The Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) will recognize 69 new Maryland Green Schools, 2 new green environmental education centers, and 24 re-certifications in a ceremony today at the Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville Campus. Additional ceremonies will be held in early June. This year marks the largest number of Maryland Green Schools named in the program’s 11-year history. With these new schools, there are now 271 Maryland schools with Green School status.

“We knew it was going to be a bumper crop this year, but had no idea of the exact scope,” said outgoing Maryland Green School Coordinator Carol Thompson.

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. Over the course of two years – the average time it takes for a school to effectively fulfill all of the requirements – schools go through a metamorphosis.

“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.

Governor O’Malley recognized the power inherent in MAEOE’s Maryland Green School Program by including it as a model program in the state environmental literacy plan’s recommended actions, developed by the Governor’s Partnership for Children in Nature.

“As a result of the certification process, schools are working to lower greenhouse gas emissions, reducing pollutant export to the Bay, staunching solid waste disposal, and increasing wildlife habitat. However, the benefits of the Maryland Green School Program cut much deeper,” said Elena Takaki, MAEOE Board President and the Maryland Department of Natural Resource’s representative for the Partnership for Children in Nature.

Maryland Green Schools have been proven to outperform non-green schools in math and reading, even when socio-economic factors are removed. The 21st century work-force will be driven by the green-collar sector. Professional success is therefore inextricably linked to environmental literacy.

“In a country where students sit more than move, are plugged in to electronic media more often than not, and can identify over 2,000 corporate logos but not a single species of tree, we need Maryland Green Schools,” said Bronwyn Mitchell, MAEOE’s Executive Director.

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, starting a stream erosion prevention program, and creating an outdoor classroom.

The New 2009 Maryland Green Schools (listed by county) being recognized May 29 from 12 -2 p.m. at the Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville Campus, include:

Baltimore City
• Barclay Elementary/Middle School
• Catholic High School of Baltimore
• Roland Park Elementary / Middle School
• The Green School
• Thomas Jefferson Elementary / Middle School
• Medfield Heights Elementary School – first recertification
• Rosemont Elementary/Middle School – first recertification
• National Aquarium in Baltimore – first recertification as a Green Center

Baltimore County
• Cromwell Valley Elementary Regional Magnet School of Technology
• Eastwood Center Elementary Magnet
• Krieger Schechter Day School
• Park School of Baltimore
• Pinewood Elementary School
• Seventh District Elementary
• Stoneleigh Elementary School
• Sussex Elementary School
• Timonium Elementary School
• Westowne Elementary School
• Windsor Mill Middle School
• Glyndon Elementary School – first recertification
• Hereford High School – second recertification

Cecil County
• Conowingo Elementary School

Harford County
• Harford Technical High School
• Norrisville Elementary School
• Prospect Mill Elementary School
• North Harford Middle School - second recertification
• Harford Glen Environmental Education Center – first recertification as a
   Green Center

Howard County
• Atholton Elementary School
• Centennial Lane Elementary School
• Dayton Oaks Elementary School
• Deep Run Elementary School
• Forest Ridge Elementary School
• Glenelg Country School
• Glenwood Middle School
• Hollifield Station Elementary School
• Longfellow Elementary School
• Hammond Elementary School – first recertification

The New 2009 Maryland Green Schools (listed by county) being recognized June 1 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 – 4 p.m. at Carroll Community College in Carroll County, include:

Carroll County
• Cranberry Station Elementary School
• Eldersburg Elementary School
• Francis Scott Key High School
• Mt. Airy Middle School
• Oklahoma Road Middle School
• Piney Ridge Elementary School
• Sandymount Elementary School
• Liberty High School – first recertification
• William Winchester Elementary School – first recertification
• Charles Carroll Elementary School - second recertification
• Shiloh Middle School – second recertification
• Hashawha Environmental Center and Bear Branch Nature Center – first recertification as a Green Center

Frederick County
• Mother Seton School
• Urbana Middle School
• Valley Elementary School
• Windsor Knolls Middle School
• Catoctin High School – first recertification

Garrett County
• Crellin Elementary School – first recertification

Montgomery County
• Kingsview Middle School
• Lakewood Elementary School
• Rosemary Hills Elementary School
• Woodlin Elementary School

Washington County
• Conococheaque Elementary School

The New 2009 Maryland Green Schools (listed by county) being recognized June 2 from 4 – 6 p.m. at Huntington High School in Calvert County, include:

Anne Arundel County
• Arnold Elementary School
• Hillsmere Elementary School
• Linthicum Elementary School
• Pasadena Elementary School
• South Shore Elementary School
• St. John the Evangelist School
• Tyler Heights Elementary School
• Glen Burnie High School
• Folger McKinsey Elementary School – first recertification
• Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center –first recertification as a Green Center

Calvert County
• Appeal Elementary School
• Calvert Middle School
• Calverton School
• Huntingtown High School
• St. Leonard’s Elementary School
• Sunderland Elementary School
• Windy Hill Elementary School
• Calvert Elementary School – first recertification
• Calvert High School – first recertification
• Huntingtown Elementary School – third recertification
• Patuxent Elementary School – third recertification

Charles County
• Arthur Middleton Elementary School
• Milton Somers Middle School

Prince George’s County
• Laurel Elementary School
• Patuxent Elementary School - first recertification
• Scotchtown Hills Elementary School – first recertification
• William S. Schmidt Outdoor Education Center – first recertification as a Green Center
• Patuxent River 4H Center – New Green Center

Queen Anne’s County
• Matapeake Middle School

St. Mary’s County
• Benjamin Banneker Elementary School
• Chesapeake Charter Public School
• Piney Point Elementary School
• White Marsh Elementary School

Wicomico County
• Glen Avenue School
• Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art – New Green Center