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Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education
Green Schools Newsletter
 

I know that Spring is in the air! I see crocuses and daffodils and there is snow in the forecast! I am ready for Spring. We know that many of you are wrapping up Maryland Green Schools applications and we can’t wait to see what is going in on in your schools! We are also getting ready for Environmental Education Month, Earth Day, US-ED Green Ribbon Schools announcements and the Youth Summit. 

We hope that you can join us in March and April to help us review applications, with nearly 200 applications coming in we will need almost 600 reviewers! Check out the newsletter below for all of our review dates and locations.  Enjoy the Spring weather and your Spring break.

Laura Johnson Collard
Executive Director
Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE)



Tips for Submitting the 2015-2016 Maryland Green School Application
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The deadline is almost here! Applications for the 2015/2016 Maryland Green School Applications are due March 17th. Below are some tips on how to submit your application. You will receive an confirmation email within 8 days of your submission. Because of the number of applications we receive on the due date, you are not guaranteed a confirmation until then. If you do not receive this confirmation, please send an email to greenschools@maeoe.org.

When submitting you application, please do not forget the cover sheet. The cover sheet must be filled out and submitted with your application. Please be sure to read and check the correct responses to the clauses above the principals signature. The Green Schools cover sheet can be found here. Lastly, do not forget to input your metrics into the survey. The metrics survey can be found here. On the metrics survey, do not forget to include your top five achievements. The top five achievements should be brief and will be read at the 2016 Youth Summit. 

Is your application ready to be submitted? There are few options: 
For web-designed applications (includes Google Docs, Weebly, Prezi, etc.): Please send your web link and cover sheet to greenschools@maeoe.org. The cover sheet should be a separate attachment from your application. 

For applications on a disk/usb drive:  Please drop off your media drive to one of our many drop off locations. To see the different location, please click here

All applications can also be mailed to the MAEOE office at 7761 Waterloo Road, Jessup, MD 20794. 


Green School Application Reviewing 

This year we have 190 applications to review! Each application needs to be reviewed three times and we need your help. Please consider volunteering to do this. If you have never reviewed applications, there will be a brief training on site the day of your review.
 - Please be sure to bring lunch and, if possible, a laptop.
 - All the applications are electronic.
 - You are not obligated to stay for the entire 6 hour session. Simply sign up for a specific date and stay as long as you can.
 - There will be snacks and coffee!
 - We will be reviewing from 9 AM – 3 PM.

 3/21: Black Hill Nature Center: 20926 Lake Ridge Dr, Boyds, MD 20841
 3/22: MAEOE’s Office: 7761 Waterloo Rd, Jessup, MD 20794  (There will be a 5:30-8:30 reviewing session too)
 3/23: Irvine Nature Center: 11201 Garrison Forest Rd, Owings Mills, MD 21117
 3/24:Bonnie Johns Professional Library: 8437 Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785
 3/29: Arlington Echo: 975 Indian Landing Rd, Millersville, MD 21108
 3/30: Chesapeake Community College: 1000 College Cir, Wye Mills, MD 21679
 4/4: Ward Museum: 909 S Schumaker Dr, Salisbury, MD 21804

Sign up here to help review Green School applications!


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2016 Youth Summit

Join us at Sandy Point State Park on May 13, 2016 from 9 AM till 1 PM for our annual Youth Summit. Registration will be open soon!



SAVE THE DATE:
2017 MAEOE Conference
February 2-5, 2017
Towson, Maryland

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 ***Is your school or center has been doing Green School Activities that you would like to share? Send a write up of 200 words and a few pictures to greenschools@maeoe.org and your school could be featured in the next newsletter***

Upcoming Events
conservation connects
Conservation Connect Live: Mussels and American Eels
March 16, 2016 at 2 PM

earth hour
Earth Hour: March 19th
Want more info? Click here!
Coming in April: 
mocogreenfest
jug bay
Montgomery Co Green Fest Educator Open House
For more info For more info

 

Professional Development Opportunities

 Baltimore Area Middle and High School Teachers: The Urban Tree Education Project

   
The Baltimore Ecosystem Study invites you to apply to The Urban Tree Education Project (U-TEP), a week-long professional development program (June 27-July 1) for middle and high school teachers to increase teacher knowledge, understanding and skills for collecting long-term data on and teaching about trees as critical components of urban ecosystems.  Teachers from all disciplines are encouraged to apply. (AU credits pending, stipends available for qualifying teachers). For more information and to apply visit the following website and scroll down to the UTEP section.  https://sites.google.com/site/bpesleducation/teacheropportunities


Baltimore City High School Environmental Science Teachers

Join the Baltimore Ecosystem Study and partners in Colorado, Arizona and Montana as we explore the integration of computational science and environmental science.  We are looking for 6 Baltimore City High School Environmental Science teachers to participate in Comp Hydro, a new two year project.  This professional development and classroom implementation program offers a generous stipend, local professional development and classroom supplies.  Summer dates not yet determined but will be four days between July 10-23. Three Saturday school year sessions to follow.  For more information and to apply visit the following and website and scroll down to the Comp Hydro section.  https://sites.google.com/site/bpesleducation/teacheropportunities 


MADE CLEAR: MD and DE Climate Change Education Assessment and Research
Easton, Maryland: July 18-21 and Abingdon, MD: August 3
Since July 2013, over 80 classroom teachers and informal educators have participated in our Climate Change Academies. The Academies provide up-to-date science content, model lessons and activities, and practical experience while diving into the complex topic of climate change and preparing educators to introduce it to students. Applications for the 2016 Academy are now being accepted. Click here to access the on-line application. You will need to register to get started. As part of the application, you will need to attach a signed copy of this form indicating your supervisor's support of your participation. (A clear scan or photo of the signed form is acceptable.)

Check out http://www.madeclear.org/academy/ for more information. Applications are being reviewed starting March 7th. 

                                           
For more Professional Development Opportunities, please see the Professional Development Calendar on our website at http://maeoe.org/maeoe-calendar/

Thanks to our following sponsors for their generosity: 

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February/March 2016​
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In This Issue

Tips for Submitting 2015-2016 Green School Application
2016 Youth Summit
Join us to Review Green School Applications!
2017 MAEOE Conference
Upcoming Events
Healthy School Tip of the Month
Professional Development
Available Grants and Resources
Awards and Contests

Follow MAEOE

Follow our Facebook and Twitter accounts as well as our blog for the latest information about professional development opportunities, job announcements, and Green Schools deadlines.

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Healthy School Tip of the Month: How to Freshen Up Your Classroom for the Spring

Spring is here! Below are some green tips for spring cleaning in your classroom:

1. Make and use natural cleaners. Wipe down surfaces to kill the winter germs.

2. Use natural air fresheners. Indoor plants are proven to remove harmful chemicals in the air. For plant suggestions click here. 

3. Clean off your air vents & radiators. Keep books, supplies, and furniture a few feet away from vents so air can flow. 

4. Reduce classroom clutter: Remove and recycle papers and old classroom projects that are not being used anymore. They can collect dust and harbor pest. 


Green Leaders Needed
Do you have experience putting together a green school application? Are you interested in assisting a school or more with Sustainable Schools activities or helping a school build a green team?  Sign-up to be a Green Leader! Explore the Green Leader Page here.  Email mdgsorganizer@maeoe.org for more information


Available Grants and Resources

Keep Maryland Beautiful Grants for Environmental Action and Education
Grant closes: March 31, 2016
The Maryland Environmental Trust is now accepting applications for grants through the “Keep Maryland Beautiful” program to help volunteer-based, nonprofit groups and communities develop environmental education projects and solve natural resource issues.The trust is offering two types of grants through the program
Margaret Rosch Jones Award: Up to $2,000 is awarded to nonprofit groups or communities for an ongoing project or activity that has demonstrated success in solving an environmental or natural resource issue.
Bill James Environmental Grants: Up to $1,000 grants are awarded to school groups, ecology and science clubs, and other nonprofit youth groups for proposed environmental education projects. 
Click here for more information

Planning on doing a school garden?
Here are some grants that focus on creating gardens on school grounds. Grants vary by organization. Click here for more details

Green Our Planet Crowdfunding Platform
Green Our Planet is a unique, mission-driven, non-profit funding platform for green projects worldwide. Raise funds via your community as well as worldwide corporate sponsors.  There are no fees and unlike other crowd funding platforms you will be able to keep the funds you raise, even if you don't meet your original funding goal.

Local Businesses
Local business may be willing to make in-kind donations of their products.  Click here for some tips about asking for In-kind Donations. It never hurts to ask!

Department of Natural Resources: Aquatic Invasive Species Education Trunk
The Aquatic Invasive Species Education Trunk is available FREE to educators in Maryland for a one to two week period, depending on availability. Please call the location nearest you to reserve an education trunk. You will be responsible for picking up and dropping off the education trunk at the appropriate location. For information on whats inside the trunk click here. 


Contests and Awards
2016 Environmental Science Student Award
Applications due by May 1, 2016

The Award recognizes high school seniors who have excelled in environmental science both inside and outside the classroom. Students who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership and participation in environmental projects in school or their community such as recycling drives, school beautification projects, stream or litter cleanups and other types of environmental projects are encouraged to apply. The grand prize winner will receive a paid internship at Department of Environment during summer 2016 (approximately valued at $3,000). The second-place winner will receive $500 and the third-place winner will receive $250. All three will receive a certificate for their efforts.

Click here for application forms and instructions and may be submitted by email to Nadine.Jackson-Bey@maryland.gov

Innovative Education Award
The UL Innovative Education Award is a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to invest US $250,000 in environmental and STEM education, sustainable communities, and youth empowerment. We offer recognition grants to increase the impact of existing innovative non-profit programs that use the Environment as a pathway to STEM Learning (E-STEM).
http://ulinnovationeducation.naaee.net/




Questions or comments?


Call MAEOE at 443-733-1220

Laura Collard
Executive Director
director@maeoe.org

Christina Gladmon
Program Coordinator
greenschools@maeoe.org

Kim Drake
Administrative Associate
office@maeoe.org



 




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