Expanding Environmental STEM Education Through the Green Schools Challenge
E-STEM Stories: Branching Out shares stories of innovative E-STEM work from around the world. E-STEM engages students in meaningful, real-world environmental problem-solving that integrates science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
This post highlights Dream in Green, a 2024 recipient of a Global E-STEM Award. These awards, which support both new and established global E-STEM initiatives, are made possible by Pratt & Whitney and the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE).
This blog post was written by Alexandra Gruenbaum, program manager at Dream in Green.
Dream in Green’s flagship program, the Green Schools Challenge (GSC), is a proven E-STEM initiative that empowers K–12 students to solve real-world environmental challenges through hands-on, student-led learning. Since 2006, the GSC has engaged tens of thousands of students across South Florida in climate change solutions, energy efficiency, and sustainable transportation—building the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed for the next generation of environmental leaders.
During the 2024–2025 school year alone, more than 14,300 students at 155 schools participated in the Green Schools Challenge across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. The program integrates science, technology, engineering, and math through project-based learning that connects classroom content to measurable environmental action. Teachers are supported through professional development and training, giving them the tools they need to seamlessly incorporate sustainability topics into their curricula. While many participating teachers are science educators, GSC activities strengthen math, engineering, and technology skills through data collection, audits, design challenges, and systems thinking.
Student-Directed, Real-World Problem Solving
The Green Schools Challenge addresses climate change through six core E-STEM focus areas: energy efficiency, waste reduction and recycling, water conservation, sustainable transportation, food efficiency, and green living. Students investigate how everyday resource use contributes to pollution and carbon emissions, then design and implement solutions within their own schools and communities. "Students are more aware of different methods to conserve the natural environment, as well as the different areas that need to be addressed to sustain our communities. It was also good to see students take up the initiative to lead the Green Schools endeavor on behalf of our school,” said Wilson Rodriguez, a teacher at Jose Marti MAST 6–12 Academy.
High school students collaborate with administrators and facilities staff to conduct audits of electricity, water, and waste usage—applying math and science skills to analyze data and propose conservation strategies. These student-led efforts have had significant impact: participating schools conserved nearly 54 million kilowatt hours of electricity, saving districts $4.8 million and preventing 81.2 million pounds of carbon emissions. Just as importantly, students carry these conservation habits home, extending learning beyond the classroom. By embedding E-STEM learning within public schools, the GSC helps ensure that students most affected by climate change are also equipped to lead solutions.
Building Skills for Environmental Careers
The GSC emphasizes teamwork, creativity, and critical thinking while exposing students to green career pathways. Through partnerships with Florida International University’s School of Architecture, students participate in an annual Design and Build Competition, redesigning parts of South Florida with climate-resilient features and presenting 3D models to professionals in architecture, planning, and sustainability. Last year, students were tasked with redesigning the Miami Marine Stadium, a facility abandoned in 1992 after experiencing extensive damage during Hurricane Andrew. For almost 15 years, the City of Miami has struggled to develop and fund a restoration plan for the facility. Government Commissioners overseeing the project attended the Design & Build Competition to hear directly from students, reinforcing that their ideas can contribute to real-world solutions.
High school students show their 3D model incorporating nature based solutions into a building redesign to judges during the Design & Build Competition. Photo credit: Dream in Green
Additional partnerships—with organizations like Miami-Dade County’s Environmentally Endangered Lands Program, Ocean Conservancy, Solar United Neighbors, and The Everglades Foundation—connect students with experts working in renewable energy, conservation, circular economy, and habitat restoration. These experiences strengthen STEM literacy while showing students how E-STEM skills translate into real careers.
Reaching Underrepresented Communities
The Green Schools Challenge emphasizes supporting Title I schools, which serve children from low-income families. In Miami-Dade (the third largest school district), approximately 70% of schools are Title I-designated, reinforcing the need for programs that enhance STEM opportunities for underrepresented groups. The initiative also targets neighboring districts such as Broward County (the sixth-largest U.S. district with over 80% minority students) and Palm Beach County, as part of its regional expansion.
Dream in Green collaborates with schools and the broader community to strengthen ties between environmental education and green career pathways in STEM fields. The organization continues to foster resilience and ecological literacy across South Florida through tailored programming and partnerships.
Measuring Impact and Looking Ahead
Dream in Green measures outcomes including increased interest in E-STEM, improved environmental knowledge by both teacher and students, stronger confidence in pursuing green careers, and greater community engagement. Surveys show that 93% of students report increased awareness of environmental issues and a stronger sense of responsibility after participating. This is supported by feedback from participating schools: “Positive changes that I observed as a result of participating in the Green Schools Challenge are taking accountability to do the right things and leadership roles in the green initiative pledge,” said Barbara Pham-Escobar from Felix Varela Senior High School.
Additionally, Mary Cardentey from Rambam Day School noted that, “it is always incredible to see how these little children become so actively involved in protecting the environment. It helped to improve attitudes towards conservation and sustainable practices.” In an area as dynamic and diverse as South Florida, this initiative is critical to preparing the next generation of environmental leaders while addressing local sustainability challenges, from rising energy demand to the impacts of climate change. By investing in education and fostering collaboration across schools, homes, and communities, the program will contribute to a more sustainable future for South Florida and beyond.
K–12 teachers participate in a professional development training on how to integrate the Green Schools Challenge and environmental education into their classrooms. Photo credit: Dream in Green
With support from partners and funders like the Pratt & Whitney E-STEM Award, Dream in Green will continue expanding the Green Schools Challenge—strengthening teacher training, deepening student action projects, and ensuring that environmental STEM education remains accessible, relevant, and action-oriented for South Florida’s youth.
Together, we are proving that when students are given the tools, trust, and opportunity to lead, E-STEM education becomes a powerful driver of climate solutions and community change.