The Maryland Green School Awards Program

1. The Maryland Green SchoolAwards Program www.maeoe.org Worcester County Teacher Training Friday, January 29, 2010 9:00-11:30 am Ryan Pleune – greenschools@maeoe.org Maryland Green School Awards Program Coordinator MAEOE Board of Trustees Carrie Samis – samis@mdcoastalbays.org

2. The Maryland Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education MISSION: To promote excellence in environmental education by training and supporting Maryland educators Annual MAEOE Conference promoting high quality environmental education 2010 Many Paths, One Destination: Knowledge to Action Feb 4-7 MD Green Schools and Green Center Award Program Schoolyard Habitat Partnership NEW Certification for Environmental Educators in MD Support these programs… Become a member today www.maeoe.org

3. Maryland Green Schools • Use the curriculum, school, and community sites to investigate environmental issues & take action • Model Environmental Best Management Practices (BMPs) • Build community partnerships for stewardship

4. Maryland Green Schools The process involves: all grade levels & subject areas administration & facilities Science Reading Mathematics Music & Art Natural History Cultural Studies Horticulture Creative and Descriptive Writing

5. Maryland Green Schools Data collection and cooperation across grade levels & disciplines a work of art! a celebration! All students collected empty detergent bottles for the schoolyard art project & for later recycling K - 1st grade - sorted by color 2nd grade - counted the color sets 3rd grade - assembled materials & took pictures 4th grade - graphed results; tied the bottles on frame 5th grade - helped construct frame; added finishing touches

6. Maryland Green Schools 5 great reasons to use the schoolyard, the school building, & the neighborhood as a classroom: • Provides alternative classroom settings • Engages students • Provides concrete learning opportunities • Provides authentic experiences • Increases success for all students • And it’s fun!

7. Maryland Green Schools • Using the environment as an integrating context benefits learning & leads to: • increasein student achievement in science and social studies • increasein student attendance • decreasein disciplinary referrals • increasein teacher job satisfaction After controlling for socioeconomic variables & the percent of students receiving special education services, a 2004 study sponsored by MAEOE found: Apositive, statistically significant relationship between higher reading and math achievement on standardized testsat certain levels, & Maryland Green School designation. The increase in student achievement is attributed to factors inherent in the nature of environmental education.

8. Maryland Green Schools Source: “The Maryland Green School Award Program, Celebrating Excellence in Environmental Education: A Study of Maryland Green Schools and Student Academic Achievement” by Kate Clavijo, Ed.D (2005)

9. Maryland Green Schools • Application Process, PreK-12 • Summarize the school’s actions over 2 years. Provide documentation. • 1. Curriculum and Instruction • Environmental Issues Instruction • Professional Development • Celebration • 2. Design, Operation, & Maintenance of School Building & Site (Choose 4) • Water Conservation/Pollution Prevention • Energy Conservation • Solid Waste Reduction • Habitat Restoration • Outdoor Structures for Learning • Responsible Transportation • Healthy School Environment 3. School and Community Partnerships

10. Maryland Green Schools Using the schoolyard and local watershedas a classroom • Making Curricular Connections • Investigating Environmental Issues • Collecting, utilizing, & analyzing real data

11. Maryland Green Schools Environmental & Sustainable Best Management Practices (BMPs) BMP #1 Water Conservation & Water Pollution Prevention Planting trees and shrubs and creating “no-mow” zones are two ways to slow storm water runoff, trap nutrients, and control soil erosion.

12. Maryland Green Schools BMP #2 Energy Conservation After investigating energy use at school, students & their families conducted an energy audit at home. Identify andSTOP“phantom” energy losses

13. Maryland Green Schools BMP #3 Solid Waste Reduction • Print double-sided • Buy products with no packaging or with wrapping that can be reused or recycled • Recycle ink cartridges • Reuse things • Set up outdoor composting • Plan an indoor or outdoor clean-up day • Arrange for curbside pick-up of recyclables • No-waste lunch days Reduce - Reuse - Recycle

14. Maryland Green Schools BMP #4 Habitat Restoration Students share the challenge of planning & the fun of installation They evaluate the results & maintain the project for the long term

15. Maryland Green Schools What, where, and how: Habitat Restoration Students conduct site assessments and plan schoolyard habitat projects Hint: Student work is excellent documentation for your Green School application! Design components add diversity and provide food and cover

16. Maryland Green Schools BMP #5 Building Structures for Learning Boardwalks Nature trails Informational signs Wildlife viewing blinds Bird, bat, and butterfly boxes Outdoor Classrooms: Built-in or moveable Native Maryland tree ID tags Outdoor art: sculptures, murals “Green Building” components

17. Maryland Green Schools BMP #6 Responsible Transportation • Paved parking lots contribute to polluted stormwater runoff. Rain gardens are designed for bioretention. • If paving is old, cracked, or no longer needed, substitute pervious pavers or planted areas. • To improve air quality, some schools set up “no-idling” zones & special carpool lanes.

18. Maryland Green Schools BMP #7 Healthy School Environment • Involve everyone – students, teachers, staff, parents • Involve your school’s facilities staff • Invite the school nurse to join your Green School Committee • Help keep it clean! De-clutter • Test school drinking water • Monitor for air flow, temperature, excess moisture, & mold • Invite animals & pets to “visit,” rather than live in the classroom • Encourage use of unscented personal care products • Avoid outdoor play when ozone levels are high

19. Maryland Green Schools Resources & Community Partners MAEOE Maryland Green Centers Parents & PTA Local businesses Local non-profits Local garden clubs Chesapeake Bay Trust Community Foundation County/town agencies MD DNR, MDE, MSDE Colleges & Universities UMD Cooperative Ext. Local garden clubs Federal agencies/EPA

20. Maryland Green Schools How to get started… • Assemble a Green School Committee at your school • Identify the curricular connections & the actions you’ve already accomplished • Complete all requirements • Document your actions • Submit by April 1st deadline Celebrate!

21. Maryland Green Schools SAMPLE One-page summary Community Partners at the School Documentationfor these activities is provided on the following pages

22. Maryland Green Schools Highly visible models for other schools & for the community Once earned, the designation lasts 4 years Re-application: a renewing & energizing process Rewards & Incentives  

23. Maryland Green Schools Current Total: 266 as of Spring 2009 Garrett 8 St. Mary’s 7 Alleghany 2 Charles 8 Washington 3 Calvert 23 Frederick 8 Prince Georges 14 Montgomery 24 Kent 2 Carroll 20 Worcester 4 Howard 20 Cecil 4 Harford 23 Wicomico 2 Baltimore City 15 Queen Anne’s 5 Baltimore Cty 48 Dorchester 1 Anne Arundel 25 Supported by 23 Maryland Green Centers

24. Maryland Green Schools What are the benefits? A chance to learn outsideAn opportunity to tackle authentic, real-world problems Project partnerships that demonstrate by example School projects that provide air and water quality improvement Students see the impact of their actions Measurable results Demonstrated improvement on test scores Excitement! Fun! Recognition!

25. Maryland Green Schools Without a doubt, students are interested!

26. Maryland Green Schools thanks its supporters for help with this good work! Maryland Department of Natural Resources Recreation Equipment, Inc. (REI) Constellation Energy Group Chesapeake Bay Trust NOAA-BWET & in-kind support from 30+ statewide organizations & agencies

27. Maryland Green Schools Questions? www.maeoe.org greenschools@maeoe.org