Colorado School Zone Program

From elementary schools to colleges and universities, the program builds leadership, strengthens school culture, and promotes environmental stewardship across Colorado. Participating schools receive official recognition as a Colorado School Zone, demonstrating their commitment to civic pride and responsibility.

Keep Colorado Beautiful is actively seeking partners in every region of Colorado to help design, implement, and scale this program.

Your Questions, Answered

The Colorado School Zone Program is a statewide initiative created by Keep Colorado Beautiful to empower students, educators, and campuses to take pride in keeping their schools clean, beautiful, and litter free.

  • The program encourages students and school communities to maintain litter free campuses while building long term habits of environmental responsibility and leadership.

  • Schools remove litter promptly and consistently from school grounds and surrounding areas. Addressing litter quickly discourages future littering and reinforces shared responsibility.

  •  Students develop a sense of stewardship through education, leadership opportunities, and visible campus pride. The program fosters a culture where littering is not acceptable behavior.

  •  Elementary schools
    Middle schools
    High schools
    Charter schools
    School districts
    Trade schools
    Community colleges
    Universities

  • Complete at least two improvement projects per academic year. Projects may include litter cleanups, flower or tree planting, pollinator gardens, vegetable gardens, murals, outdoor classroom improvements, recycling initiatives, or other beautification efforts.

    Submit a brief activity report to Keep Colorado Beautiful after each project.

    Promote and organize litter free school events with proper waste and recycling management.

    Share activities and progress through school newsletters, websites, social media, or campus bulletin boards.

    Maintain safety as a top priority during all activities.

    Provide written notice and remove signage if choosing to withdraw or becoming inactive in the program.

  • Official Keep Colorado Beautiful School Zone signage recognizing the commitment.

    Recognition on the Keep Colorado Beautiful website and social media platforms.

    Media support and visibility when applicable.

    Educational resources and toolkits for litter prevention and beautification.

    Staff assistance and guidance.

    Connections to statewide campaigns and initiatives.

  • Clean and beautiful schools create welcoming spaces for learning, build student leadership, and strengthen civic pride. The Colorado School Zone Program helps shape the next generation of environmental stewards across our state.

  • Schools may complete a participation agreement to become officially recognized as a Colorado School Zone and begin building a cleaner, stronger campus community.