Cardinal Ridge Elementary School has been named a Green Ribbon School in recognition of its commitment to environmental sustainability and environmental education. As the only school in Loudoun County and one of just two in Virginia to receive this distinction in 2025, Cardinal Ridge joins a select group of nearly 800 schools nationwide recognized by the program since its launch in 2010 U.S. Department of Education.
While federal recognition was paused this year, the Center for Green Schools, in partnership with the organizations that originally advocated for the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools program, honored state-level awardees.
For Cardinal Ridge Principal Dr. Mojisola Adejumo, the journey to this recognition began with a simple but powerful message: love. “When I was hired to be the principal of Cardinal Ridge in 2019, I was the school’s third principal in three years. At my first meet and greet, I told the staff, ‘I love you all.’ I walked out thinking they probably thought I was weird, but it was true.”
This love for the students and staff of Cardinal Ridge became the foundation for a school-wide transformation. When schools reopened in the 2020/21 school year after having been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Adejumo saw an opportunity to reimagine learning while giving students some time away from technology. Inspired by an art teacher’s invitation, Dr. Adejumo learned more about the Peterson Field Guide Experience, an outdoor learning initiative that helped students reconnect with nature.
Utilization of the Peterson Field Guide and outdoor learning has allowed more than 1,400 students to participate in activities, such as journaling, poetry, nature and science observations and nature-based art. Dr. Adejumo and Cardinal Ridge teachers learned that outdoor learning offers an environment where students can deepen their understanding of all subjects – from exploring history by considering the school’s location and landscape, to listening to and monitoring bird song and other sounds from nature, to writing or drawing.
In addition to these nature-based lessons, the school also enhanced student engagement with the environment by creating a nature trail, launching a school-wide recycling program, and developing a recycling manual now used by other schools. The school also implemented a cafeteria-based food recovery initiative to promote sustainability and reduce waste.
Cardinal Ridge’s sustainability efforts are deeply tied to its mission, which is embodied by the acronym SOAR with LOVE, or Self-control, Ownership, Appreciation of others, and Respect, along with Leadership Opportunities, Voice, and Empowerment. “The first ingredient in our Green Ribbon journey was love, for our staff and our scholars,” Dr. Adejumo said. “We’re creating opportunities for belonging and showing that we’re in this together.”
Dr. Adejumo said that she hopes that when students and staff leave Cardinal Ridge, they are fully equipped to carry what they have learned forward. “My goal is that when our scholars leave Cardinal Ridge, they are so strong, academically, emotionally, and socially, that they can press forward toward their greatness in middle school, high school, and beyond, knowing they have a solid foundation beneath them. For our staff, the goal is to continue building them up so they carry the support, growth, and confidence they’ve gained here into every corner of Loudoun County. Ultimately, our mission extends beyond these four walls. We are here to uplift our entire community.”
She sees environmental education as a catalyst to help make deeper connections. “We love our world, our community, and our environment. That shared truth gives us a chance to unpack and reconstruct how we think about education and sustainability. I invite other principals to visit and see what we’re doing here. We’re not just practicing theory—we’re living it.”
Cardinal Ridge’s recognition as a Green Ribbon school aligns with the LCPS Sustainability Framework and meets Goal 2: Promote Healthy Schools and Planet and Goal 3: Cultivate Environmental Literacy for All of the Framework. “This recognition affirms how deeply Cardinal Ridge’s work aligns with the LCPS Sustainability Framework. LCPS’ commitment to environmental literacy, wellness and resource stewardship is not just a program,” said Clark Seipt, LCPS director of Sustainability. “Cardinal Ridge is a model of how sustainability and environmental education can empower students, strengthen community and create lasting impact.”