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In Fall 2025, Harbor City International Schools participated in the Fast Track Pilot, a streamlined process for schools already recognized by the Green Ribbon program, to further support their commitment to sustainability and community engagement through joining the MN GreenStep School Program.
"Harbors of Hope: Steering a Sustainable Future”
"Harbors of Hope: Steering a Sustainable Future”
October 2024 | Stormwater pollution prevention presentations from the city of Duluth inspired chalk art by students and staff on Superior Street in Duluth, Minnesota.
Fall 2024 Campaign | Harbor City students conduct a beach sweep at Park Point in Duluth, Minnesota, picking up litter and recording data to submit to the Alliance for the Great Lakes’ Adopt-a-Beach program.
Harbor City International School (HCIS), located in downtown Duluth, Minnesota, is an inclusive, tuition-free public high school committed to academic challenge, community engagement, creative expression, and global perspective. HCIS has a rich history of promoting well-being across various facets, including environmental, mental, and nutritional health, for its students, staff, and local community, and of advocating for the biodiversity around them. Harbor City International School views sustainable advocacy as an ongoing journey rather than a one-time achievement. Since their USED Green Ribbon Schools nomination in 2025, HCIS’s commitment to the MN GreenStep Schools initiative showcases their dedication to progress and environmental stewardship. By inspiring future generations, they are building a resilient community where sustainability and well-being are central to their mission. This partnership requires accountability and thoughtful reflection, ensuring that their effort reaches those who follow. Harbor City International School is not just crafting a better tomorrow; they are cultivating a thriving environment for all.
As Harbor City International School steers a sustainable future, its history of sustainability efforts closely aligns with the principles of Green Ribbon Schools and MN GreenStep Schools. Initiatives such as minimizing food waste in their nutrition program and supporting mental health through the 5 Rs (Respect, responsibility, relationship, reach, and resilience) are essential to HCIS’s leadership and values.
Their partnerships with the City of Duluth, Waankam: People for the Estuary focused on the Rights of Nature for the St. Louis River Estuary, eco-volunteering around the city, hiking and trail repair on the Superior Hiking Trail, and visits to local gardens and farms for lessons on sustainable food systems showcase the school’s commitment to hands-on sustainability. Notably, student-led initiatives like Action Club Team (ACT), which earned the Water Stewardship Award in a statewide Youth Eco Solutions competition in Spring 2023, highlight their efforts in stormwater pollution prevention and water quality monitoring.
Harbor City International School is actively working to reduce its environmental impact and costs through essential actions focused on water quality, efficiency, and conservation. Situated on one of the largest lakes in the world, Lake Superior, and the largest freshwater estuary in North America, the St. Louis River Estuary, these efforts are vital for the community. Students assist the facilities manager in collecting water samples for lead testing, all of which have shown no lead detected. An invited speaker from the Duluth Utility Programs Coordinator spoke to Environmental Science students about lead pipe replacement in the area. Water conservation practices include infrastructure upgrades, behavioral changes, and education, like fixing leaks, changing fountain filters, and installing water-efficient toilets that use only about 20 ounces per flush. At the same time, urinals are set to 0.25 gallons per flush.
To enhance the health and wellness of students, faculty, and staff, Harbor City International School offers support through the School Social Worker and Student Support Specialist. One key resource is the Zen Den, conveniently located outside their offices. This inviting space features a couch, comfortable chairs, bean bags, a faux fireplace heater, and various fidgets. All students can take breaks in the Zen Den, with some needing extra time as mental health needs arise during the school year. HCIS aims to help students return to the classroom in a better mindset for learning. Assisting students to generate a solid academic plan and approach with teachers can help reduce further health complications. In the same spirit, HCIS strives to maximize the health benefits of our student nutrition program while minimizing food waste, in part by creating smoothies, dried fruit snacks, and freshly squeezed juice from excess fruit.
Harbor City International School (HCIS) is dedicated to effective environmental and sustainability education through its science curriculum, elective courses, and hands-on symposiums that engage students with the community and nature. Partnerships with local environmental organizations and the student-led Action Club Team (ACT) further enhance these efforts. Science classes incorporate engaging projects, such as the climate action simulation EN-ROADS, followed by initiatives focused on local climate action and on exploring green careers. Students also participate in regional water-quality monitoring for the Izaak Walton League’s Salt Watch campaign and in a mock UN climate summit, where they develop proposals to limit carbon emissions. Notably, many have embraced the 10,000 Pounds Project, promoting lifestyle changes to mitigate significant carbon emissions. About 75% of sophomores, juniors, and seniors take part in these impactful lessons.
A key focus at HCIS is Environmental Justice, with courses addressing critical issues like the Flint water crisis and environmental racism. ACT organizes guest speaker events, recycling surveys, food drives, and awareness campaigns, such as Same Fit Friday, to tackle fast fashion. Additionally, teachers have been recognized with a Climate Solutions Fellowship from Climate Generation and achieved All-Star Educator status with Learn Fresh, which integrates games into STEM education. The focus on indigenous acknowledgement in the classroom and on events that lead to actively working with local indigenous leaders through participation in Indigenous Day appreciation symposiums is a key factor in fostering and building these traditions at HCIS and in the local community.
Harbor City International School is committed to a sustainable future, but has faced some unexpected challenges. However, these challenges have not destroyed the dedication to their mission. In spring 2019, students pushed for a solar assessment, which All Energy Solar completed with the building owner's consent. Unfortunately, the owner opted not to install solar panels and later sold the building. While they haven't been able to move forward with solar, they're now eager to revisit the plan with the insights of current students and the new owner.
The Voices of Hope
The Voices of Hope
Harbor City International School’s focus on student involvement within their community has fostered a vibrant environment, inviting families to join as harbors of hope. Over the years, HCIS has been a guiding light, demonstrating a dynamic, sustainable approach that has attracted interest from students at other schools and the local sanitation district in their food waste management practices. The impact of these initiatives is reflected in the heartfelt comments from former HCIS students, who cherish their unforgettable experiences:
Amaia Mayberry (2024) wrote, “During my time at Harbor City and in the Action Club Team, I witnessed a growing awareness of our choices and their broader impacts. Outside of school, my classmates actively engaged with our community's needs—picking up trash, attending environmental meetings, and discussing local issues like road salt overuse and energy justice in low-income neighborhoods. The ecological commitment and awareness among students at Harbor City International School is truly unmatched, reflecting a strong dedication to sustainable practices.”
Agnes Barthel (2024) wrote, “By fostering education about environmental topics like composting, water quality, and environmental justice through workshops, guest seminars, symposiums, and volunteering opportunities, the school has been able to create a culture of environmental stewardship and advocacy. In my case, the knowledge I gained from Mr. Scott's AP Environmental Science class, as well as the opportunities I had to participate in environmental work that felt meaningful to me through Action Club, is largely what inspires me to pursue a degree in environmental studies in college."
Harbor City International School is dedicated to fostering a sustainable, inclusive community that values the well-being of its students, faculty, staff, and the environment. Through initiatives like the Action Club Team and partnerships with local organizations, HCIS empowers students to take responsibility for their surroundings. By combining a focus on sustainability with support for mental and nutritional wellness, the school not only prepares students for lifelong advocacy but also fosters a vibrant community ready to face future challenges. Looking ahead, HCIS is excited to embrace the MN GreenStep Schools program, reinforcing its commitment to accountability, thoughtful reflection, sustainability, and leading students to become proactive stewards of their environment. This alignment with GreenStep initiatives will further enhance their leadership in environmental education and community engagement.
Links to HCIS student-written articles in The Reader:
Links to HCIS student-written articles in The Reader:
Members of Green Team:
Brian Scott, Science Teacher
Adam Soderlind, Student Support Specialist
Wylan Ausing, student
Aspen Herbert, student
Family/community members: TBD
MN GreenStep Schools Representative: Brian Scott, Chair of the Board of Directors, Science Teacher, Action Club Team advisor, bscott@harborcityschool.org
Green Team Plan: Harbor City International School is currently leading a student-led and advisor-supported team called the Action Club Team (ACT), which meets 1 time per week.
Timeline
Timeline
2002 | Harbor City International Schools is founded, and its building is converted into a school. The architect saw no evidence of asbestos and noted it in their report. HCIS begins its journey to reduce its environmental impact and costs.
Today | The building owner recently tested for carbon monoxide, and the results indicated none was detected.
2016 | HCIS led beach sweeps, beginning what would become a school tradition, eventually picking up thousands of pieces of plastic and cigarette butts through fall and spring cleanups.
Spring 2019 | Students advocated for a solar assessment of our school, and one was conducted. All Energy Solar completed the evaluation with the building owner's permission.
November 2019 | Students helped conduct an energy audit at HCIS. Students learned about the best ways to make our building more energy-efficient. They came away from that audit with a focus on improving lighting efficiency and on finding a way to use a timing device in conjunction with the charging stations for our student Chromebooks.
2020 | Harbor City used COVID funds to buy fitness trackers to help encourage Health and Fitness students to stay active. Staff members also had the opportunity to use the fitness trackers and compete against students in step- or zone-minute challenges. Students had a chance to win gift cards by winning againsguest staff members in these challenges.
Today | Fitness trackers are still used in Health and Fitness classes to encourage students to work towards 150 minutes each week, as recommended by the American Heart Association. Students receive a free YMCA membership for the school year, enabling them to stay active.
2021 | HCIS students have been introduced to sources of climate change and solutions through lessons centered on the climate action simulation EN-ROADS.
2022 | HCIS partnered with educators from the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment to teach lessons using EN-ROADS, in which students are assigned a role in a mock UN climate summit and are asked to propose actions, usually in the forms of taxes or subsidies, in attempting to limit carbon emissions and the warming of the Earth to at or below 2 degree Celsius.
Spring 2023 | ACT’s focus was on water quality monitoring and education. It resulted in a Youth Eco Solutions Water Stewardship Award recognizing their efforts in water conservation in the statewide competition. The team worked closely with local water experts to plan and deliver hands-on lessons and streamside activities for the elementary students. The team worked closely with local water experts to plan and deliver hands-on lessons and streamside activities for the elementary students.
March 2023 | Harbor City AP Environmental Science students participated in the Minnesota Zoo’s Show Us Your Mussels Challenge. Students learned about the importance of freshwater mussels and created social media posts to educate others about their role in local ecosystems. Harbor City students were awarded the Lilliput Award because, despite being a small school, they contributed effectively to the challenge's overall success.
Fall 2023 | HCIS’s first drive sent 64 recycled gadgets, including iPhones, iPods, computers, and other electronics, to Eco Cell, an electronics recycling company. Through this drive, HCIS donated money to the Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth to support their efforts in electronics recycling.
Fall 2023 |After receiving the Youth Eco Solutions Water Stewardship Award, the ACT Club Team had an opportunity to give a presentation at a Youth in Action Make a Difference conference on benthic macroinvertebrates and water quality monitoring.
April 2024 | The ACT Club Team planted 408 saplings on April 27, 2024 to offset their school’s energy consumption from the past academic year. Students took orders, passed out trees on the event day, and even delivered and planted trees to people in the community.
Spring 2024 | A senior student, Henry Billings, planned an after-school workshop centered around collecting food waste or scraps at home and composting them at one of the city’s food waste drop-off sites. Student and staff participants in the workshop were given free bins and bags to begin food waste collection at their homes.
Fall 2024 | 30 out of 190 students (nearly 16%) contributed to Action Club Team meetings and project planning, plus implementation.
Fall 2024 | students continued a partnership with the city of Duluth to learn about the importance of stormwater pollution prevention. Using this new knowledge, students created chalk art on the downtown sidewalks to educate the public about the causes and consequences of stormwater pollution.
Today | Each April, the whole school participates in a downtown trash sweep to prevent stormwater pollution, and at least twice a year, students conduct a beach sweep on Park Point, with data submitted to the Alliance for the Great Lakes’ Adopt-a-Beach campaign.
Fall Semester of 2024-2025 | 167 out of 190 students (about 88%) utilized their free bus pass through the DTA. Whenever possible, classes use the bus system to travel into the community for winter or spring symposium classes. Another spring symposium that provides students with the opportunity to learn how to sail utilizes bicycles to get from school to the sailing club.
Fall Semester, 2025-2026 | Field experiences for Ornithology elective students included a birding and photography workshop with Dudley Edmondson at Hartley Park in Duluth, a field trip to Hawk Ridge in Duluth, which included a class and a tour of the songbird banding station, and a trip to the Sax Zim Bog in December to see boreal birds. Biology and AP Biology students took a field trip to Boulder Lake Environmental Learning Center to learn about community science projects, measuring biodiversity, and assessing water quality through sampling for benthic macroinvertebrates. Duluth resident, author, and bird enthusiast Laura Erickson spoke to students in Ornithology, Biology, AP Biology, Environmental Science, and Environment and Sustainability, thrilling them with her knowledge and passion for birds. CITS (College in the Schools) Environment and Sustainability students completed sustainability challenges throughout the semester, chose a UN Sustainable Development goal, created an action project, and discussed environmental policy, action, and careers with fifteen guest speakers through the course of the semester. Environment and Sustainability students also completed projects on urban heat islands and worked with researchers from the University of Minnesota Duluth to learn about and sample for microplastics in the Duluth Harbor. Action Club Team students planned and implemented bat education events and raised $400 for Bat Conservation International. ACT students also led a school-wide food drive for the local nonprofit, CHUM.
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