General Motors

When GREEN became a program of Earth Force in 1999, its long standing financial and volunteer supporter, General Motors, joined Earth Force as well. With the support of GM, Earth Force was able to develop the nationally recognized curricula, training and resources for supporting educators in implementing GREEN around the country.

Today, we have grown the GM-GREEN partnership into a high quality program that has engaged over 45,000 students who have worked with partner organizations and hundreds of dedicated GM employees to better understand and protect one of our most precious resources -- our rivers. For more information about the partnership's work in 2006, download our Annual Report.

Students, teachers and GM employee mentors literally get their feet wet while visiting their local bodies of water to conduct water quality monitoring -- performing chemical tests, sampling for aquatic insects and assessing the stream's physical attributes.

Young people are supported throughout the program by GM mentors who help them see the "real-world" application of science. Before and after water quality monitoring, GM mentors support students in interpreting data, analyzing local issues, applying critical thinking skills and balancing opposing viewpoints. With the help of their mentors, students use scientific knowledge to discover community problems and then work to create lasting solutions to pressing water quality issues.