Celebrating Maryland Green Schools

This has been a productive year for our state’s teachers and students in environmental education and today we honor our progress while looking to the future. Earlier today, I joined students and educators at the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education’s Green School Youth Summit, held in Sandy Point State Park.

This event gave us the opportunity to congratulate 58 new Maryland Green Schools, 73 schools that have been recertified to maintain their green status, and the 3 schools that have achieved the Sustained Green School Award. Since 1999, 468 Maryland schools have received the Maryland Green Flag, making our State a leader in sustainability by incorporating green practices into the classroom and tackling environmental projects in their communities and neighborhoods.

The green culture that educators, parents, staff, and community partners are establishing in our schools provides students with a pathway to college and future career success, while working to fulfill Maryland’s Environmental Literacy graduation requirement. Our graduation requirement is the first of its kind in the nation and an important step in ensuring that our students become savvy, healthy and productive members of our evolving green economy.

One example of this work in action: In 2013, we launched Explore and Restore your SchoolShed, through which teachers use local streams and creeks as outdoor classrooms, and connect hands-on learning to disciplines beyond science, such as language arts or social studies. Students learn about water quality and the importance of healthy streams, as well as the ways their own actions can improve their local environment. More than 100 schools are now participating across the State, and more schools are encouraged to join.
The O’Malley-Brown Administration is further inspiring young Marylanders to join efforts to protect our state’s abundant natural resources through the Stream Restoration Challenge. This program gives thousands of students the opportunity to plant trees all across the state, helping improve water quality. Additionally, over the past five years, the Governor’s Conservation Job Corps has graduated 1,800 at-risk youth from a summer employment program at Maryland State Parks, teaching invaluable green job skills and instilling a life-long appreciation of nature.

While we have accomplished much, there is still much to be done. We must continue to push for a healthier Chesapeake Bay, restoring Maryland’s most important natural resource by curbing harmful run-off and upgrading wastewater treatment plants. We must also work to reduce greenhouse gas emissionsand promote in-state renewable energy sources, creating jobs and strengthening our economy while protecting Maryland’s environment for future generations.

By taking advantage of these resources now, we can continue to enrich programs and help our young citizens grow their knowledge and stewardship ethic. Together, we are ensuring that the leaders of tomorrow are attaining the knowledge they need today — both in the classroom and in the community — to address the challenges of our ever-changing world.

Congratulations to today’s honorees and thank you to all of the Maryland Green Schools for working to make our One Maryland a greener, healthier, more sustainable state.