Sustainable Communities Group
About Us
Sustainability Strategies for Those Most Important to You
Sustainable Communities Group (SCG) promotes and implements sustainable and safer pest & weed management practices where people live, learn and play.
We work with pest management providers, facilities as well as park and school districts.
Our Approach
Our Sustainable Communities programs provide science-based education, training and technical support to individuals and organizations with responsibilities for ensuring safe and effective pest and weed management in communities.
Most of our programs identify, teach and implement sustainable pest and weed control.
Identify
Our Green Shield Certified (GSC) program identifies and promotes practitioners of effective, prevention-based pest and weed control. Organizations and companies that achieve GSC pass a rigorous on-site evaluation every three years conducted by an experienced evaluator in facility management, structural pest control or landscaping. GSC has received international recognition for identifying sustainable pest and weed management from green building standards of LEED, WELL and GRESB.
Teach
Our programs host many educational webinars, online courses and in-person workshops. For free, you can receive comprehensive pest management training in K-12 schools from Pest Defense for Healthy Schools. Landscaping professionals can attend Midwest Grows Green (MGG) Lawn & Land Forum sessions or review resources, interviews and graphics at LawnandLand.org. Finally, our Tick IPM Working Group keeps the industry up-to-date on the latest tick-borne disease trends and prevention strategies.
Implement
Our staff and partners frequently provide their expertise to support and improve integrated pest management (IPM) programs, policies and strategies. MGG’s Technical Assistance Program contracts with soil and plant health scientists to develop three-year sustainable landscape management plans. All other Sustainable Communities programs support municipalities, organizations and companies write, implement and evaluate IPM programs.
Our Services
Working Together for a Better Community
IPM Training
We offer a variety of virtual and in-person IPM training opportunities for facility managers, pest management professionals, acarologists, landscapers, natural land managers and school staff.
IPM for Facility Managers Professional Development Training
Learn how to identify and effectively manage pests while minimizing pesticide and pest management hazards. Those that complete the training will learn about how to start a pest management program, identify key pest species and pest-conducive conditions. A certificate of completion is provided to those that complete the training.
Tick IPM
Through our Tick IPM Working Group, we offer free monthly webinars and an annual Tick Academy with the goal of sharing integrated tick management strategies and reducing the risk of exposure to infected ticks.
School IPM
Our Pest Defense for Healthy Schools offers both in-person, virtual and self-guided IPM training for K-12 employees to mitigate risks posed by pests and pesticides. Each training is tailed for specific school staff groups including custodians, nurses, landscapers, facility managers, administrators, maintenance, teachers and food service. There is also a module for pest management professionals to learn how to effectively implement IPM in schools.
IPM Walkthroughs
Facilities seeking guidance on creating, updating or reviewing IPM practices to prevent and solve pest problems using low-risk solutions can schedule an IPM walkthrough. The IPM Institute’s Green Shield Certified will develop a detailed report on the extent of the current pest problem(s) and IPM strategies that may be used to address the issue(s). Contact Green Shield Certified to schedule your IPM walkthrough
Pest Defense Workshops
If you would like to offer the Pest Defense training at your school district, In-Service Days or at an education conference please contact us (link to the contact us page). We work with a network of trainers across the country who are able to offer any of the Pest Defense training courses at your location.
Projects & Initiatives
Growing Sustainability in Communities
Midwest Grows Green
Educates & empowers citizens to take sustainable landscaping action that reduces harmful runoff into our waterways.
Green Shield Certified
Accredits providers of effective, prevention-based pest control while minimizing the use of pesticides.
Tick IPM Working Group
Organizes & expands the network working to reduce the risk of exposure to infected ticks through collaboration.
Pest Defense for Healthy Schools
Promotes risk-reduction and improvements in environmental health and safety in childcare facilities and schools.
Tue Jun 1
Tick Populations May Be Higher Than Last Summer
Mild winters and an upward trend in climate both are contributing to an increase in tick populations this year. Since…
Wed Jan 6
Recent study published that utilized citizen science to help predict the distribution of black-legged ticks
Ticks and tick-borne diseases are expanding and its import to monitor their distributions. Surveillance is usually passive and relies on…
Thu Sep 17
Nootkatone, an effective and safe alternative to repelling ticks, receives EPA registration
Last month, Nootkatone received EPA registration. Nootkatone is a naturally-derived substance from cedar and grapefruit. Initial results from research trials…
