Overview

Welcome to a great adventure for your school, your students, and your community! While there are many "Green School" programs in the country, most are focused on energy conservation alone. 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.

Who is eligible:

•  All Maryland schools pre K-12, public and private.  
•  All environmental centers providing high level support for Maryland Green Schools . SEE MARYLAND GREEN CENTER PAGES

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).  

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

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.

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.

If you have questions, please contact Bronwyn Mitchell at director@maeoe.org. MAEOE hopes to see you and your students at the next ceremony!