Where Environmental Action Becomes Leadership
National Green Schools Society is an honor society that empowers and recognizes students committed to environmental stewardship, leadership, and service. Through visionary action and a passion for sustainability, members create lasting change in their schools and communities—advancing a greener, more just world for future generations.
Recognizing Environmental Leadership
Through NGSS, K–12 students are recognized for excellence in environmental service and leadership with pins and certificates that celebrate their achievements. As a culminating achievement, graduating seniors who complete a meaningful capstone project and record at least 100 hours of service earn the honor of wearing an NGSS graduation stole.
How Recognition Works
K–12 NGSS members pledge at least 20 hours of environmental service to their school and community, with a combination of environmental service and environmental education hours. Recognition is based on the total number of hours submitted at the end of the school year.
BRONZE
20-39 Hours
Bronze Leaf Pin
SILVER
40-69 Hours
Silver Leaf Pin
GOLD
70+ Hours
Gold Leaf Pin
Graduation Honors
Graduating seniors may earn an NGSS honor stole by completing hours in both environmental service and environmental education. Hours are cumulative across all four years of high school and may be earned through courses, club activities, service or class projects, STEM projects, events, special programs, conferences, and other qualifying activities.
GREEN HONOR STOLE
100-199 Hours
SILVER HONOR STOLE
200-299 Hours
GOLD HONOR STOLE
300+ Hours
NGSS Students in Action
NGSS students transform environmental awareness into meaningful action through education, hands-on learning, and community service—driving lasting change in their schools, communities, and beyond.
26,000+ HOURS
of environmental service contributed by NGSS chapters each year
How NGSS Works
NGSS provides a structured program for students to turn their passion for the environment into meaningful action through service, leadership, and education while earning recognition for their accomplishments.
JOIN
Register your school, club, class, or individual student with NGSS.
TAKE ACTION
Start or continue environmental projects that make an impact at your school or in your community.
TRACK
Track environmental service and education hours throughout the school year.
APPLY
Submit student accomplishments and service hours during the annual recognition period.
CELEBRATE
Celebrate student achievements with recognition that honors their environmental leadership and impact.
Benefits of NGSS
NGSS gives students opportunities to lead, serve, collaborate, and create meaningful environmental impact while building skills and earning recognition for their work.
Leadership & Real-World Skills
Students build experience by leading projects, organizing fundraisers, managing initiatives, working in teams, and presenting their work.
Environmental Impact & STEM Fluency
Students strengthen environmental and STEM fluency through hands-on service projects that create direct impact in their schools and local communities.
Recognition & National Opportunities
Students gain opportunities for recognition at the school, state, and national levels while participating in leadership roles, presentations, events, and other national opportunities.
Scholarships & Milestone Honors
Members can use their environmental projects to pursue scholarships and awards, while qualifying students may also be honored at graduation and other key school milestones.
Explore NGSS
Student Leadership Team
Meet the students helping lead environmental action across the PGS network.
NGSS Honor Roll
Celebrate NGSS students and chapters recognized for their environmental leadership and service.
NGSS Brochure
Explore NGSS program details, recognition opportunities, and information for students and schools.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is NGSS/IGSS?
The National and International Green Schools Society (NGSS/IGSS) is a free environmental honor society that recognizes students and schools for their environmental leadership and service. Students can participate individually with an advisor, form a new NGSS/IGSS chapter, or incorporate the honor society into an existing environmental club or organization.
Who can participate in NGSS/IGSS?
NGSS/IGSS is open to K–12 students in public, private, and home schools. Students may participate individually with an advisor, as part of a class or existing environmental club, or through a dedicated NGSS/IGSS chapter at their school.
What do I need to do to get started?
Getting started is simple. Register your student, school, club, or chapter with NGSS/IGSS, then begin or continue environmentally focused projects in your school or community. Students track their environmental service and education hours throughout the school year and submit their accomplishments for recognition in the spring.
I'm signed up. Now what?
If you’re already working on an environmental project, keep going! Track your environmental service and education hours throughout the school year, then apply for recognition in the spring.
Looking for a project idea or help getting started? Explore:
- 19 Pathways to Greening Your School
- Annual Conservation and Environmental Days to Celebrate
- Project ideas and resources in the NGSS/IGSS Handbook
Need additional help? Contact us at ngss@projectgreenschools.org.
Where can I find the handbook, marketing templates, and induction certificates?
Download the resources you need to help manage, promote, and celebrate your NGSS/IGSS program:
- NGSS Handbook — Program guidance, project ideas, recognition information, and chapter resources
- NGSS Marketing Template — Materials to help promote your NGSS program
- IGSS Handbook — Program guidance and resources for international participants
- IGSS Marketing Template — Materials to help promote your IGSS program
- NGSS Induction Certificate — Fillable certificate for NGSS/IGSS induction ceremonies
- NGSS Postcard — Save and use our Green Schools Society Postcard for events!
How do I earn an NGSS/IGSS pin?
K–12 students earn NGSS/IGSS honor pins by completing a combination of environmental service and environmental education hours and submitting their accomplishments for recognition at the end of the school year. Students must complete at least 20 qualifying hours to earn a pin.
To receive recognition, students, classes, or chapters must submit the required end-of-year documentation through the online recognition application, which opens each spring:
- End-of-Year Report — NGSS and IGSS versions available
- Service Hour Tracking Sheet — Hours may be tracked individually or as a class, depending on grade level
- Online Recognition Application — Upload the completed documentation when applications open in the spring
Pin levels are based on the total qualifying hours submitted:
- Bronze Leaf Pin: 20–39 hours
- Silver Leaf Pin: 40–69 hours
- Gold Leaf Pin: 70+ hours
Once documentation is received and approved, pins are mailed to the school and advisors can access student certificates. Please allow at least 10 business days for processing and mailing, particularly if recognition is needed for an end-of-year celebration.
How Do I Earn an NGSS/IGSS Honor Stole?
Graduating seniors may earn an NGSS/IGSS honor stole by completing qualifying hours in both environmental service and environmental education. Hours are cumulative across all four years of high school and may be earned through courses, club activities, service or class projects, STEM projects, events, special programs, conferences, and other qualifying activities.
Honor stole levels are based on cumulative qualifying hours:
- Green Honor Stole: 100–199 hours
- Silver Honor Stole: 200–299 hours
- Gold Honor Stole: 300+ hours
Students who qualify for an honor stole must submit the following through the online recognition application, which opens in the spring:
- Graduation Form and Essay — Includes a two-page essay about the student’s environmental service or STEM work and its impact
- End-of-Year Report — NGSS and IGSS versions available
- Service Hour Tracking Sheet — NGSS and IGSS versions available
- $45 fee — Covers the honor stole, citations, processing, and mailing
Please allow at least 10 business days for processing and mailing after all required materials have been submitted. Students and advisors should plan ahead to ensure the stole arrives before graduation.
Apply for Recognition
Applications for NGSS/IGSS End-of-Year Recognition and Graduation Honor Stoles open each March.
When applications open, students, advisors, and chapters can submit the required documentation for:
- End-of-Year Recognition and Honor Pins
- Graduation Honor Stoles and Recognition
Please allow at least 10 business days for processing and mailing once all required paperwork has been submitted. Plan ahead for end-of-year celebrations and graduation ceremonies to ensure pins and stoles arrive on time.
Bring NGSS to Your School
NGSS develops bright, civic-minded, environmentally literate students who turn their passion for protecting the environment into action through service, leadership, and advocacy.