Cafeteria Ranger Program for service learning in the cafeteria
Service Learning in the Cafeteria
The Cafeteria Ranger Program empowers students to become leaders in waste reduction! During the last 5 minutes of their lunch period, Cafeteria Rangers guide their peers at the sorting station to ensure proper sorting of food scraps, recyclables, and trash.
Rangers can be selected from your school’s Green Team, or classes can take turns choosing 4–5 students to serve as Rangers each week. It’s a simple and powerful way to build student responsibility, and reduce waste! Videos and Downloads to get you started in 8 steps (scroll down↓).
There are many challenges and many questions:
How can I engage the entire school community?
How can I get teachers interested to talk about the cafeteria during class time?
Will our school aides have time to get on board?
Can I convince our custodians that the Cafeteria Ranger Program will make their job easier?
Do I need a team?
We are here to help! We are building a community of people who want to make change. Let’s all work together and help one another.
“I was skeptical that the Cafeteria Ranger program would make anything more than a headache for my team, but we quickly saw that putting students in charge of sorting made them better at cleaning up after themselves at their tables and made less work for all of the custodians.”
Stephen Marinaro, Custodial Engineer, NEST+m, New York City Department of Education
Using a rotational system, all students have the opportunity to be a Cafeteria Ranger. At the end of each lunch period, student Rangers oversee all recycling and sorting of food scraps and packaging. It’s a hands-on service-learning opportunity.
Students practice communication, leadership, and recycling/sorting skills as a daily routine, while ensuring that all city purchased “green” items, including recyclables, compostable and food scraps, remain as resources.
If you are not ready to start a Cafeteria Ranger Program, you can still go ahead and:
Conduct a waste audit (Step 3)
Print and assemble new signs (Step 6)
Set up the bins (Step 8)
Share sorting how-to videos with teachers and students (Step 7)
It all takes a little effort in the beginning but it gets easier as more students have the opportunity to be on Ranger Duty!
Step 2 – Engage Key Players
Pitch the program to your Principal, Custodians, Kitchen Staff, and School Aides
Share the “Cafeteria Ranger CrashCourse” video
There are variations for kickstarting the Cafeteria Ranger Program at your school. You can adapt these 8 steps to fit the needs of your own school.
Case Study
Learn how Nessa Arnold, IEP teacher andSustainability Coordinator at P.S. 32 X The Belmont School in the Bronx, NYC, got her Cafeteria Ranger program started (below).
Nessa built momentum by jumping right to Steps 6 and 8, testing out new signs and new bin placement first. This immediately brought students and School Aides on board before setting up the rotational system, Step 4. (Click to Read more)
“I presented all of the Cafeteria Rangers materials to our Safety Committee (many of whom do lunch duty), Parent Association, Head Custodian, and some administration. Without hesitation, I was able to get them on board! We discussed and worked out some potential problems that might arise. The next morning I created four sorting stations and got the sorting ball rolling. Within minutes of standing at a station during breakfast I had students asking ‘What is going on?’ and if they could help. They jumped right in and made sure that breakfast was sorted correctly. Sorting during breakfast went smooth. Next was lunch, which made me a bit nervous as the crowds are bigger. During lunch, many of the School Aides asked if they could have a few of their students help at the stations. Over three lunch periods, we reduced our trash to 1/4 of a can and our recycling of metal, glass, and plastics to ma
Planning with school custodians as NEST+m
Tips for Relationship Building
CUSTODIANS – OBSERVE THEM WORKING IN THE CAFETERIA AND ASK:
How many bags of cafeteria garbage there are per day?
How many trips do you make to the curbside?
How much time does it takes to clean the floor after lunch?
SCHOOL AIDES – OBSERVE THEM AND ASK:
What’s the hardest part of your job?
How do you get students dismissed from the cafeteria in an orderly and efficient way?
Are students cleaning up after themselves?
Kitchen Staff – introduce yourself, learn their names, and ask:
How many meals are served per day?
Do students say “thank you” when you serve them?
How much time is there between each lunch period?
PRINCIPAL: share positive OUTCOMES that typically result from a cafeteria Ranger program
Here are just a few of the benefits that can result from a Cafeteria Ranger program:
A significant reduction of your school’s cafeteria garbage due to improved sorting
Increased awareness of the benefits of recycling, composting, and reduction
Provides new leadership opportunities for students during school meal time
Saves custodian and school food staff labor time by reducing the overall number of bags being pulled from garbage and recycling bins
Fewer plastic bags are used, which means saving money and resources, as well as reducing the amount of plastic that is going to landfills and incinerators
A cleaner cafeteria floor, which saves custodians and school food staff time
Improvement of the overall quality of the cafeteria experience
An excellent starting point that leads to infusing a zero waste culture school wide!
Step 3 – Observe and Collect Data
Collect “before data” that is simple or detailed
Take time to observe your cafeteria in action
If you are not regularly assigned to be in the cafeteria during lunch period, ask your principal if you can take the time to observe.
Consider asking students to help observe a lunch period, preferably not their own lunch period.
You do not need a degree in School Lunch Anthropology. You just need a little extra time to observe.
Check out the current situation in the cafeteria.
Take photos!
How many garbage bins and bags are used?
How do the Cafeteria Aides and staff operate during lunch periods?
How long does each lunch period last?
How much time is there in between lunch periods?
What are the “traffic patterns” (the flow of student movement)?
Why bother with a waste audit?
Data is powerful tool for change!
A waste audit is an excellent way to involve students and teachers with hands-on STEM learning
Simple “before” and “after” photos that visually show amounts of garbage can be powerful images for getting the entire of the school on board
A detailed audit with “before” and “after” weights of garbage, recyclables, liquids, and compostables can be used to advocate for school and district-wide change
Step 4
Make an announcement
Send out introduction letters to teachers and parents
It is now time to make the ANNOUNCEMENT to the entire school:
“The Cafeteria Ranger Program is starting soon!”
“Cafeteria Culture takes a “bite” out of pollution and landfills by teaching environmental stewardship, advocacy, and sustainability. Throughout the city, Cafeteria Culture has created zero-waste school cafeterias, and is teaching tomorrow’s leaders to think creatively about bringing sustainability into our schools, communities, and daily lives.” – Daniel Squadron, New York State Senator, 26th District
Suggestions for choosing A Launch Day Date
Work with your administration and key players to collectively decide upon an the perfect Launch Day for your Cafeteria Ranger Program.
Plan ahead. Pick a day that will allow you time the day before the Launch to get all the preparation work done.
Check out the school food menu and choose a day with as little packaging as possible. Make the first day of sorting easy.
Try not launch on a Monday. The first day of the week is a good day to check that everything is in order and to remind everyone about Launch Day.
Suggestions for getting everyone on board
Have students make original signage to publicize the LAUNCH DAY.
Present the Cafeteria Ranger Program at a school wide assembly.
Make the Launch Day into a challenge!
Announce the Cafeteria Ranger Program during all lunch periods.
Announce the Cafeteria Ranger Program during school-wide morning announcements.
Ask teachers to get students excited about the Cafeteria Ranger Launch Day by talking about it regularly during morning meetings.
Why Send letters to teachers and parents/caregivers?
This is an excellent way to share details of the program with teachers and parents. The editable Microsoft Word documents below are designed to be personalized. Consider sending these as emails.
Step 4 Downloads
First Introduction Letter to Teachers about Cafeteria Ranger Program (editable document, 67KB)
Intro Letter to Parents/Caregivers about the Cafeteria Ranger Program (editable document – 49 KB)
Step 5 – Schedule Classes
Review how the rotational system works
Print out the Sign-up Sheets and Yearlong Schedule Template
Here’s how the Ranger scheduling works! (read about all here)
One class in each lunch period is assigned as the Cafeteria Ranger class for one month. Cafeteria Ranger classes rotate month by month. Every student will have the chance to be a leader.
One adult needs to be the Ranger Coordinator (it can be any adult) in charge of scheduling, Sign-up Sheets and Badges. Once a month, she/he distributes Sign-up Sheets to the teachers of the next Cafeteria Ranger classes.
The teachers assign their students to weekly shifts, filling in 2 copies of the sign-up sheet.
One copy of the Sign-up Sheet stays in the classroom and the other copy gets posted in the cafeteria.
Before a class becomes a Ranger class for the first time, the classroom teacher explains the Ranger Jobs and Ranger Etiquette to the entire class.
Teachers continue to review Job Descriptions and assignments regularly during the entire month of Class Ranger Duty.
During the lunch period, the Rangers get to be first on the food line so that they have enough time to eat their lunch before starting their jobs.
The Rangers work the last 5-7 minutes of their own lunch period. When the lunch period is over, the Rangers take off their gloves and head back to the classroom.
About Step 5 Downloads
You can download a PDF version of “HERE’S HOW THE RANGER SCHEDULE WORKS” that includes more details for Steps 4 and 5.
There are 2 versions of the Cafeteria Ranger Sign-up Sheets , one for NYC schools with Organics (compost) Collection and one for schools without.
There is no preview for the editable Yearlong Schedule Template. It will download as soon as you click on the image.
“As soon as our students started their Cafeteria Ranger jobs, they behaved much better after lunch and we could transition back to classwork more easily.” – Allison DeGrazia, teacher, PS 34 Manhattan
This isn’t as complex as it sounds and there are many possible variations. Adapt these steps to fit into the culture of your own school.
Posting a yearlong schedule of Cafeteria Ranger class assignments helps students to grasp that everyone will have a chance to be a Ranger at some point during the school year.
Get your students involved in the preparation for the LAUNCH DAY by having them help with assembling the cafeteria sorting signs.
Have your students make additional original signage to publicize your LAUNCH DAY throughout the entire school building.
Our cafeteriasigns are designed for NYC schools. If you are not an NYC school, check with your local government for recycling regulations.
Outside of NYC? Consider making original cafeteria sorting signage for your school or school district with the help of students, the art teacher, and/or your PTA.
Interested in custom designed signs for your school, school district, organization, or business? Contact us! Your support helps us to bring zero waste education to underserved schools and to create more KIT segments for ALL FOR FREE!
About Step 6 Downloads
All the Sorting Signs are together in one PDF. Included are 2 versions of the “trash sign.” One is for schools with Organics Collection (composting) and one id for schools without Organics Collection. Choose which pages to print.
The Table Captain Badges are optional . Some schools love having the additional Ranger jobs.
Cafeteria Sorting SignsCafeteria Sorting Signs – for NYC schools with and without organics (compost) collection, 9 pages (print only what you need, 1.9 MB)Cafeteria Ranger BadgesCafeteria Ranger Badges, 5 per page (PDF, 1.9 MB)Optional: Table Captain Badges, 4 per page (PDF, 256 KB)About the Gloves
Gloves do not need to be food grade or sterile.
“Light Duty” gloves are fine.
Some “eco versions” exist, but we do not have enough information to endorse any brand at this time.
Some schools buy reusable latex gloves that they wash and reuse!
Check with your local health department to be sure that students are required to wear gloves when handling student plates or trays.
Too much prep work? Are you interested in ordering a Kit with all the signs, badges and forms ready to use?
If so, please email us here. If we receive enough interest, we’ll make the kits ASAP!
Step 7 – Training for Ranger Classes
Students and Teachers
Show the SORT2SAVE cheer! (6 minutes)
Teach Job Descriptions and Gratitude (20-40 min lesson)
New Ranger Class Overview Letter to Teachers, ”SORT2SAVE Cheer!” Lyrics, Job Descriptions, and Ranger Etiquette
New ranger class overview letter to teachersNew Ranger Class Overview Letter to Teachers with explanation of the Ranger Scheduling and Job Descriptions (editable document, 76KB)About the “SORT2SAVE Cheer!” Lyrics
There are 2 versions of the SORT2SAVE Cheer! Lyrics, one for grades 1-2 and another for grades 3-6.
The Pre-k – K – 1 version is coming this fall with a new SORT2SAVE segment dedicated to Pre-K – K Zero Waste Meals in the Classroom!
“SORT2SAVE CHEER!” Lyrics for grades 1-2SORT2save Cheer! – Lyrics for Grades 1-2 (1 page, PDF, 264KB)“SORT2SAVE CHEER!” LYRICS FOR GRADES 3-6SORT2save Cheer! – Lyrics for Grades 3-6 (2 pages, PDF, 274KB)Job DescriptionsCafeteria Ranger JOB DESCRIPTIONS (5 pages, PDF, 732 KB)Ranger EtiquetteCafeteria Ranger Etiquette Practice (3 pages, PDF, 296 KB)
“Cafeteria Culture has done an amazing job! One of the students came up to me this morning and pointed to the garbage pails in her classroom and said with confidence, “We sort now.” I looked in the direction she was pointing and realized she was referring to the waste. She was beaming, and I began to beam as well.”
Peggy Wyns-Madison, Principal, PS15 The Patrick F. Daly Magnet School of the Arts. Brooklyn, New York City Department of Education
Learn about different sorting station arrangements for different types of school cafeteria layouts and work towards achieving a zero waste school cafeteria!
Daily Operations – Downloadable PDF in ColorDaily Operations for Cafeteria Rangers – in color (3 pages, PDF, 2.7 MB)Daily Operations – Downloadable PDF in Black & WhiteDaily Operations for Cafeteria Rangers – in black & white (3 pages, PDF, 2.3 MB)
Congratulations – You are ready to launch your Cafeteria Ranger Program
A few important reminders:
Remind all key players of the new cafeteria procedures.
Ask your principal or vice principal to make an announcement in each of the cafeteria lunch periods on Launch Day.
Take photos so you can create a poster with “before” and “after” images.
MAKE IT FUN!!!
More #PlasticFree Resources!
Lead a PLASTIC FREE LUNCH DAY in your school! (see how the 5th graders did this in the MICROPLASTIC MADNESS movie)
