Green Grounds Certification

Join a national network of campuses committed to organic, sustainable landcare.

Applyopens in new tab

About

For the past two years, Re:wild Your Campus has conducted research and development to create a certification that not only recognizes schools and institutions pioneering the transition to organic landcare, but also serves as an incentive for other campuses to join this landcare revolution.

The RYC Green Grounds Certification is the culmination of conversations with experts, groundskeepers, students, and sustainability professionals. It goes above and beyond reducing pesticide use to incentivize regenerative landcare practices that will increase biodiversity, reduce water use, improve soil health, and take campus sustainability efforts to the next level.

Already, schools and institutions across the country are putting these practices into action. Certified campuses are reducing or eliminating synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, creating healthier, more resilient environments that support their communities, nurture biodiversity, and take meaningful action against climate change.
Explore the Green Grounds Directory

Why seek Green Grounds Certification?

  • Network

    Join a national community of campuses leading the shift to organic, chemical-free landcare.

  • Health

    Reduce exposure to toxic pesticides linked to cancer, neurotoxicity, reproductive harm, and hormone disruption.

  • Soil

    Protect vital microorganisms and adopt regenerative landcare practices that strengthen soil health.

  • Climate

    Reduce emissions, increase biodiversity, and make your campus more resilient to climate change.

Understand the Impact

Certification Standards

The Green Grounds Certification recognizes progress at every stage of the transition to organic landcare. Campuses can earn one of four tiers — Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum — by meeting the corresponding standards. Each tier builds on the one before it, meaning higher levels must also meet all the criteria of the previous standards.

Read on below to explore each certification level and its specific requirements or take our quick survey to see where you stand.

Bronze

50% of managed areas of campus are managed without synthetic pesticides and meet the following criteria: 

  • Campus has an integrated pest management (IPM) plan or policy that indicates that synthetic pesticides should be used only as a last resort, and implements this policy
  • Campus can detail work of any contractors contracted to do land management  
  • Campus has a plan to continue to reduce synthetic pesticide use and achieve higher levels of this certification 
  • Campus has pesticide usage reports (PUR reports) from past 12 months
  • Campus is actively working to increase presence of native plants on campus 
  • Campus utilizes Re:wild Your Campus signage to showcase certification and highlight organic areas on campus 

Silver

70% of managed areas of campus are managed without synthetic pesticides, meet all of Bronze criteria, and meet the following criteria:

  • Campus grounds departments collaborate with students (or the public) and engage students (or the public) in campus land care 
  • Campus commits to procuring new technology that is electric for landscaping 
  • Campus is reducing synthetic fertilizer use and is transitioning to OMRI Certified Organic fertilizers

Gold

90% of managed areas of campus are managed without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, meet all of Bronze + Silver criteria, and meet the following criteria:

  • Campus grounds departments collaborate with students (or the public) and engage students (or the public) in campus land care 
  • Campus commits to procuring new technology that is electric for landscaping 
  • Campus is reducing synthetic fertilizer use and is transitioning to OMRI Certified Organic fertilizers

Platinum

100% of managed areas of campus are managed without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, meet all of Bronze + Silver + Gold criteria, and meet the following criteria:

  • Campus grounds departments collaborate with students (or the public) and engage students (or the public) in campus land care 
  • Campus commits to procuring new technology that is electric for landscaping 
  • Campus is reducing synthetic fertilizer use and is transitioning to OMRI Certified Organic fertilizers

Note: “Managed areas” include sports fields, campus grounds, housing, and other spaces overseen by campus staff or contractors.

Application Fee

The initial Green Grounds Certification application fee is $1,000, with a $500 reapplication fee for renewal.

We recognize that cost can be a barrier—our fee waiver program is available for campuses that need support. This programs waives the fee for qualified institutions, ensuring that no school is held back from participating due to financial constraints.
Learn More About Fee Waivers

How to Apply

Ready to begin your Green Grounds Certification journey? Start by completing the application form.

Facilities Managers and Sustainability Directors may need to work together to provide the required information, and we encourage student involvement to help collect data and support the process. Student participation not only eases the workload but also builds campus-wide ownership of sustainable landcare.
Apply Now

Application Process

Re:wild Your Campus reviews completed applications on a rolling basis. During the review, our team may reach out with clarifying questions to ensure all information is accurate.

After the comprehensive review is complete, we’ll notify you of the Green Grounds Certification level your campus has earned. Certified institutions also receive signage and educational resources to highlight their sustainable landcare practices and support continued improvement.

Certifications are valid for two years, after which campuses must reapply to maintain their status.

Certification Advisory Board

Green Grounds Certification FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Why seek certification?

As a certified campus you will:

  • Promote climate resilience
  • Improve soil health
  • Protect human and environmental health

Certified campuses will also:

  • Be listed on the National Green Grounds Certification Directory
  • Qualify for an Innovation credit in AASHE STARS 2.2 and likely as an Exemplary Practice in STARS 3.0
  • Earn points through chemical inventory reporting under STARS 3.0
  • Highlight your sustainability efforts via certification signage
  • Be spotlighted in Re:wild Your Campus’ outreach channels
Why increase native plants on campus?

Native plants:

  • Do not require fertilizers
  • Require fewer pesticides and less water than lawns
  • Help prevent erosion and reduce flooding
  • Help reduce air pollution
  • Do not require mowing (reduces carbon emissions and sequesters carbon)
  • Provide shelter and food for wildlife
  • Promote biodiversity and stewardship of natural heritage
  • Enhance scenic beauty
What qualifies as managed areas of campus?

Managed areas include all campus spaces maintained at least once a year by grounds crews, including housing and athletic fields.

Not included: hardscapes and areas requiring no maintenance. For example:

  • A wild native prairie = managed (if monitored and pesticide-free)
  • A forest requiring no maintenance = not managed

Sidewalks themselves don’t count, but greenery in sidewalk cracks and edges does.

What about campus gardens, farms or agricultural research land?
  • Campus gardens = count as managed areas
  • Campus farms = do not count
  • Agricultural research land = does not count
Do you have a pesticide usage tracking sheet?

Yes! Please use our PUR tracking template to record chemical usage. This template can be downloaded and reused for record keeping. For certification, you will need to upload PURs (Pesticide Usage Reports).

Why synthetic pesticides free?

Synthetic pesticides are man-made and have been linked to serious human and environmental harms, including cancer, neurological disorders, reproductive issues, and asthma. Glyphosate, one of the most common herbicides, is classified as a “probable carcinogen.”

Pesticides also contribute to climate change and degrade soil health. Synthetic fertilizers cause algal blooms and dead zones in waterways. Removing them is essential to protecting ecosystems and people.

Why synthetic-fertilizer free for Gold and Platinum Levels?

Synthetic fertilizers provide limited soil benefits and often harm long-term fertility. They can:

  • Deplete soil organic matter
  • Run off into waterways and cause algal blooms

Going fertilizer-free ensures healthier soils and ecosystems.

Why include a standard on an electric procurement policy?

Much landscaping equipment runs on fossil fuels. By adopting a sustainable procurement policy, schools can transition toward electric equipment, reducing carbon footprints and improving grounds sustainability.

Stay in touch.

Get exclusive stories, behind-the-scenes updates, and ways to help—delivered to your inbox.

Donate for the wild.

Support real conservation impact—saving species, restoring ecosystems, and rewilding our world.

Donate