Introducing the Outstanding Green Leaders Award!
Our League for Green Leaders program makes environmental literacy fun and impactful. Through carbon emissions tracking, climate learning modules and real-world scenario projects, the League teaches and encourages students to make positive environmental decisions in their everyday lives. The League benefits every child as it introduces students to environmental knowledge, leadership, collaboration and achievable climate action. Competitions offer unique opportunities for students to develop their wonder and dedication to protecting the planet, inspiring the next generation of climate leaders. For some students, the League allows existing passions for the environment to shine and grow as they continue their journeys as climate advocates.
This year onwards, Springbay and our collaborators, Polar Bears International, ACER, and Ontario Nature, want to officially recognize the commitment and enthusiasm of League participants. Together we developed the Outstanding Green Leader award. The award evaluates students based on five criteria: Impact of Action, Climate Knowledge, Communication & Advocacy, Leadership & Initiative, and Creativity & Innovation. Nominated by their teachers, students in the running demonstrate these criteria during league competitions and beyond. Like Emily R. (Forest Street Community School, US), nominated by Patricia Dennis,
“ [Emily showed] enthusiasm, creativity and rigor to learn to plant gardens within our greenhouse. Emily utilized resources in the library to actively plant gardens in recycled water bottles in our school community. She would bring in various recyclable items like water bottles and recycled plant seeds to contribute to the project.”
Or Priasha K. (Sir Ernest Macmillan Sr PS, Canada), nominated by Adam Andrews,
“For our SAVE THE PLANET project, Priasha recognized a problem within our own classroom and lunchroom. Recycling mistakes are a major environmental problem caused by people placing incorrect items, like food waste or plastic bags, into recycling bins. SmartSort Pro is an interactive smart recycling system that uses AI, cameras, and sensors to identify materials and automatically sort items into recycling, garbage, or compost while giving users instant feedback. By reducing human error and collecting data to improve efficiency, the system helps make waste sorting easier, more accurate, and more environmentally friendly. Priasha brought this to the attention of hundreds of students at a STEM fair involving attendees from grades 3-9 by creating a display board and a mockup model of such a device.”
Upon receiving nominations, panelists from our collaborating organizations evaluate nominees and select ten winners. Congratulations to the 2026 Outstanding Green Leaders!
Beste Öykü Çakır Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt Üniversitesi, Turkey
Dilara Yalçın Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt Üniversitesi, Turkey
Reya K. Sir Ernest Macmillan Sr PS, Canada
Angeline A. Sir Ernest Macmillan Sr PS, Canada
Aesha P. Sir Ernest Macmillan Sr PS, Canada
Ayham A. Elizabeth Simcoe Jr. P.S, Canada
Jack T. Elizabeth Simcoe Jr. P.S, Canada
Reid D. Elizabeth Simcoe Jr. P.S, Canada
Emily R. Forest Street Community School, US
Sherlyn C. Davis Middle School, US
As Outstanding Green Leaders, these students show the awareness that competitions are more than gamified environmental literacy and that the elements of tracking emissions, climate knowledge and projects reflect the real-world. Outstanding Green Leaders want to make a difference beyond League competitions and are dedicated to shaping a positive environmental future, be it advocating for climate action and strategies, developing innovative solutions, or showing commitment to developing their climate knowledge and sharing this knowledge with others.
Along with the title of Outstanding Green Leader, the ten winners are awarded a gift of $500 to be donated to an existing environmental NGO. The gift is awarded in the winners’ names exemplifying that no voice is too small to make a difference. Selection of the winning organizations is based on students’ own research. This research is conducted through the League’s My Top Pick lesson, where students are directed to investigate environmental NGOs and evaluate the work and mission of the organization. Driven by their research, students come together to vote on their desired nonprofit. This year, students selected Project Drawdown. Project Drawdown uses science to inform, support, and drive climate solutions and strategies, making climate science actionable for individuals, businesses, and governments.
Thank you to all teachers and students for your engagement and enthusiasm for the League for Green Leaders. Your involvement and support have allowed the League to expand, inspiring Springbay to create new League competitions, and now the conception of the Outstanding Green Leader award.
The conception of this award is also thanks to our collaborators, Polar Bears International, ACER, and Ontario Nature. All three organizations deserve an astounding thank you for their participation as juries on the Outstanding Green Leaders award panel. Panelists volunteered to assess each nominee, dedicating time and resources to thoughtfully select winners. In addition to completing evaluations for the award, we are grateful to our collaborators’ support and contributions to the League.
To Polar Bears International, we thank you for your collaboration and consultation in the creation of iBome Changing-Ice, a hallmark within the competitions that teaches students about the impact of a warming climate on arctic ecosystems.
To ACER, we are incredibly grateful for the sharing of lesson plans and activities, like the Biggest Tree. Thanks to your lessons, students are able actively engage with the important role trees play in preserving a sustainable future.
To Ontario Nature, as a new collaborator, we look forward to working together beyond the Outstanding Green Leader and thank you again for your time as panelists.
Congratulations again to this year’s winners. Springbay and the planet thank you for your enthusiasm and dedication. We are excited about next year’s competitions and recognizing more Outstanding Green Leaders!