Four Green Steps
Founded2008
HeadquartersMontreal, Quebec, Canada
Area servedWorldwide
Founder(s)Bill and Jaye Yarrow
IndustryEducation, Eco-friendly products, News
URLfourgreensteps.com

Four Green Steps is an internet environmental organization based in Montreal, Quebec.[1] The organization was founded in 2008 by Jaye and Bill Yarrow. The business has been active for three years, but the official launch was held in October 2011.[2] The organization consists of four sections: School Program, Community, Marketplace and InfoZone.[1] Four Green Steps contains information on various environmental topics such as green living, sustainable products, and corporate responsibility. The site also provides an environmental curriculum for various schools of different ages.[3][4]...[5][6] The organization celebrated 'Unsolicited Acts of Kindness Week' in August 2012, celebrating by donating used office equipment and pledging to plant a tree for anyone who does a good deed during Kindness Week.[7]

Services

School program

Four Green Steps school program was developed in an effort to encourage a younger generation to become interested in environmental sustainability.[8][9][10] [11][12][13] The school program is a comprehensive, multipurpose organization dedicated to bringing awareness and solutions to our shared environmental problems.[14] The School Program has a universal curriculum and activities for primary and secondary schools.[15][16][17][18][19] The program features a curriculum of various assignments that will entice students to use their creativity and imagination, learn sustainable habits, take initiative, and develop a sense of environmental responsibility — all while fostering a sense of community and interaction among students the world over.[20][21] The site also offers opportunities for students to share their projects and ideas online as well as compete for incredible prizes.[22] The School Program is offered for free and available in five different languages: English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Chinese.[23] The curriculum's environmental focus includes the following subjects Animals/Wildlife, Biodiversity, Climate Change/Weather, Conservation, Creative Arts, Ecology, Energy, Gardening/Composting, Habitats/Ecosystems, Litter, Nature Awareness, Plants, Pollution, Recycling/Waste Management, Sustainability, Team-building/Problem-solving, Water.[24] It was first launched in October 2009 and was used by 40 schools in 15 different countries that year.[25] They also host an environmental science fair and ‘one-day’ curriculum designed for substitutes or special events. The school program has engaged hundreds of schools in more than 55 countries worldwide.[26][27]

Community

The Community section is made up of blogs, videos, events and recipes related to the environment. The public can also contribute their own ideas.[28][29] Four Green Steps was an official partner of the LA Green Festival [30] Actor Booboo Stewart and sister Fivel Stewart joined the Four Green Steps team in 2011.[31]

Marketplace

The organization sells products that are certified organic, fair-trade or are listed that they are produced in a more sustainable way. Products include clothing, food, furniture and household products.[28] Four Green Steps launched their marketplace at the Los Angeles Green Festival in October 2011 [32]

InfoZone

The Infozone contains articles discussing environmental issues in various subject areas including science and technology, business and world news.[33]

Reception

Ethical products and services are becoming increasingly popular, especially in the United Kingdom where $12 billion ethical products were sold in 2008.[34]

As of August 10, 2010, there are schools in 72 different countries registered for Four Green Step’s School Programs.[25] The School Program is also recognized by the New Zealand Ministry of Education.,[15] as well as the state of New Jersey[35]

Four Green Steps collaborates with students at universities in Montreal such as McGill University[36][37] and Concordia University[38][39][40] on environmental initiatives and research.

They are recognized by ECO Canada as an environmental organization.[41]

Booboo Stewart of Twilight [42] and his younger sister Fivel are both involved with Four Green Steps [43]

References

  1. ^ a b Nekhim, Valeria (2010-01-19). ""Four Steps" to a "Green" future". The Concordian. Archived from the original on 2010-03-02. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
  2. ^ "Four Green Steps is Bounding to Success" (PDF). Westmount Independent. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
  3. ^ The Alternative Consumer (2010-11-23). "Green Diets: the Good, the Bad & the Trendy". The Alternative Consumer.
  4. ^ "Four Green Steps: Making a Difference One Step at a Time". EE in Kentucky.
  5. ^ "Four Green Steps: Making a Difference One Step at a Time". EE in Georgia.
  6. ^ "Four Green Steps: Making a Difference One Step at a Time". EE in Mississippi.
  7. ^ "Four Green Steps Presents Unsolicited Acts of Kindness Week". PR Web.
  8. ^ "Four Green Steps: Making a Difference One Step at a Time". Hawaii Environmental Education Alliance. Retrieved 2011-01-10.
  9. ^ "Four Green Steps: Making a Difference One Step at a Time". League of Environmental Educators in Florida. Retrieved 2011-01-10.
  10. ^ "Four Green Steps: Making a Difference One Step at a Time". Kids Gardening. May 11, 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
  11. ^ "Four Green Steps: Making a Difference One Step at a Time". Environmental Education in Alabama. Retrieved 2011-11-22.
  12. ^ "Four Green Steps: Making a Difference One Step at a Time". Environmental Education in North Carolina. Retrieved 2011-11-22.
  13. ^ "Four Green Steps: Making a Difference One Step at a Time". Environmental Education in Tennessee. Retrieved 2011-11-22.
  14. ^ "Environmental and Sustainability Education". University of Toronto. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
  15. ^ a b "Four Green Steps School Program". New Zealand Education Gazette. Archived from the original on 2012-03-04. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  16. ^ "Four Green Steps School Program". Meea.org. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
  17. ^ "Related Organizations for Young Scientists". basef.ca. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  18. ^ "Macomb County (MI) School Garden Initiative's Blog". Macomb County (MI) School Garden. 2 May 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-02.
  19. ^ "Curricula and Resources for Environmental Educators - from most recent to oldest links". Eeinwisconsin.org. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
  20. ^ "four green steps:making a difference one step at a time". environmental education in wisconsin. Retrieved 2011-09-11.
  21. ^ "Greening the Way Ontario Learns". Environmental Education Ontario. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
  22. ^ "News and Views" (PDF). CREEC Network. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
  23. ^ "School Program". Four Green Steps site. Archived from the original on 2010-06-17. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  24. ^ "Four Green Steps: Making a Difference One Step at a Time". Environmental Education in South Carolina. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
  25. ^ a b "Canadian Teacher Magazine" (PDF). Pacific Edge Publishing Ltd. 2010-11-01. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-04-09. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  26. ^ "A Green Dream Becomes a Reality at Four Green Steps". Montreal Gazette. 2012-05-07. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  27. ^ "A Green Dream Becomes a Reality at Four Green Steps". Canada.com. 2012-05-07. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
  28. ^ a b "Small Business Big Impact". Scotia Bank. 2011-03-21. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  29. ^ "The Team". The Citizen Mapper. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
  30. ^ "Partner Directory". Green Festivals. 2011-03-21. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
  31. ^ "Booboo & Fivel Join Four Green Steps". Zimbio. 2011-10-15.
  32. ^ "Green Tech and Education are Highlights at LA's Green Festival". talk.greentowns.com. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
  33. ^ "Green Diets: The Good, the Bay & the Trendy". The Alternative Consumer. 2010-11-23. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  34. ^ Morton, Brian (2010-04-22). "New online store puts the ethical into shopping". The Vancouver Sun.[permanent dead link]
  35. ^ "EEdNews- Professional Development". New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. 2011-05-12. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
  36. ^ "Green Week - Working in the Environment". McGill University. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
  37. ^ "Agriculture & Environmental Science". McGill University. Retrieved 2011-06-20.
  38. ^ "Co-Op Award of Recognition Event 2011" (PDF). Institute for Co-Operative Education. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
  39. ^ "4 Green Steps - Sustainable Café". Career and Placement Services - Concordia University. Archived from the original on 2011-08-13. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
  40. ^ "JMSB Sustainable Internship Program". Concordia Career Management Services. Archived from the original on 2010-08-08. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
  41. ^ "ECO Job Board". ECO Canada. 2010-06-21. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
  42. ^ "Twilight (2008)". IMDB. 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
  43. ^ "Booboo and Fivel are Young Hollywood's New Green Connection (2011)". Team BooBoo Seth. Retrieved 2011-10-24.

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