October After School Special: Raise, Release, Restore
Want to turn your classroom into an ecosystem? This session is dedicated to two engaging stewardship programs:
- Grasses for the Masses–grow native underwater grasses in the classroom to be transplanted directly into a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay.
- Trout in the Classroom–raise Brook Trout from eggs to fingerlings to be released in the spring.
We’ll wrap up by exploring Eco-Action Cards focused on Waterway Clean-ups, Fish Stewards, and Water Quality Testing. Come learn how to manage these “living labs,” troubleshoot your tanks, and inspire the next generation of Chesapeake Bay Watershed warriors.
This session will take place on October 8 from 5-7pm in the Providence Elementary STEAM Room. There are only a few spots left! Register for the October Raise, Release, Restore After-School Special in MyPDE.
November After School Special: The Green Thread: Weaving Environmental Stewardship across the Curriculum
Explore how environmental stewardship is not just the domain of science classes. Hear guest speakers from different content areas share Get2Green connections and take time to explore supporting resources. This session will take place virtually on Thursday, November 12 from 5-7pm. Register for The Green Thread: Weaving Environmental Stewardship across the Curriculum in MyPDE.
Thank you, Custodians!
October 2 is Custodian Appreciation Day. Thank you to all the FCPS custodians who ensure FCPS facilities are clean, safe places for all and who are strong allies for Get2Green’s environmental work in schools! We appreciate you!
Crunch Heard ’Round the Commonwealth
The tenth annual Crunch Heard ’Round the Commonwealth will take place during Virginia Farm to School Week on Thursday, October 8, 2026. Across the Commonwealth, Virginians will make some noise for farm to school programs by taking a bite out of a fresh, Virginia grown apple on the same day. FCPS will celebrate with fresh Virginia apples available in every school cafeteria during student lunches.
Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom Grant
The Agriculture in the Classroom Grant Program provides educators an opportunity to receive funding for a variety of creative projects that increase student understanding of the source of their food and fiber. Educators with an innovative idea to connect their students to agriculture using school gardens, STEM concepts, and/or unique agricultural experiences are encouraged to apply. Grants may be requested for up to $500. Applications are due Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Learn more and apply for a Virginia Ag in the Classroom grant.
Plant the Moon Challenge
The Institute of Competition Sciences Plant the Moon Challenge allows educators and their students to take a giant leap into lunar exploration by developing and conducting plant growth experiments with lunar soil simulant. Through the Plant the Moon Challenge through the Virginia Space Grant Consortium, students will engage in research that can assist NASA scientists in understanding how to use lunar soil to provide crops for future missions to the Moon. The Challenge is open to Virginia middle or high school teachers. Materials will be provided to all participating educators. Applications are due Friday, November 6, 2026. Learn more about the Plant the Moon Challenge and submit your application.
Wild Ones Seeds for Education Grant
The Wild Ones Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Grant Program provides up to $500 in funding for native gardens and habitats tied to hands-on learning. These funds are designated for native plants and seeds for outdoor learning areas that directly engage students PreK-12 in planning, planting, and caring for native gardens. Learn more and apply for the Seeds for Education Grant by Wednesday, November 18, 2026.
Welcome to our new monthly feature, Explore This. Each month, we will feature a theme along with resources and ideas to connect with that theme. This month, we are focusing on habitats to celebrate World Habitat Awareness Month!
Explore This: Book Recommendations
Looking for books with habitat connections? Try
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Wild World: Habitats Day and Night series by Brenna Maloney. The books in the series include photos and simple text about Arctic, Desert, and Ocean habitats.
- The amusing yet accurate Tiny Habitats series by Amy Hevron which captures diverse ecosystems that develop in interesting places like a sunken ship or a pile of bison droppings.
- If you would like to learn more about specific habitats, please consider exploring the FCPS library databases, including PebbleGo & PebbleGo Spanish which have specific units on animal habitats.
October is also Disability Awareness. Check out these books highlighting voices and stories from the disability community and environmental stewardship, including:
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I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott
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Logan’s Greenhouse by Janay Brown-Wood
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Up and Adam by Debbie Zapata
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My Ocean is Blue by Darren Lebeuf
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What Color is the Wind? by Anne Herbauts
Left: Pulley Center students recently spent the day learning about farming and greenhouses with our partners at Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture. During the visit, students tasted fresh passionfruit, cucamelons, and peppers straight from the farm. They also explored the fields and picked custom flower bouquets to take home! Our students will now apply these hands-on skills to work in the Pulley Center commercial greenhouse as this great partnership continues.
Right: Get2Green hosted two September kickoffs for Get2Green Leaders. We had a great time reconnecting with returning Leaders and welcoming new faces.
Find fun and exciting Get2Green updates all month by following @fcpsGet2Green on Instagram, Threads, and X.
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