Attend the Green Schools Conference
The Green Schools Conference brings together the people working to create healthier, more sustainable and resilient schools—from school district and education leaders to sustainability professionals, architects, engineers, solution providers, nonprofits and community partners.
Over three days in Austin, you'll learn from peers putting ideas into practice, explore solutions to shared challenges and build relationships with people across the green schools movement.
Explore the pass options below to find the registration type that works best for you and view current pricing.
What You'll Gain
Put Ideas into Action
Learn from districts, schools and organizations tackling real-world challenges. GSC programming helps you explore strategies, tools and examples you can adapt to your community.
Build Meaningful Connections
Some of the most valuable GSC conversations happen between sessions. Connect with peers facing similar challenges, meet potential partners and build relationships across education, sustainability and the building industry.
Focus on What's Next
Step outside the day-to-day demands of your work to exchange ideas, ask questions and return home with new relationships and a clearer sense of what's possible.
See the Bigger Picture
Gain perspectives from professionals across facilities, sustainability, education, design, engineering, construction, policy, nonprofit leadership and more - identifying solutions from every angle.
Make Your Case to Attend
We know attending a conference is an investment of both time and resources. Whether you need approval from a supervisor, support for professional development funding or simply want to demonstrate the value of attending, we've created resources to help you make the case.
Use the GSC Justification Toolkit to communicate how attending can benefit you, your organization and the communities you serve.
The toolkit includes resources to help you:
- Identify the sessions, experiences and connections most relevant to your work
- Demonstrate the professional development value of attending
- Estimate the investment required for registration and travel
- Share how you'll bring knowledge and resources back to your organization
- Draft a request for approval or funding
2027 Scholarship Program
The Center for Green Schools at USGBC and the Green Schools National Network (GSNN) are offering limited scholarships for the 2027 Green Schools Conference.
Scholarships are competitive and available to non-profit leaders, educators, school district staff, and green building professionals representing underserved and/or underrepresented industries, sectors, and communities, or with a demonstrated barrier to attendance.
Eligibility requirements:
- Be 18 years or older and work as either an educator or school district staff member, non profit or government employee.
- Guarantee registration by December 10, 2026.
- Guarantee attendance in person at the live event taking place Feb 8-9 in Austin.
- Not be a Green Schools National Network (GSNN), USGBC or GBCI staff member or contractor, or hold a volunteer leadership position within GSNN, USGBC, or GBCI.
- Demonstrate a valid and reasonable need for the scholarship, as evidenced by the inability to attend the GSC without one due to financial, location, and/or professional constraints.
- Demonstrate how one’s background or interest in the green schools movement merits receipt of a scholarship.
- Commit to sharing a 150-word or a 1-minute video testimonial sharing the impact of the scholarship on current or future work.
Full Conference Pass (Feb. 8–9)
Experience the full Green Schools Conference and connect with the educators, school and district leaders, sustainability professionals, and industry partners advancing healthy, sustainable and resilient schools.
Your Full Conference Pass includes:
-Two inspiring plenary sessions
Your choice of one half-day workshop or topical summit
-Two days of interdisciplinary education sessions
-Best of Green Schools Awards Luncheon
-The Exchange Showcase and Speed Greening
-Closing Circles and Closing Reception
- All scheduled conference meals and refreshments
Choose the Full Conference Pass for the most comprehensive GSC experience, with opportunities to learn practical strategies, exchange ideas with peers and build relationships across the green schools community.
Member
Early Bird: $700
By Nov. 30, 2026
Standard: $750
From Dec. 1, 2026, to Jan. 31, 2027
Onsite: $800
Feb. 1–9, 2027
Nonmember
Early Bird: $750
By Nov. 30, 2026
Standard: $800
From Dec. 1, 2026, to Jan. 31, 2027
Onsite: $850
Feb. 1–9, 2027
Pre K-12 School or District / Government / Nonprofit Employee
Early Bird: $650
By Nov. 30, 2026
Standard: $700
From Dec. 1, 2026, to Jan. 31, 2027
Onsite: $750
Feb. 1–9, 2027
Student and Emerging Professional
A "Student" is an individual enrolled full-time in at least 12 credit hours in an accredited undergraduate or graduate program. An "Emerging Professional" is an individual with less than 5 years experience in their current industry/role.
Early Bird: $275
By Nov. 30, 2026
Standard: $275
From Dec. 1, 2026, to Jan. 31, 2027
Onsite: $300
Feb. 1–9, 2027
Contact help@greenschoolsconference.org to inquire about registration.
Speaker
Early Bird: $350
By Nov. 30, 2026
Standard: $350
From Dec. 1, 2026, to Jan. 31, 2027
Onsite: $375
Feb. 1–9, 2027
Student (K-12)
Contact help@greenschoolsconference.org to inquire about pricing/registration.
GSC Tuesday Pass (Feb. 9 Only)
Spend a full day exploring practical strategies, resources and partnerships that can help move sustainable schools forward.
Your Tuesday Pass includes:
-Interdisciplinary education sessions
-Exchange Showcase
-Closing Plenary
-Closing Circles
-Closing Receptions
-Dedicated networking opportunities
-All scheduled meals and refreshments on February 9
Choose the Tuesday Pass for a full day of professional development, resource sharing and connecting with the green schools community.
Member
Early Bird: $300
By Nov. 30, 2026
Standard: $350
From Dec. 1, 2026, to Jan. 31, 2027
Onsite: $400
Feb. 1–9, 2027
Nonmember
Early Bird: $350
By Nov. 30, 2026
Standard: $400
From Dec. 1, 2026, to Jan. 31, 2027
Onsite: $450
Feb. 1–9, 2027
Pre K-12 School or District / Government / Nonprofit Employee
Early Bird: $250
By Nov. 30, 2026
Standard: $300
From Dec. 1, 2026, to Jan. 31, 2027
Onsite: $350
Feb. 1–9, 2027
Student and Emerging Professional
A "Student" is an individual enrolled full-time in at least 12 credit hours in an accredited undergraduate or graduate program. An "Emerging Professional" is an individual with less than 5 years experience in their current industry/role.
Early Bird: $100
By Nov. 30, 2026
Standard: $100
From Dec. 1, 2026, to Jan. 31, 2027
Onsite: $150
Feb. 1–9, 2027
Contact help@greenschoolsconference.org to inquire about registration.
Speaker
Early Bird: $200
By Nov. 30, 2026
Standard: $200
From Dec. 1, 2026, to Jan. 31, 2027
Onsite: $250
Feb. 1–9, 2027
Student (K-12)
Contact help@greenschoolsconference.org to inquire about pricing/registration.
Add-ons
Tours (Feb. 10)
Biophilic + Inclusive School Design
Early Bird: $75 (by Nov. 30, 2026) | Standard: $100 (from Dec. 1, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027)
Step into two inspiring models of nature-connected and equity-centered school design. At Doss Elementary, the “School in the Trees”, a treehouse-inspired design features spiral staircases, cozy seating nooks, and wood ceilings strengthen the biophilic theme and support multiple learning pathways. Then, visit Rosedale School, a pioneering “School Within a Park” for students with significant special needs. Rosedale features wide hallways, sensory-friendly spaces, a universally designed playground, and even a medical clinic open to the wider community, positioning the school as a true community hub.
Transportation and a light snack will be provided.
Building a Whole School Sustainability Culture
Early Bird: $75 (by Nov. 30, 2026) | Standard: $100 (from Dec. 1, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027)
See what’s possible when a campus becomes the curriculum at Small Middle School, a National Green Ribbon school and the first Eco-Schools Green Flag campus in Texas. Explore their Green Tech Academy and robust outdoor classroom featuring native habitats, food gardens, orchards, a greenhouse, reconstructed prairie, and a variety of livestock. Gain practical tips for turning your campus into a living learning lab and engaging students in hands-on sustainability projects.
Transportation and a light snack will be provided.
Designing and Teaching in Nature-Based Outdoor Classrooms
Early Bird: $75 (by Nov. 30, 2026) | Standard: $100 (from Dec. 1, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027)
Discover how outdoor learning environments power environmental education and neighborhood stewardship at the Outdoor Wonder & Learning (OWL) Center, Austin ISD’s nature-based outdoor classroom. Explore pollinator habitats, loose-parts play areas, and accessible nature trails that welcome all AISD students and the public, demonstrating ecological relationships and local biodiversity in action. Participate in a hands-on workshop led by Adam Bienenstock, an acclaimed speaker, author, designer, educator, and nature play expert, and take home practical strategies for designing and teaching in outdoor spaces that support exploration and learning.
Transportation and a light snack will be provided.
Equity-Centered Green School Design & Operations
Early Bird: $75 (by Nov. 30, 2026) | Standard: $100 (from Dec. 1, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027)
Experience two models of how green building design and community-driven planning create schools that serve as teaching tools for sustainability and resilience. At Eastside Early College High School, see how historic preservation, and equity-centered, high-performance design converge for true impact. Gather inspiration for sustainable operations in action at Govalle Elementary, a top district performer for resource conservation from energy and waste to gardens and green teams.
Transportation and a light snack will be provided.
