Green Games History at Carolina 
 

1993 – 1994
Started as a student initiative by members of SEAC in coordination with Student Government and the Campus Y.  UNC Physical Plant assisted with sponsorship money and providing metering and recycling information.  Started as a seven-month contest, Sept. – April (Dec. & Jan. combined to equal one-month), with monthly prizes.  Sponsors also included local businesses and other campus organizations. 

1996 - 1997
Green Games became its own student organization with an office in the Student Union. 

1997 – 1998
Activities and programming became a bigger part of the team ranking process.   An “Area Leadership of the Year Award” was added as an incentive for Area Directors and RA’s to get actively involved in spreading the Green Games message.  Previously, results were based solely on monthly energy, water & recycling stats.  

1998 – 1999
Green Games scaled back to a five-month competition, Sept. – Feb. (Dec. & Jan. combined).  This change may have occurred because of budget or student leadership reasons.

2000 – 2001
In 2000, the students that chaired Green Games for the past few years graduated. There was no student leadership remaining on campus for Green Games.  The Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling, after hiring an Education & Outreach Coordinator in Sept., 2000, takes on the task of continuing Green Games.   

2001 – 2002
Green Games 2002 was a huge success.  All 11 residence hall areas/teams (29 dorms total) participated in the Games.  For the first time we had 100% participation in programming & activities–the most important component of the competition.  Prizes and plaques were handed out at an awards presentation in the Student Union as part of the UNC Sustainability Coalition’s Earth Week activities.

2002 - 2005
With the help of student employees, the Green Games program expanded.  Information packets were created for all communities, and an emphasis was put on programming and education, instead of focusing largely on the “numbers,” like in the past.  Instead of just having the games in the Spring Semester, communities could have points added throughout the entire school year.  Battery recycling was also added as a Green Games component – with points given to each community which recycled their batteries.  There were also additional contests such as the photo and essay contests added. A Green Games committee was created in 2005 in order to increase participation during 2006. This committee will meet monthly to discuss the games and brainstorm outreach ideas for the future.

2005-2006
The Green Games Committee was a great success this year.  There was an increase in participation in all contests and events.  We had monthly committee meetings in the fall, and meetings every 3 weeks during the spring semester. 

During one of the committee meetings, it was decided to take away the “numbers” part of green games, and to focus on education through programming. 

2007-2008