Eco MoCo Chapter Starting Guide

Thank you for your interest in starting an Eco MoCo Chapter! Chapters are branches of our international organization that advocate for the environment locally in either a school community or area (city or county). Chapters may even be formed among friends! Chapters may serve any community in the world. Please email ecomocoadvocacy@gmail.com with any questions.

How to start a chapter

1. Read this entire document and check our list of current chapters.
2. Complete this application (reviewed on a rolling basis).
3. You will receive an email with next steps if your application is accepted!

Benefits of starting an Eco MoCo chapter

• Grow your leadership skills in a student-led environment
• Completely lead and customize your chapter! You can make your chapter any size, create any structure, and plan any environmental project of interest outside of our required projects
• Flexible time commitment: as Chapter President, you can decide the meeting schedule and number of projects you want to implement
• Make an impact on your community and the earth
• Be connected to an international network of student leaders
• Receive numerous resources to help form chapter activities
• Receive support for your passion projects

Requirements

• Chapters should be led by middle school and/or high school students
• Required Officers:

• 1-2 Presidents: oversee chapter activity, lead meetings, recruit members, serve as the point of contact for Eco MoCo, ensure completion of the Activity Impact form after each project
• Treasurer: plan the budget, record all purchases (if any) through a balance sheet, submit balance sheet to Eco MoCo at the end of every school year

• Recommended positions: you may create leadership positions as you see fit! Some possible positions include Public Relations Directors, Environmental Education Directors, Chief of Staff, and Policy Directors.
• Chapters must have at least 5 members, not including the officers. The chapter president must update a member spreadsheet with the name and personal email of each officer and member.
• Chapters must be named in the following format: Eco MoCo [area chapter serves]. Acceptable name examples: Eco MoCo NYC, Eco MoCo WCHS (for schools), Eco MoCo Lancaster.
• Chapters must meet at least once every month and complete required Eco MoCo projects, as described later in this document.
• Chapters must submit an Impact Report form after each completed project.

School Chapters*

• School chapters may be a school club with a staff member sponsor or a separate student group that serves the school community.

• Please note that clubs with an adult sponsor should still be student-led.

Area Chapters*

• Area chapters serve an area, such as a county or city, and should have student representation from around the area.
• Area chapters are larger groups and operate as chapter organizations so it is recommended, though not required, that Area chapters have departments. Refer to the Eco MoCo Headquarters overview document for an example of our organization’s structure.

*Note: School chapters located in an area that an area chapter serves are separate from the area chapter. Collaboration is encouraged but not required.

Projects

• Chapters are expected to make significant progress on projects each month.
• Chapters are required to participate in the No More Trash Campaign and are recommended to also host sustainability presentations. Learn more below.
• Chapters are encouraged to also create their own sustainability projects! Project guides are provided to chapters. Projects can include fundraisers, virtual and in-person workshops, events, donation drives, postcard campaigns, testimonies, etc.

Required Project

No More Trash Campaign

• No More Trash Campaign is Eco MoCo’s international trash pickup campaign. Every chapter will either host a trash pickup at a local park/school, or encourage each member to pick up litter individually. Chapters must submit photos of the campaign and a report on how many bags of trash were picked up.

Recommended Project

Sustainability Presentations

• Sustainability Presentations is Eco MoCo’s presentation campaign where chapters will present at elementary and middle schools around the nation. Chapters will coordinate with local schools to set up student presentations during lunch time. Guides, templates, and presentation content will be given to chapters to make this process as easy as possible!

Questions?

Contact Eco MoCo at ecomocoadvocacy@gmail.com with any questions.

Eco MoCo Current Chapters

1. Eco MoCo Churchill (school)
2. Eco MoCo Northwest (school)
3. Eco MoCo Watkins Mill (school)
4. Eco MoCo Germantown (area)
5. Eco MoCo Wheaton (school)
6. Eco MoCo Poolesville (school)
7. Eco MoCo Rockville (area)
8. Eco MoCo Loiederman (school)
9. Eco MoCo Wootton (school)
10. Eco MoCo Eastern (school)
11. Eco MoCo Blair (school)
12. Eco MoCo Westminster (school)
13. Eco MoCo MCJC (area)
14. Eco MoCo Silver Spring (area)
15. Eco Moco Kingsview (school)
16. Eco MoCo Bethesda (area)
17. Eco MoCo Potomac (area)
18. Eco MoCo PR - Colegio Nuestra Señora de la Providencia (school)
19. Eco MoCo Springbrook (school)
20. Eco MoCo Wooton (school)
21. Eco MoCo Walter Johnson (school)
22. Eco MoCo Gaithersburg (area)
23. Eco MoCo Hallie Wells (school)
24. Eco MoCo Clarksburg (school)
25. Eco MoCo Shady Grove (school)
26. Eco MoCo Richard Montgomery (school)
27. Eco MoCo Ashburn (area)
28. Eco MoCo Prince George's County (area)
29. Eco MoCo Bethlehem (area)
30. Eco MoCo Wake (area)
31. Eco MoCo Loudoun County (area)
32. Eco MoCo Severna Park (area)
33. Eco MoCo Grant (school)
34. Eco MoCo Northern PG (area)
35. Eco MoCo Orange County (area)
36. Eco MoCo CA (area)