The Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) recognized 27 new Maryland Green Schools and 15 schools being re-certified in a ceremony today at the Theater on the Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville Campus. This year marks the largest number of Maryland Green Schools named in a single year since the programs inception in 1999. With these new schools, there are now 163 Maryland schools with Green School status.
The Maryland Green School Awards Program is a holistic, integrated approach to authentic learning that incorporates local environmental issue investigation and professional development with environmental best management practices and community stewardship. The program celebrates Maryland's model environmental education efforts.
"I'm thrilled that each year more of our Maryland schools are integrating environmental education into their curriculum and that we have the benefit of seeing these efforts in our communities," said State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick.
Maryland State Comptroller Peter Franchot, John Griffin, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and Shari Wilson, Secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment, along with Ed Davis of Constellation Energy and Barbara Ball of REI, Inc, both Maryland Green School supporters, joined Dr. Grasmick and many of the local school system superintendents representing the new Maryland Green Schools.
"These are noncompetitive awards to recognize the achievement of schools meeting strict environmental education criteria," said Carol Towle, MAEOE Executive Director. "The Green School designation lasts for three years and 50 percent of previous Green School Award winners have been re-certified demonstrating their commitment to the environment."
Some of the Maryland Green School projects included improving school outdoor environments through landscaping, establishing a butterfly garden, holding a poster contest to encourage recycling, practicing water conservation and water pollution prevention, raising and releasing Diamond Back Terrapins, growing oysters, starting a stream erosion prevention program, and creating an outdoor classroom.
The New 2007 Maryland Green Schools (listed by county):
Anne Arundel County
- Bodkin Elementary School
- St. Mary Elementary School
Baltimore City
- Catonsville Educational Center at RICA
Baltimore County
- Gilman Lower School
- McDonogh Middle School
- Prettyboy Elementary School
- Ruxton Country School
- Saint Clare School
- Saint James Academy
- Saint Paul's School for Girls
Calvert County
- Mt. Harmony Elementary School
Carroll County
- Century High School
- Mechanicsville Elementary School
Harford County
- Church Creek Elementary School
- Churchville Elementary School
- Harford Day School
- Homestead-Wakefield Elementary School
- John Carroll School
Howard County
- Dunloggin Middle School
- Reservoir High School
- West Friendship Elementary School
Montgomery County
- Rock Creek Forest Elementary School
- Rock Creek Valley Elementary School
- Westland Middle School
Prince George's County
- Queen Anne School
- Robert Goddard FrenchImmersion/Montessori School
Queen Anne's County
- Kennard Elementary School
2007 Schools Re-certifying (listed by county):
Allegany County
- Allegany High School
Anne Arundel County
- Davidsonville Elementary School
- Harbour School at Annapolis
Baltimore City
- Roland Park Country School
Carroll County
- Linton Springs Elementary School
- New Windsor Middle School
Cecil County
- Bohemia Manor Middle School
- West Nottingham Academy
Garrett County
- Kitzmiller Elementary School
Harford County
- Harve de Grace Middle School
Howard County
- Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School
Montgomery County
- Westbrook Elementary School
Wicomico County
- Wicomico Day School
Worcester County
- Berlin Intermediate School
- Pocomoke Middle School
For further information and a list of past winners, refer to www.maeoe.org (MAEOE/Green Schools).