The Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) is spearheading a vital collaboration among various organizations, each bringing their expertise in environmental education and programs to support the curriculum of Prince George's County Public Schools. This initiative is geared towards bolstering the Clean Water Coalition's MS4 stormwater management installations at 11 schools, potentially influencing the entire school system. Through this endeavor, schools, teachers, staff, and students will collaborate to comprehend and address stormwater pollution issues on their school premises. This engagement extends from the classroom to the broader community, fostering citizen involvement beyond traditional education settings.

This technical support will pave the way for immersive outdoor environmental education experiences for both students and teachers within the Prince George's County Public School system. The ultimate aim is to stimulate the curiosity and involvement of young minds, spanning from kindergarten to the 12th grade.

The Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) plays a pivotal role as a partner in the Treat and Teach initiative, dedicated to enhancing professional development opportunities for teachers and facilities personnel.

The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) stands as a distinctive regional partnership that has played a pivotal role in guiding and overseeing the restoration efforts for the Chesapeake Bay since its inception in 1983. Within the CBP framework, the Education Workgroup comprises educational experts drawn from federal and state government agencies, non-profit organizations, universities, and local school divisions located throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

A significant milestone in the CBP's history occurred on June 16, 2014, when the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement was formally signed. This comprehensive agreement outlines ten overarching goals, each with a set of related outcomes, designed to propel the restoration and protection of the Bay's watershed. These goals are directly tied to time-bound and measurable targets, each contributing directly to the overarching objective. Among these ten goals, one is dedicated to Environmental Literacy, encompassing outcomes pertaining to Students, Sustainable Schools, and Environmental Literacy Planning.

The Education Workgroup shoulders the responsibility of orchestrating state-level actions aimed at fulfilling these specific outcomes, while also diligently monitoring and evaluating progress towards their achievement. Furthermore, the Workgroup operates the Bay Backpack website, a valuable resource hub for educational materials related to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. It also orchestrates annual meetings, convening leaders from state education and resource management agencies, where policy decisions related to environmental education are informed and shaped. The Workgroup's leadership and coordination are facilitated by staff members from the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office.

MAEOE Partners with Eco-Schools USA: Fostering Environmental Education and Sustainability

About the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) & Eco-Schools USA

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) stands as a leading force in the realm of conservation and environmental education within the landscape of major American conservation organizations. Operating across more than 12,000 Pre-K-12 schools, the NWF has been instrumental in implementing school greening programs. Additionally, the NWF extends its reach to 500 higher education campuses through the Campus Ecology program. As a pivotal advocate for children's education in conservation, the NWF leverages the Ranger Rick brand to deliver wholesome educational content.

A central campaign for the NWF is dedicated to granting 25 million young individuals the opportunity to engage in regular outdoor learning and play within nature. This mission is achieved through partnerships with schools, public agencies, as well as local and regional park departments.

At the core of the NWF's efforts lies the Eco-Schools USA framework, a nationwide initiative aimed at involving Pre K-12 school students, faculty, administrators, and community volunteers in a comprehensive, environment-centered program. The program's objectives encompass enhancing student environmental literacy and skills while concurrently promoting greener and cleaner school environments. The NWF Eco-Schools USA website serves as an invaluable resource hub, offering self-guided materials, environment-based curricula, and best practices garnered from extensive work with schools and educators. Most of these resources are readily accessible to schools at no cost, with Eco-Schools USA itself being a free program.

Within the United States, the program now serves nearly 5,000 schools, reaching 2.6 million students and engaging 110,000 educators. Globally, the network extends to over 51,000 schools across 62 countries.

About the Maryland Green Schools & Eco-Schools Partnership

In a strategic collaboration, the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) have joined forces to amplify the number of sustainable schools in Maryland through their respective programs: Maryland Green Schools and Eco-Schools USA. Recognizing the shared objectives and unique strengths of each program, MAEOE and NWF have formally established a partnership designed to encourage schools to pursue both award processes concurrently.

This innovative partnership streamlines the Eco-Schools application process for Maryland Green Schools, reducing documentation requirements. Following the receipt of their official designation, Green Schools are encouraged to connect with NWF's Mid-Atlantic Regional Education Manager, Holly Shields, to arrange a site visit and determine eligibility for the highest-level Eco-Schools award, the Green Flag. Schools that have already addressed Energy Conservation in their Maryland Green Schools application (typically in Section 2.2) are well-positioned to meet the requirements for this prestigious award. Additionally, schools may also qualify for an Eco-Schools Silver Award if they have yet to fully address Energy Conservation.

As schools embark on the Green School application journey, some may find it beneficial to start by targeting the Eco-Schools Bronze or Silver award, focusing on specific green practices such as waste reduction and water conservation. The Eco-Schools USA website provides a comprehensive 7-step framework along with abundant resources to guide schools through one or more of the 12 available pathways. Over time, schools can aspire to achieve the Eco-Schools Green Flag and the Green School award.

Benefits of Co-certification

• Triple Recognition: State, National, and International
• Expanded Resources, Webinars, and Workshops for Schools
• Collaborative Opportunities with Schools Across States and Globally
• Additional Funding Opportunities for School Projects
• Increased Visibility in Environmental News and Social Media
• Access to NWF Educational Programs
• Establishment of a Network with MAEOE Green Centers and Green Leaders
• Alignment with U.S. Green Ribbon Schools Requirements through Work in the MDGS & Eco-School USA Programs

Email Lindsey Walker

Click here to learn more about Eco-Schools USA.

The Education, Communication and Outreach Working Group (ECO) handles the Maryland Commission on Climate Change's public relations; the members work to educate Marylanders on climate change and to inform​ them about what the Commission is doing to address climate change's impacts on our state.

ECO meetings are held online every other month and are open to all Marylanders; a portion of each meeting is set aside for public comment. ​​​

Project Learning Tree® (PLT) stands as an environmental education initiative tailored for educators spanning PreK through grade 12. This program equips teachers with a rich array of multi-disciplinary instructional materials, professional development opportunities, and assorted resources. The overarching goal is to empower young learners with an enhanced understanding and appreciation of the natural and human-made world, their role within it, and their corresponding responsibilities.

In Maryland, PLT proudly finds sponsorship under the stewardship of MAEOE. Through dynamic collaborations with educators, schools, governmental entities, foresters, businesses, civic organizations, museums, nature centers, and youth groups, MAEOE extends its reach. It offers a diverse range of educational experiences, including in-person workshops, online courses, and blended training formats, all designed to support educators and community members in seamlessly integrating environmental and sustainability education into their teaching methods. Additionally, these initiatives encourage educators to feel at ease teaching outdoors, fostering this connection in diverse urban, suburban, and rural environments.

Using the power of education to create a more just and sustainable future.

For more than five decades, NAAEE has promoted excellence in environmental education throughout North America and the world. We are dedicated to strengthening the field of environmental education and increasing the visibility and efficacy of the profession.

NAAEE’s influence stretches across North America and around the world, with members in more than 30 countries. NAAEE and its 56 state, provincial, and regional Affiliate organizations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico have more than 20K members across business, government, higher education, formal and nonformal education, early childhood education, science education and STEM, and other sectors of society.

Affiliates

The Affiliate Network of NAAEE is our greatest strength, representing 20,000+ environmental education professionals who are working towards the same thing—to provide the education we need for the world we want.

This grassroots network of more than 50 state, provincial, and regional affiliates across North America collaborates on policy issues, network-building, and resource-sharing, and facilitates learning opportunities such as webinars, workshops, and conferences.

What does the Affiliate Network do?

The NAAEE Affiliate Network advances environmental literacy to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable future. As a network, we collaborate on joint efforts and share learning for:

CAPACITY BUILDING: Build and strengthen the capacity of individual NAAEE Affiliates, the Affiliate Network, and NAAEE to advance the field of Environmental Education  

JEDIA: Center social and environmental justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in our work as environmental educators, individual Affiliates, the Affiliate Network, and NAAEE.

ADVOCACY & MESSAGING: Elevate and increase support for environmental education through advocacy and shared messaging to magnify the reach and impact of our work.

INNOVATION & LEARNING: Provide space and opportunity for fostering innovation, shared learning, and addressing emergent issues.