Green Student Groups

photo of a dozen smiling students in front of a large mound of trash

Northwestern University offers myriad opportunities for environmental activists to make their voices heard. Check out our guide to student environmental groups to figure out where you fit:

ECO

Environmental Campus Outreach is sponsored by Hillel and strives to promote sustainability both inside and outside the Jewish world. The organization promotes a greener Hillel and a greener Northwestern through fireside chats, offers grants to student groups for green initiatives and works with other student environmental groups to lobby the administration for a more sustainable campus. ECO is also researching green purchasing polices to help develop university-wide green procurement standards. The group is also researching ideas for a Green Student Group Guide and working to reduce the environmental impact of Hillel's operations. To get involved with this organization visit the ECO Web site.

ESW

Engineers for a Sustainable World is a national non-profit organization, with the Northwestern chapter run through the McCormick School of Engineering. The group channels the skills of engineers into sustainability projects on domestic and international levels through education, volunteer opportunities and design projects. The majority of students belonging to this organization are graduate students. The organization is working on bringing the national ESW conference to Northwestern's campus for the upcoming year. If you would like to get involved, visit the ESW Web site.

SEED

Students sitting at a booth promoting clean energy on campus.

Students for Ecological and Environmental Development is Northwestern's largest environmental advocacy group. Through academics, the Associated Student Government, events, legislative and policy work and high-profile speakers, members of SEED work to effect positive environmental changes on campus and beyond. To get involved with SEED, visit the SEED Web site.





G.R.E.E.N. House

For students who truly want to make "going green" a way of life, the Group Residence for Environmental Engagement at Northwestern House allows about 40 residents to immerse themselves in a sustainable environment. "Green" amenities include dual-flush toilets, low-flow showerheads and faucets and compact fluorescent light bulbs. A solar panel on the roof may also be in the works. Education is also emphasized, with environmental speakers featured at fireside chats and a library stocked with environment-related material. (Source: Northwestern magazine). Their mission is to engender exploration, discover, and critical thinking about environmental problems so as to inspire future leaders to act in ways that will protect and sustain our planet.

Wildroots

Wild Roots Garden was founded at Northwestern University in the fall of 2009 through a collaboration between the One Book One Northwestern project, three undergraduate environmental student organizations (SEED, ECO, and ESW),Facilities Management, the graduate student garden, and Norris University Center. Today, Wild Roots is managed by undergraduate students in (grateful) collaboration with Facilities Management.  Our fresh produce is harvested and donated to the chefs in our dining halls; we dry herbs and tea to sell to students, faculty, and staff during the school year.  We are located on the south lawn of Norris University Center (outside of Norbucks).  Come visit us!

Wild Roots mission is to connect students to the earth and each other, to serve the evolving educational and social needs of the Northwestern community, and to inspire students to think critically about the food we eat by starting conversations about sustainability, social justice, and our food system. We live our mission by growing fresh produce for the Northwestern and Evanston communities using sustainable practices and by using the garden asan educational tool to empower students to produce their own food, to creatively solve ecological problems, and to share their knowledge with others.  Wild Roots Garden provides a space for students to connect to the land and to each other through work days, events, and other programming and through the creation of a community of garden stewards.