We had a wonderful 9^th annual Youth Summit at Sandy Point State Park on May 31^st to hand out the awards to participating schools and centers. Much appreciation to our special speakers, Governor Larry Hogan, Secretary Mark Belton of Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Secretary Ben Grumbles of Maryland Department of the Environment, Bruce Lesh, Director of Social Studies/Science/Disciplinary for Maryland State Department of Education and Dr. Carol Williamson, Deputy Superintendent of Maryland State Department of Education. They greeted 2750+ students, teachers, principals and guests from across the state of Maryland. This year’s theme, “Changemakers Today for a Greener Tomorrow,” really highlights how our next generation of environmental leaders are already making an impact!

Opportunities for Summit attendees to participate in various environmental education and hands-on activities were provided by:

Alice Ferguson Foundation

Annapolis Maritime Museum and Park

Arlington Echo: Environmental Literacy & Outdoor Education Office

Audubon Naturalist Society

Bureau of Land Management

Carroll County Outdoor School

Charles Flowers High School

Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center

Chesapeake Bay Trust

Claud E. Kitchens Outdoor School at Fairview

Environmental Concern

Grimm + Parker Architects

Hood College, Center for Coastal and Watershed Studies

Izaak Walton League of America

Living Classrooms Foundation

Marshy Point Nature Center

Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation

Maryland Coastal Bays Program

Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service

Maryland Environmental Service

Maryland Envirothon

Maryland Park ServiceMaryland State Parks - Sandy Point State Park

Maryland State Parks - Tuckahoe State Park

MNCPPC-Clearwater Nature Center

National Wildlife Federation

Neighborhood Design Center

NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office

Prince George's County Department of Parks & Recreation - Special Programs Division

Prince George's Department of Environment

Robinson Nature Center, Howard County Recreation and Parks

Safe Skies Maryland

Tall Oaks High School

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

WSSC

Congrats to our 147 new and re-certified Green Schools and 10 new and re-certified Centers! We now have 619 schools, more than 27% of all public and independent schools in the state, and a total of 43 Centers participating in our program. By recognizing our efforts in becoming better stewards in our community, we spread the influence of sustainability and environmental literacy even further. Here is the list of our 2018 awardees:

Maryland Green Schools

Share your MD Green School examples!
Throughout the year I would love to share what you are doing with our Maryland Green schools network. When you post on Facebook or Twitter, don't forget to tag us at @MAEOE.MD on Facebook and @MAEOE_MD on Twitter. I will re-post what you posted and include how it fits into the #MDGreenSchool application. Or email photos and updates to greenschools@maeoe.org. Share your ideas and encourage other to try new activities to support environmental literacy, NGSS and STEM in art, science, math, social studies, music, and language arts in their school and on the school grounds.

Future Green School Application Information

Join us for this award-winning environmental education workshop designed for teachers and other educators working with youth from preschool through grade 12. If you want to do facilitator training or update your facilitator status, you need to do this workshop first. PLT workshops are highly engaging and active learning experiences that provide participants with the knowledge, skills, and inspiration to teach environmental education. PLT is a vibrant learning community where educators share successes and ideas for engaging with students in the classroom and outdoors.  Join an extensive network of professionals who care deeply about teaching our youth about the environment. Participants of this exciting and interactive workshop will take home the Environmental Education Activity Guide.  PLT certified educators are eligible to apply for a Green Works Grant to support school and community projects upon completion of the course.  Grant subsidized fees.

Fee: $20 MAEOE Member, $25 Non-Member. Check out the MAEOE website for future dates!

The requirement for the Green School Application states that 10% of all your teachers need to have professional development. The requirement for the Green Center Application is that 50% of the staff have professional development. If you are re-certifying your school, you can use PD information/documentation from the past four years. Schools applying for the first time can use PD information/documentation from the past two years.

More opportunities from our partners: 

Rain Garden Workshop: June 23 or 30, Gunpowder Valley Conservancy

Teachers on the Bay: July 9-13, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Corals in the Classroom (2-part workshop): August 7 and 9, National Aquarium

Project Learning Tree: August 14, National Aquarium

Project WET 2.0: August 15, National Aquarium

Project WILD: August 16, National Aquarium

Project WILD: August 18, Audubon Naturalist Society

Notre Dame of MD University courses
Earn 3 graduate credits in 5 days. $1,350 per course.  Contact Dr. Juliann Dupuis.

• Environmental Field Study – Jun 25-29
• Intro and exploration of design, technology and engineering – Jun 25-29
• Methods for teaching STEM in the early childhood classroom – Jul 9-13
• STEM institute – Jul 23-27

Monarch Recovery Gardens online course – self-paced Jul 11 thru Sep 5
Through this free 8-hour course you will increase your knowledge and skills necessary to facilitate student-led campaigns to try combat the monarch butterfly decline nationwide; learn about the EcoSchools and GLOBE program; and become certified as a GLOBE trained educator. Register.

To see more opportunities and to learn more information about the above events check out the MAEOE calendar by clicking here! 

2. Choose a strand for your presentation. We encourage you to emphasize how you incorporate technology, NGSS, STEAM, and Environmental Education into your curriculum, student action projects, or student research. The 2019 strands will be:

For MAEOE the acronym STEAM represents Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture/Art, and Math. MAEOE is seeking proposals that address one or more aspect of “STEAM” that contribute to environmental education and Green Schools. We will favor proposals that touch on STEAM, Next Generation Science Standards, and/or Environmental LIteracy Standards. The content of the sessions is expected to overlap and the strands do address more than one theme.

3. What kind of session do you intend to present? In addition to our usual offerings we’ve added a “Lightning Round” on Saturday afternoon. For this session the Conference Committee will pair up 2-3 presentations on similar topics. This round is designed to highlight a new topic, research, or a glimpse of a new project to your fellow environmental professionals in just 20 minutes.

4. All presenters MUST PROVIDE their own laptop. MAEOE will provide screens and projectors in each room. If you are using an Apple product, please be sure to bring your own adaptor to connect it to the projector.

5. All RFPs must be submitted by 5pm on August 10, 2018.

Should you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact: conference@maeoe.org

The Pollinator Partnership is proud to announce that
June 18-24, 2018 has been designated National Pollinator Week. 

Pollinators play a key role in the production of more than 150 food crops in the U.S.

Here are some ways you can help our pollinators:

• Be kind to your pollinator friends. Pollinators like bugs and birds are small and fragile. It’s easy for people to hurt them. Be gentle and quiet when they are near!
• Look, but don’t touch! When you see a butterfly, bee, beetle, or hummingbird outside, look, but don’t touch! Pollinators won’t hurt you if you leave them alone and are nice to them.
• Don’t use poison sprays. Bug your family to stop using poison sprays in your house and garden. This poison kills bad bugs, but it hurts pollinators too. Bug your family to buy ORGANIC fruit and vegetables. These are grown without poison sprays, so they keep pollinators safe and happy.
• Keep pollinators’ homes safe. And help make habitat for pollinators. Take care of a garden. Plant some flowers. When you find a bug in your house, gently take it outside to its natural habitat.
• Bug someone! Bugs and pollinators are fun and interesting. Teach your family and friends about these important animals. Teach them to say “Thanks Bugs!” You can “bee” an expert!

For more information or to post one of your pollinator education programs
for Maryland and other states, go to Pollinator Week.

Maryland Master Naturalist Training
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
 and ShoreRivers
Cambridge, MD (Dorchester County)
(link is external)(link is external(link is external)
Host Site Contact:  
Sue Fischer (Friends of Blackwater)
(link sends e-mail Suzanne Sullivan (ShoreRivers)
 

Dates:  September 6 - December 13, 2018
Days:  Thursdays, 9:oo am - 3:00 pm
Registration Currently OPEN

Click for more information

Master Naturalist Training
Audubon Naturalist Society
Chevy Chase, MD (Montgomery County)
(link is external)
Host Site Contact:  Mitch Greene
link sends e-mail)(link is external
Dates:  September 17 - November 7, 2018
Days:  Mondays & Wednesdays, 10 am - 3 pm
Registration OPEN

Click for more information

In This Issue

Follow MAEOE

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

Single-use items like straws and plastic bags account for more than 40 percent of plastic waste, and each year about 8.8 million tons of plastic trash flows into the ocean. This waste endangers wildlife, pollutes the water, and puts human health at risk.

Here are some easy ways to reduce plastic:

1. Carry a reusable water bottle/coffee cup.
2. Drink tap water.
3. Ask for a cone and not a cup when ordering ice cream. Reduce the need for a plastic spoon too.
4. Carry a canvas bag for shopping.
5. Use paper folders.
6. No plastic cutlery or straws.
7. Stop chewing gum (it contains plastic)
8. Pick up litter especially near beaches, waterways and shorelines.
9. Pack lunches with reusable containers and wrappers.
10. Buy bulk and look for less packaging. 

For more tips click here. 

All members of MAEOE are invited to attend the March Board meeting,Thursday, June 21st, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm at MAEOE office*. Agenda will be posted soon. Come be a part of this month's meeting along with your Board of Trustees,  Executive Director and staff. 

 We encourage you to attend to see how your organization works, and perhaps you will be encouraged to join one of our committees to help us achieve our goals and better meet the needs of those we serve. Committees meet periodically throughout the year to plan and create.  

Eco - Schools USA
The newest edition of the Eco-Schools Newsletter was just published. Check it out to learn about the Great American Campout, Wear Blue and March for the Ocean, summer reading suggestions, and such much more. To access the newsletter click here. 

PLT Corner

The Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) will be offering workshops throughout the fall/winter. These sessions do count towards Green School Application Objective 1.2, 10% of School Staff have Environmental Education Professional Development.

PLT with Audubon Naturalist Society

Saturday, June 9 (9 am-3:30 pm)
Price: $45 per teacher (ANS member), $50 nonmember
Valid for ½ MSDE credit
REGISTER ONLINE 

For more information please contact:
Serenella.linares@anshome.org 

Did you know that successful completion of a PLT workshop makes you eligible to seek a Green Works Grant for your school or facility? 

Stay up to date on news relating to Maryland’s forests, environmental education, and exciting programming around the state by liking and following Project Learning Tree Maryland on Facebook.  We look forward to seeing you at a workshop soon! 

Every Bee for Itself

For a twist on PLT’s PreK-8 Guide Activity 27—Every Tree for Itself, check out Every Bee for Itself. Developed by a Texas PLT educator, Allen Smith, this activity focuses on the things bees need to survive: pollen, nectar, and shelter. Students learn about how bees communicate with each other and even make up their own bee dance!

Grant Opportunities

Free Towson SciTech fall visits – grades 3-12 Baltimore City Schools
Students from Baltimore City public schools may attend SciTech at no cost.  The Healthy Harbor Partnership grants will cover student fees and transportation for up to 32 students per class, due to funding from the T. Rowe Price Foundation.  More information and to apply. Preference for teachers who have NOT visited in the last three years.  Must have a specific bus quote in hand prior to applying. 

Chesapeake Bay Trust environmental education mini-grants – up to $5,000 – apply by Aug 2
CBT can provide funding for you to educate students about their local community and how they can become stewards and have an impact.  The grant can also cover trip fees, such as to NorthBay. The new funding round will open soon.  Apply here.

Captain Planet Foundation Eco Grants

Captain Planet Foundation™ invests in high-quality, solution-based programs that embrace STEM learning and empower youth to become local & global environmental change-makers. Educators, both K-12 classroom and informal, who are interested in receiving support for students to design and implement hands-on environmental solutions are eligible for project funding. Grant info

Greenworks! Grants

Project Learning Tree offers GreenWorks! grants up to $1,000 to schools and youth organizations for environmental service-learning projects that link classroom learning to the real world. Students implement an action project they help design to green their school or to improve an aspect of their neighborhood’s environment. Annual deadline to apply is September 20 and funding will be distributed in December. Application information at www.plt.org. Or contact James McGirt at jmcgirt@plt.org or 202-765-3531.

Unity Gardens 2018 Fall Grant Cycle for Anne Arundel County

Contact the Office

Office Phone: 410-290-6226

Laura Johnson Collard
Executive Director
​director@maeoe.org

Winny Tan
Associate Director
​greenschools@maeoe.org

Kim Drake
Administrative Associate
office@maeoe.org