Maryland Green School Awards Program
 Promoting an integrated approach to environmental education through recognition of Maryland Green Schools and Maryland Green Centers
What it is:
Since 1999 the Maryland Green School Awards Program , sponsored by the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE), has recognized Maryland public and private schools pre K-12 that:
• Use their school site and curricular instruction to prepare students to understand and act on current and future environmental challenges facing all Marylanders.
• Model environmental best management practices (BMPs) in building and landscape design, operation and maintenance.
• Build and maintain partnerships with the local community to enhance environmental learning and to design and implement projects and programs that result in a healthier environment.
Nature centers and organizations that model conservation BMPs, support environmental education, champion the Maryland Green School concept, and provide assistance for potential and existing Maryland Green Schools may apply for recognition as a Green Center.
Who is eligible:
• All Maryland schools pre K-12, public and private.
• All environmental centers providing high level support for Maryland Green Schools .
Who prepares the application: A nomination committee composed of one or more representatives of each of the following groups: school teaching staff, facility manager, students, parents, and community partners. Their names will be listed on the Cover Sheet of the application.
What is required: In accordance with stated program requirements, a school must document activities accomplished over a 2 year period (ending on June 1 st of the year the application is submitted). Applications available online at www.maeoe.org
Major components of the application include:
• A one-page cover sheet and a concise one-page summary
• A short description (one-page maximum) followed by documentation of the following requirements:
• Classroom Integration of environmental issue instruction
• Professional development
• Celebration
• Demonstration of selected conservation best management practices (BMPs)
• Sustained school-community partnerships to enhance environmental learning
When are applications accepted: Applications are non-competitive and are accepted each year in the spring. Newly recognized Maryland Green Schools and Maryland Green Centers are announced in late spring. An award ceremony and reception are held in late May or early June.
What are the incentives and rewards:
• Maryland Green School flag
• Statewide and local county/city recognition
• Visibility as a model for other schools and for the local neighborhood
• Gifts
• Native MD tree from MD Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Tree-Mendous MD "Gift of Tree" Program.
• 1:1 match on future Tree-Mendous tree orders through MD DNR
• Green Centers: State and local recognition,native MD tree, Green School flag and banner, other gifts.
• Upon renewal of GS status: Statewide and local county/city recognition, cash award, plaque, other gifts
When must a school or center re-apply: Maryland Green School and Maryland Green Center status must be renewed every 4 years by submitting a short description/documentation of ongoing Green School or Green Center activities. Application for recertification is available on line.
What support is available to my school or center: Click here to accessupcoming workshops, conferences, meetings, suggested templates for the application, applications for new Green Schools, recertification, Green Centers, a matrix of all MD Green Schools with important renewal dates and a list of internet resources that can help with activities.
Program contacts:
• Bronwyn Mitchell, Executive Director - MAEOE
• Jeanne Armacost, Maryland Green School Awards Program Committee Chair, 410-887- 4488, ext 251
Sponsors: Constellation Energy; Recreational Equipment, Inc.; Maryland Department of Natural Resources: Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve-MD and Tree-mendous MD; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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