From left, Zachary Rittner, SPFHS Environmental Club advisor, and Dr. Roberta Hunter of NJ Audubon present the club with its official Green Flag recognition.

Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School Environmental Club has earned Green Flag Status through the Eco-Schools program, an international environmental education and certification program that engages students in environmental action and helps develop the next generation of environmental stewards.

SPFHS Environmental Club received its official Green Flag on Sept. 9 during a presentation from Dr. Roberta Hunter of NJ Audubon. The recognition follows a year of hands-on environmental projects and initiatives led by members of the Environmental Club Board.

Eco-Schools is an international program supported by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and implemented in partnership with environmental organizations including the National Wildlife Federation and NJ Audubon. Participating schools complete a variety of environmental actions to earn points and achieve different levels of certification, including Bronze, Silver and Gold; SPFHS Environmental Club worked toward the highest level of recognition: Green Flag Status.

During the first year participating in the program, Environmental Club students completed nine projects as part of their certification efforts. These projects included Endangered Species Awareness, building a pollinator garden, creating an endangered species coloring book, growing a schoolyard forest, participating in Bird-Friendly Schools and Fish Stewards initiatives.

Through these projects, students engaged the broader school community in learning about environmental issues and taking action to support sustainability and local ecosystems. The club’s endangered species coloring book, for example, provided an opportunity for members of the school community to participate in raising awareness about endangered species.

Members of SPFHS Environmental Club celebrate earning Green Flag Status through the Eco-Schools program. Pictured, from left, are Samantha Marcolina, Max Bickford, Jessie Boland, Zofia Cintron, Gwen Carberry, Rebecca Greisman, Jordin Iazzetti, Nicholas Bizzarro, Grace Azad, Enzo Primiano, Souleen Gabra, Ruth Sharlein, Jude August and Rebecca Debenham.

“The students put in a huge amount of work and countless hours of effort to earn this recognition,” said Zachary Rittner, SPFHS Environmental Club advisor. “What makes this accomplishment even more impressive is that they achieved Green Flag Status during their very first year participating in the Eco-Schools program.”

Green Flag recognition celebrates the Environmental Club’s commitment to environmental education, student leadership and community engagement, while highlighting the impact students can make through hands-on action.

“We are incredibly proud of our Environmental Club students for their dedication to making a difference in their school and community,” said Dr. Warren Hynes, SPFHS principal. “Their work demonstrates the power of student-led initiatives and the importance of empowering young people to become environmental stewards.”

SPFHS Environmental Club plans to continue building on its work and engaging students and the wider school community in environmental initiatives.