Climate Action Days + TPL Schoolyards
NYC’s Office of Sustainability continues to lead the way with Climate Action Days—four moments each year where schools come together to learn, engage, and take meaningful steps toward a greener, healthier future. They kicked off with themes of energy and waste (focused on the school building) but the remaining two are perfect for getting out into the schoolyard!
📅 Remaining 2026 Themes:
🌿 Apr 22 — Health, Wellness & Green Space
💧 May 20 — Water
These days are all about hands-on learning—and schoolyards are the perfect living classrooms.
🌿 APRIL 22: Health, Wellness & Green Space
TPL schoolyards are made for this! Here are activation ideas:
- Schoolyard Nature Reset Day
Students plant, mulch, and care for green infrastructure while learning how schoolyards improve air quality, reduce heat, and support mental health. - Outdoor Wellness Stations
Set up rotating stations—yoga, journaling, pollinator walks, and sensory exploration—to connect green space with student wellbeing. - Biodiversity Scavenger Hunt
Students identify plants, insects, and habitats in the schoolyard, learning how urban green spaces support ecosystems. - Check out the The Medicines: Healing with Nature in our Lenapehoking Climate Curriculum
💧 MAY 20: Water
TPL schoolyards often include green infrastructure—making water education available to explore at their schools.
- Stormwater in Action Demo
Show how rain gardens and permeable surfaces capture runoff. Add a live demo with water to visualize impact. Make your own models. Explore the Green Infrastructure in your yard with an active numbers game. - Green Infrastructure Stewardship Challenge
Take care of the living green infrastructure in your schoolyard with a tree care or garden care day. - Explore Water Story Maps
Use the schoolyard to map where water goes after it rains—connecting local infrastructure to NYC waterways. Check out the CUSP NYC Water Story Map to explore how your schoolyard connects to city-wode solutions. - Check ot the water themed activities and lessons in our Lenapehoking Climate Curriculum
Don’t forget to send us pictures of your students in action in their schoolyards!
#ClimateActionDays #TPLSchoolyards #OutdoorLearning #Sustainability #NYCSchools