The Steamboat Springs School District RE-2 has been selected to receive two 2025 Lumies Sustainability Awards, recognizing the district’s leadership in advancing environmental education and preparing students for a climate-resilient future.

The first Lumies Award honors Steamboat Springs High School for its effective implementation of the Seal of Climate Literacy, a state-recognized diploma endorsement created under Colorado Senate Bill 24-013. The high school is among the first rural school districts in Colorado to adopt the seal, celebrating its inaugural group of seal recipients at this year’s graduation.

The second Lumies Award acknowledges the district’s innovative approach to green skills development, including the early integration of sustainability-focused competencies into Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. These initiatives are supported by a LERA (Local Environmental Resilience Advancement) grant and reflect a strategic vision for aligning education with the demands of a sustainable economy.

The Seal of Climate Literacy is granted to students who demonstrate an understanding of climate science and solutions through academic coursework and experiential learning.

At the high school, students qualify by completing biology and environmental science courses as well as a pre-approved experiential project. These projects can range from independent research, community leadership at Eco Club, internships and even creative works in art or writing.

The district’s green skills initiative is in early stages but already gaining momentum. With LERA grant support, RE-2 is developing programs to define and embed green competencies into its CTE offerings, preparing students for sustainable careers across agriculture, energy and construction.

For more information about the Seal of Climate Literacy, green skills initiatives or the Lumies Awards, contact Jay Hamric at jhamric@ssk12.org.