re Invited to Get2Green’s First Student Action Summit!

Join fellow FCPS students in grades K-12 for an evening of learning and connecting about environmental action at schools. The Student Action Summit will take place Thursday, May 14 from 5:30-7pm in the FCPS Welcome Center at 8270 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive, Fairfax, VA. The evening will include:

Student Sharing- an opportunity for students to share their Get2Green/environmental story and learn from one another’s successes.

• Interested in sharing? Here are some topics to include: What issue are you working to solve? What did you try? Who helped? Presentation options are flexible and may include a tri-fold board, artifacts from your work, or a slidedeck. We encourage students to work as a team to share. 
• Those who choose not to present will have the opportunity to walk around, listen, and connect with those sharing.

Facilitated breakout discussions on environmental issues- talk in small groups about challenges and possible solutions to issues such as Outdoor Learning, Gardening, Zero Waste (reducing waste, food sharing, recycling), and Climate Change.

This event is open to all students in Fairfax County Public Schools. Elementary school students must be accompanied by an adult. Register for the FCPS Get2Green Student Action Summit. A confirmation email with additional details will be sent to all registrants and their families. Questions? Email Get2Green@fcps.edu. Registration closes on Friday, May 8, 2026.

Check out and share the Get2Green Student Action Summit event flyer!

May After School Special: Reflection and Looking Ahead to Summer

Reflect on your year's journey, see how other schools have shared their successes, and make a plan to finish your year strong. Discover tips for eco-friendly celebrations and clean outs, and learn expert tips for summer-proofing your school garden. Please note that this is a repeat of a session offered in 2024 and 2025. This after school special will take place on Zoom on Monday, May 4, 2026 from 5-7pm. Register for the May After School Special in MyPDE.

Events and Opportunities for Students and Families

Earth Month Community Events

Looking for fun events to celebrate Earth Day all month long? Check out these upcoming events in Fairfax County and follow the links to each event for full details:

• Green Reston will be held Saturday, April 11 from 10 am - noon at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. You can also participate in the Green Reston Scavenger Hunt April 1-30.
• Providence Earth Day Celebration will be held Saturday, April 18 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Graham Road Community Center.
• Vienna Green Expo will be held on Thursday, April 23  from 7 - 9 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center.
• Fairfax County Park Authority's Earth Day Festival will be held Saturday, April 25 from 10am-4pm at Lake Fairfax Park. Admission is free; parking is $10 per car. 
• Fairfax County Public Library Earth Month Reading Challenge, April 1-April 30, 2026. Get inspired to build a sustainable future for our world by broadening your horizons through reading and Earth Month activities. Join the Sustain Fairfax Challenge, conserve energy, reduce waste and read books! Earn FIVE virtual badges by reading or listening to books, reading for 30 minutes, completing activities or a combination of all three to earn a bingo!
• The Reston Association's Spring Festival will be held on Saturday, May 2 from 1 - 5 pm at Walker Nature Center.

Spring 2026 Tree Rescuer Extravaganza

Fairfax Tree Rescuers PRISM is organizing a series of tree rescues around the county. The extravaganza runs March 21-April 12, so there’s still time to find a tree rescue event near you.

Fairfax County Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) Seeking Student Representative

The Fairfax County Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) is seeking a student member for the July 2026- August 2027 term. Students interested in the environment, climate, and learning about local government environmental policy are welcome to apply. The application is open to all interested high school sophomores and juniors who are in good standing. Eligible public school, parochial, private school, and homeschooled students are encouraged to apply by Sunday, April 12, 2026. Learn more about the Student Representative to EQAC role and apply here. If you have questions or comments about EQAC or for the EQAC members, please email eqac@fairfaxcounty.gov. 

Youth Conservation Camp for HS Students

Applications are now open for Youth Conservation Camp, a week-long summer camp sponsored by the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. This year’s camp will be held July 12-18, 2026 on the Virginia Tech campus. This program will focus on forestry, soil, aquatics, and wildlife to teach 9th-12th graders more about the natural world with hands-on experience with conservation professionals. NVSWCD offers financial assistance and nominates campers in this selective program. Students in grades 9-12 are eligible to apply. Applications are due Monday, April 20. Learn more about Youth Conservation Camp, including how to apply and contact NVSWCD with questions.

Arcadia Farm Summer Internship Applications Open

Arcadia Farm is seeking rising 10th-12th grade students from West Potomac, Mount Vernon, Lewis, South County, and Hayfield High Schools for its 2026 Live, Eat, Grow Youth Internship Program. Interns commit 80 hours to learn gardening, communication, and leadership skills through hands-on experiences at Arcadia Farm as well as other community gardens in the Route 1 area. Interns are then paired with a L.E.G. Garden Partner where they help overall garden management and the planting and harvesting of produce. Interns will be paid $15 per hour. Learn more about the 2026 Live, Eat, Grow summer internship and apply.

Events and Opportunities for Teachers

Virginia Naturally Recognition Window Open

The Virginia Naturally (VAN) School Recognition Program is the official environmental education school recognition program of the Commonwealth and is administered by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. The goal of the Virginia Naturally School Recognition Program is to recognize the exemplary efforts undertaken by Virginia schools to increase the Environmental Literacy of its students. If your school has been working to include education about the environment in the curricula, DWR encourages applying for the Virginia Naturally School Recognition Program during the open application period April 1-June 30 each year. Learn more about Virginia Naturally and apply for recognition for 2026.

LEGO Build the Change Institute

Take Action Global supports educators through free, high-quality climate and sustainability programs designed to be engaging, inclusive, and easy to implement. Their final LEGO Build the Change Educator Institute cohort of the school year launches Monday, April 20. This is a great low-lift professional learning experience for educators (ideal for grades 3–8 but open to all) that is perfect for bringing creativity, sustainability, and hands-on learning into your classroom as the year wraps up.

Why join now?