FAQ

Every school forms a group of dedicated environmental champions called an EcoTeam who are responsible for leading EcoSchools actions and initiatives. EcoTeams can range from just a few members to whole schools, and operate best with a diverse membership base, including students, teachers, principals, school administration, custodians, parents, and community partners.

Actions make up the backbone of EcoSchools certification, and consist of a variety of fun and educational projects, campaigns, lessons, and challenges that help schools assess and improve their environmental practices. Actions are designed to be flexible and adaptable to all curricula and school types to ensure that everyone across Canada can pursue certification. EcoSchools actions also connect schools to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and the global FEE network.

Schools can select from dozens of engaging actions like waste-free lunches, planting a garden, GOOS Paper and conducting an energy audit. There is also an opportunity for schools to design their own unique actions. Find a full list of EcoSchools actions here.

For more information about actions in the EcoSchools program, visit the Managing your EcoSchools plan and Completing an action sections of the Certification FAQ.

Throughout the school year, schools complete actions in their online application and earn points towards their certification. The depth and extent of these completed environmental actions will determine the school’s final certification level.

There are four levels of certification a school can achieve: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Schools that begin an application but don’t earn enough points to be certified at the Bronze level are designated as Participants and are welcome to attempt certification again the following year.

When a school becomes a certified EcoSchool, they receive a digital certification seal that reflects their certification level. This seal can be displayed on a school’s website and social media accounts, in newsletters, in email signatures, and more.

For more information about how certification levels work, visit the Managing your EcoSchools plan section of the Certification FAQ.

EcoSchools certification is open to all schools across Canada. This includes English- and French-language schools, Indigenous schools, independent/private schools, and outdoor and environmental education centres (OEECs) that are associated with school boards and districts.

Learn more about certification for publicly-funded schools, independent/private schools, and outdoor and environmental education centres (OEECs).

We believe no one should be prohibited from participating in the EcoSchools program because of financial limitations. For all publicly-funded schools in Canada, certifying with the EcoSchools program is free of charge. An annual fee applies to independent schools who are pursuing certification.

Additionally, school boards/districts can choose to pay an annual fee that offers access to data and analytics about their schools, customized support from EcoSchools Malaysia staff, and more. Learn more about school board/district membership here.