April/May 2016 Green School Newsletter

To make sure you receive future emails,
please add greenschools@maeoe.org to your address book or safe list.

Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education
Green Schools Newsletter

This has been a very exciting year for the Maryland Green School Program. We have grown 15% from last year. 151 schools have achieved Green School status; 79 new Maryland Green Schools, 72 schools have recertified with 13 of those having achieved Sustainable Green School status!

It was a pleasure reading through the applications. Our Maryland Green Schools are doing some amazing things! Please join us in saying congratulations to the schools listed in this newsletter. These schools were supported by our Green Centers and our Green Leaders. They offer local support to help schools with environmental education programs, planning, implementing sustainable environmental actions and with community. Look for new examples on the MAEOE website this fall. Share ideas with us on Twitter and Facebook. Think about presenting at the MAEOE 2017 Conference next February.

This spring and summer, please take the opportunity to attend one of the professional development workshops that are mentioned in this issue, with more posted on our PD calendar.

I hope that the rest of your school year goes smoothly and that you enjoy your summer break. Congratulations to the 2016 Maryland Green Schools cohort.

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

J oin us for the 2016 MAEOE Youth Summit!

You are invited to join us at the 2016 MAEOE Youth Summit! This year we celebrate the fact that 559 schools are Green Schools in the state of Maryland. That is nearly 25% of all schools!

This year highlights:

Hands on Learning at our Environmental Literacy Fair: Come learn and explore organizations from all over the states. The Fair is designed to empower youth in short interactive learning stations for all ages.
Come Listen to Student Speakers discussing Green School Projects: Student speakers from 5 different schools will be speaking before each of the ceremonies highlighting their Green Schools projects.
Become inspired and see how Maryland Green School take action at the Student Graffiti Wall.
Participate in the Youth Leadership Green Jobs Scavenger Hunt.
Green School and Green Center Awards Ceremonies. Come celebrate with the 150 schools and 9 centers certify/recertify this year!

Fees: $2 per person. Click here to register!

Thanks to the Department of Natural Resources for supplying transportation funds. Want to put in an application for transportation funds? Click here for all transportation fund information.
Application deadline is Friday May 6th.

Dear Application Reviewers,

Thanks you so much for your time and dedication on reviewing the Green School applications. MAEOE would not have been able to make it through the whole process without you.

We would also like to thank Black Hills Nature Center, Irvine Nature Center, Bonnie Johns Professional Library, Arlighton Echo, Chesapeake Community College, and the Ward Museum for hosting the review sessions.

Best,
Christina Gladmon

Congratulations to the following schools on their Green School status:

Academy of Health Sciences @ PGCC	Fox Chapel Elementary School	Paint Branch Elementary School
Alpert Family Aleph Bet JDS (I)	Franklin Middle School	Panorama Elementary School
Arrowhead Elementary School	Freetown Elementary School	Parkland Magnet Middle School
Audubon Nature Preschool (I)	Galway Elementary School	PG County Employee's Child Care & Early Learning Center Upper Marboro
Baltimore City College	Germantown Elementary School	PGCPS Employee's Child Care & Early Learning Center Landover
Baltimore Montessori Public Charter Elementary & Middle School	Gladys Noon Spellman Elementary	Phyllis E Williams Elementary School
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute	Glenallan Elementary School	Pine Crest Elementary School
Banneker Middle School	Glenn Dale Elementary School	Plum Point Elementary School
Bannockburn Elementary School	Green Holly Elementary School	Plum Point Middle School
Bear Creek Elementary School	Gunpowder Elementary School	Pointer Ridge Elementary School
Belmont Elementary School	Hamilton Elementary/Middle School	Poolesville High School
Benjamin Banneker Middle School	Harmony Hills Elementary School	Port Towns Elementary School
Benjamin Foulois Creative and Performing Arts Academy	Heather Hills Elementary School	Pot Spring Elementary
Benjamin Tasker Middle School	Hickory Elementary School	Prettyboy Elementary
Beverly Farms Elementary School	High Point High School	Richard Henry Lee Elementary
Bladensburg High School	Highland View Elementary School	Ridge Elementary School
Bond Mill Elementary School	Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School #237	Rising Sun Middle School
Boonsboro Elementary School	Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School 215	Riviera Beach Elementary
Bowie High School	Hyattsville Elementary School	Rockledge Elementary School
Broadneck High School	Imagine Foundations at Morningside	Saint Andrew's United Methodist Day School (I)
Burning Tree Elementary School	Immaculate Conception School (I)	Saint Casimir Catholic School (I)
C. Milton Wright High School	J. Frank Dent Elementary School	Severn River Middle School
Calvert Country School	Jacksonville Elementary	Severn School (I)
Calvert High School	Jarrettsville Elementary School	Snow Hill Middle School
Calvert School (I)	John Hanson Montessori School	Somerset Elementary School
Cape St. Claire Elementary School	John Poole Middle School	South River High School
Capitol Heights Elementary School	Judith P. Hoyer Montessori	Southampton Middle School
Capt. James E. Daly Elementary School	Kennard Elemnetary School	Southern High School
Cedar Grove Elementary School	Kent County High School	St Elizabeth School (I)
Chapel Forge Early Childhood Center	Kingsford Elementary School	St. Margaret's Day School (I)
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School (I)	Leeds Elementary School	St. Paul's School for Girls (I)
Cherokee Lane Elementary School	Leonardtown Elementary School	Stephen Decatur Middle School
Chesapeake Montessori School (I)	Lime Kiln Middle School	Stephen Knolls School
Chesapeake Public Charter School	Lutherville Laboratory	Strathmore Elementary School
Chevy Chase Elementary School	Luxmanor Elementary School	Sudbrook Magnet Middle school
Churchville Elementary School	Marley Glen School	Suitland High School
Clarksburg Elementary School	Marlton Elementary School	Summit Hall Elementary School
Clarksville Middle School	Matapeake Middle School	Takoma Park Elementary School
Clinton Grove Elementary School	Mattaponi Elementary School	The Country School (I)
Cradlerock Elementary School	Mayo Elementary School	Thomas Johnson Middle School
Digital Harbor High School	Mill Creek Middle School	University Park Elementary School
Doswell E. Brooks Elementary	Montgomery Knolls Elementary School	Washington County Technical High School
Dowell Elementary School	North Caroline High School	Waterloo Elementary School
Dr. Samuel A Mudd Elementary School	North Point High School	West Annapolis Elementary School
Ducketts Lane Elementary School	Northern High School	Westminster West Middle School
Easton Elementary School--Moton Building	Norwood Elementary School	Whitehall Elementary School
Easton High School	Oak Hill Elementary School	William W. Hall Academy
Elk Neck Elementary School	Ohr Chadash Academy	Williamsport Elementary School
Fort Garrison Elementary School	Oxon Hill High School	Windsor Hills Elementary School
Fort Smallwood Elementary School	Padonia International Elementary	Windy Hill Middle School
		Woodridge Elementary School

Congratulations to the following organizations on their Green Center status:

Anita C. Lieght Estuary Center	Howard County Conservancy	Old Maryland Farm
Environmental Concern	Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary	School Energy Recyling Team (SERT)
Fair Hill Environmental Foundation	Lathrop E. Smith Environmental Education Center	Watkins Nature Center

2017 MAEOE Conference
The Science and Art of Environmental Education

Request for Proposals is now open!
February 2-5, 2017
Towson, Maryland
conf1

For more information on the request for proposals check out:
http://maeoe.org/conference_2017/

***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

World Oceans Day

June 8, 2016

For more info: http://www.worldoceansday.org/

Thanks to our following sponsors for their generosity:

hhmi logo new
ECLogo_2015 (2)

April/May

In This Issue

2016 Youth Summit
A Special Thank You
School Tip: Bird Watching
Green School Congratulations
Green Center Congratulations
Summer PD
Conference RFP Is Open!
Upcoming Events
Teacher Resources

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.

Spring has Sprung and so has the Young!
Tips on Connecting Kids with Birds

1. Engage their senses: Show them how to appreciate the sight of a bird in nature, the sound of a song or a call, the smell of a natural environment, and the feeling of a banded bird or a feather in the hand.

2. Provide the tools. Teach students the proper way to use a spying scope and binoculars

3. Bridge the technology gap: There are many apps like the Merlin app or Audubon Guide app for identifying different birds and recording what they saw.

4. Monitor nest boxes/sites daily to make observations.

Adapted from nestwatch.org.

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

Summer PD Oppurtunities

Potomac River Expedition from Outward Bound: This course is a unique way to take another look at: advanced group facilitation, how to teach to different learning styles, and how to incorporate learning-by-doing principles back in the classroom. You will also learn to teach skills that are critical to student success such as leadership styles, resilience, communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and decision making. The ideal applicant brings an open mind and is up for a new challenge. http://bit.ly/1TKOgwo
Teachers on the Estuary Climate Change Edition :This FREE program, June 27-July 1, 2016 at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, offers 3 CPD credits and will help teachers increase their ability to:
- Bring local & national data into your classroom
- Access tools & resources that support Environmental Literacy & NGSS requirements
- Interact with local scientists & experienced coastal educators
- Explore coastal habitats & conduct field investigations
- Explore Climate Change in the Chesapeake Bay and build your resources, knowledge and experience necessary to facilitate the integration of climate change, estuaries and related topics into the classroom. This week-long teacher professional development course for middle and high school teachers explores Climate Change through the use of National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) and NOAA data and curriculum, field experiences to Reserve sites, and classroom materials. For more information and to register visit: http://tinyurl.com/hxn4fq8

Mary Baldwin College, Environment-Based Learning Courses:
June 27-July 1: Trout in the Classroom (ED619)
July 11-15: Natural Research: Plant and Animal Studies in the Outdoors (ED618)
July 18-22: The Intersection of Life and Land (IN634)
For more information or to register, go to: www.mbc.edu/ebl or contact Dr. Tamra Willis, College of Education, Mary Baldwin College. 540-887-7135 or twillis@mbc.edu

One day PD: Explore and Restore MD Streams:
- June 9: Ward Museum
- Jun 16: Claude E Kitchens Outdoor School
- Aug 17: William S. Schmidt Outdoor Education Center
These regional one-day workshops provide training for high school and middle school teachers in need of hands-on outdoor learning projects. The sessions will utilize the Howard County Schoolyard Report Card structure. For additional informationhttp://bit.ly/1NjYa9m

One Day PD: MADE CLEAR: Climate Change Field Studies (for middle and high school teachers)
Do you want to help students learn more about how climate change is affecting natural resources in our region? For more information: http://bit.ly/1X8IRCs

Looking for more PD: Check out the MAEOE calendar: http://maeoe.org/maeoe-calendar/

Teacher Resources

Leaf Key for Common Broadleaf Trees in Maryland by Madeline Koenig and Kerry Wixted

Check out this easy to use guide on identifying tree leaves. http://1.usa.gov/1rorUY5

treeguide

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