MAEOE News
Maryland Green Schools Progress Report
In 2020/21, the “Maryland Green Schools Act of 2019” provided funding to expand efforts to support schools toward sustainability. With this, MAEOE has a goal of supporting 50% of all schools in Maryland to become awarded Maryland Green Schools by 2026. Mandated external evaluation first-year quantitative assessment is now available.
Highlights include:
- 42% of all public schools are participating in the program
- Approximately 430,000 students attend a Maryland Green School; MD Green Schools provide opportunities that prepare students for future jobs, support environmental Literacy COMAR, and position students to take action to mitigate climate change today and in the future
- 8 school districts have over 50% participations, 2 of those have achieved 100% (Calvert County and Queen Anne’s County)
- Maryland Green Schools support local school district sustainability efforts
The evaluation is provided by J. Sickler Consulting.
July 27, 2021
Think Sustainability. Chesapeake Family Learns About the Maryland Green Schools Program
Our Executive Director, Laura Johnson Collard, spoke with Chesapeake Family Life to answer the question “What is a Maryland Green School?” During the talk with Janet Jefferson, the two discussed the importance of Environmental Literacy and how Green Schools throughout Maryland are achieving that goal. You can listen to the interview with Chesapeake Family Life here https://www.chesapeakefamily.com/whats-a-maryland-green-school/
Chesapeake Family is the “#1 Family Publication in the Chesapeake Bay region covering Maryland and the Washington DC area.”
April 23, 2021
Earth Day 2021 Maryland Green Schools Announcements
MAEOE is pleased to announce the 2021 Maryland Green Schools honorees!
The number of Maryland Green Schools grew to 672 during the 2020/21 academic year, representing 36% of all schools in the state and an addition of 11 new schools. Of the 70 successful applications, 47 schools recertified their Maryland Green School status. 12 schools achieved “sustainable” Maryland Green Schools status
April 16, 2021
Senator Mike Miller - Green Schools Legacy
Cecil Whig Letter to the Editor by Laura Collard, March 2021
April 16, 2021
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility Symposium Wednesdays
MAEOE is holding a four-part Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, Accessibility Symposium Series on Wednesdays in April and May. There is no charge for this event. We hope that you will be able to attend all 4 symposium, but you can register for each date.
DEIJ Symposium; four-part series: Food Justice, Accessibility to Nature, Air Quality and Community Health, and Creating Safe & Welcoming Spaces Outdoors. Participants will discuss their work and personal experiences in a conversational style discussion.
January 19, 2021
Virtually or in Class, the Outdoors Belongs in the Curriculum
The Bay Journal has recently published an opinion piece by MAEOE: https://www.bayjournal.com/opi...
December 21, 2020
The 2021 MAEOE Conference is virtual this year!
Dates: February 3 - 7, 2021
Theme: Climate, Nature, People and Education: It’s All Connected!
November 27, 2020
Native American Heritage Day Statement
November is Native American Heritage Month, also commonly referred to as American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. It was declared by President George H. W. Bush in 1990. Additionally, the Friday after Thanksgiving, was declared to be Native American Heritage Day by President George W. Bush in 2008. While these actions have been taken to formally acknowledge the historical genocide that Indigenous Americans experienced, their timing has been legitimately criticized.
November 18, 2020
Outdoor Classrooms Reenergize Kids During the Pandemic
SFI's educational initiative, Project Learning Tree (PLT), was profiled on CNN today. The article and accompanying video details how PLT is helping kids explore their environment using forests as a window to the world while also learning science, math, and creative writing skills.
Visit CNN, Forests.org, or read on to see the full story.
October 29, 2020
Maryland Green Schools Sustainable Schools Update
Starting in the 2020-2021 school year, the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE), is modifying the Maryland Green Schools program. This modification will impact a school that has successfully completed four or more applications and is recognized as Sustainable. Starting in 2022, Sustainable Schools will need to reapply every four years to maintain their Sustainable status. This process will allow schools to continue their best practices, encourage environmental education, participate in conservation professional development, and grow student stewardship. |
