How to Grow a Maryland Green School

What is a Green School

What is a Maryland Green School?

Why get Certified? Academic achievement Interaction with Nature Health effects on Social, Emotional, Cognitive and Physical Development Development of a 21 st Century Workforce Importance of Environmental Literacy and Engagement

Academic Achievement Average Increase in Elementary Test Scores Average Increase in High School Test Scores Haines, S, Towson University, 2010

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)

Interaction with Nature Studies show benefits in cognitive functioning, reduced symptoms of attention deficit disorder, increased self-discipline and emotional well-being Experiential learning engages students, provides concrete learning opportunities

Children’s Health We are seeing a rise in sedentary lifestyles, obesity, deceased PE time, and too much screen time for our children. The area where children are allowed to explore has shrunk to a 1/9 th of what it was in % of adults report that they walked or rode a bike to school when they were children, but only 22 % of children do today.

Preparing The 21 st Century Workforce Environmental challenges are dominant issues of the 21st century The NSF Report: Creating a scientifically informed citizenry requires a concerted, systematic approach to environmental education” Nat’l Environmental Education Advisory Council: “Environmental education with its emphasis on critical thinking, interdisciplinary teaching, and learner achievement is helping educational reform goals.”

Environmental Literacy Roper Report – a longitudinal study of adults Maryland’s Definition The High School Graduation Requirement

Why Else? Marketing? My school system is forcing me? ????

Program Philosophies Student Driven Non- Proscriptive Framework Hands-On Inquiry Whole school Culture Shift

Overview of the Program The MD Green School Application Pre K-12 Summarize the school’s actions over 2 years. Provide documentation. 1. Curriculum and Instruction Environmental Issue Instruction Professional Development Celebration 2. Design, Operation, and Maintenance of School Building and 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

Ascension Catholic School Halethorpe Baltimore County Maryland Green Schools Use the curriculum, school, and community sites to investigate environmental issues and take action Model Environmental Best Management Practices (BMPs) Build community partnerships for stewardship

Making Curriculum Connections and Investigating Environmental Issues Using the schoolyard and local watershed as a classroom

Language Arts Math Science Art Physical Education History Social Studies

Good exercise is to pick an environmental topic and have participants come up with ideas as to how to integrate it within different subjects. Discuss Trash = find a picture Brainstorm

Professional Development All staff know about the school’s effort to become a Green School Majority of staff have some Environmental learning for staff –many options 10% of staff have Formal Environmental Education Professional Development Professional Development Calendar in at

Celebration School wide appreciation of the efforts and achievements of teachers and students

CriteriaAcceptableGoodExcellent Environmental Issue Instruction Acceptable: Elementary/MS/HS - instruction in all grades Good: ES: all grades, multiple subjects, MS/HS: all grades core subjects Excellent: ES: all grades, all subjects MS/HS : all grades, more than core subjects Information Documentation Professional Development Acceptable: All staff know of MDGS App, 51% engaged in EE activity, 10% EE Pro Dev. Good: 20% have EE Prof Dev Excellent: 30% have EE Prof Dev Information Documentation Celebration Acceptable: School wide Event Good: Annual/multiple Events Excellent: Community Outreach Component Information Documentation Objective 1: Curriculum and Instruction

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.

BMP #2 Energy Conservation Identify and STOP “phantom” energy losses. After investigating energy use at school, students and their families conducted an energy audit at home.

Reduce - Reuse - Recycle 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 Set up outdoor composting Plan an indoor or outdoor clean-up day Arrange for curb-side pick-up of recyclables No-waste lunch days

Students share the challenge of planning and the fun of installation. They evaluate the results and maintain the project for the long term. BMP #4 Habitat Restoration

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

To improve air quality, set up “no-idling” zones and special carpool lanes. “Walking School Buses” Bike Safety programs BMP #6 Responsible Transportation Other ideas :

BMP #7 Healthy School Environment Keep it clean –De-Clutter Test school drinking water Monitor air flow, temperature, moisture, mold Add plants Interview facilities staff and school nurse to learn about cleaners and health issues Invite animals to “visit” rather than live in the school What could kids do?

CriteriaAcceptableGoodExcellent Water Conservation/Water Pollution Prevention Information Documentation Energy Information Documentation Solid Waste Reduction Information Documentation Habitat Restoration Information Documentation Structures for Environmental Learning Information Documentation Responsible Transportation Information Documentation Health School Environment Information Documentation Objective 2: Best Management Practices with the School Building and Grounds. Required: A Minimum of 4 Best Management Practices. Data Quantification in Application. Acceptable: Two activities for each BMP ; Good: Three activities for each BMP ; Excellent: Four activities for each BMP and/or more BMPS covered with at least 2 activities

How to get started….. Celebrate!Celebrate! Submit by the deadline Complete all requirements Document your actions Assemble a Green School Committee at your school Identify the curriculum connections and the actions you’ve already accomplished

What are you already doing? Turn lights out when you leave the classroomBMP #1 Go outside for classCurr/Instr Reuse thingsBMP #3 Celebrate Earth DayCelebration Collect data on your school groundCurr/Instr Write nature poetryCurr/Instr Purchase organic or recycledBMP #3 Investigate and discuss environmental issuesCurr/Instr Plant a raingarden BMP #1 Attend the MAEOE conferenceProf Dev Carpool BMP #6 Plant butterfly gardens BMP #4

MAEOE Parents and PTA MD Green Centers Forestry Board Chesapeake Bay Trust Local county agencies MD DNR, MDE, MSDE Colleges and Universities Non-profit groups UMD Cooperative Extension Local garden clubs Local businesses and organizations Federal agencies/EPA and COMMUNITY PARTNERS RESOURCES

Maryland Green Centers* Anne Arundel County Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center, Annapolis Maritime Museum Baltimore County Marshy Point Nature Center Oregon Ridge Nature Center Cromwell Valley Park Pearlstone Conference and Retreat Center-Kayam Farm Baltimore City Baltimore Water Alliance (previously Herring Run Watershed Association) National Aquarium in Baltimore Masonville Cove Environmental Center Parks and People Foundation Carroll County Hashawha Environmental Center/Bear Branch Carroll County Outdoor School Cecil County NorthBay Adventure Camp Charles County Nanjemoy Creek Environmental Education Center Garrett County Hickory Environmental Education Center Harford County Anita C. Leight Estuary Center at Otter Point Creek Harford Glen Environmental Education Center Eden Mill Nature Center Howard County Howard County Conservancy Montgomery County Audubon Naturalist Society Lathrop E. Smith Environmental Education Center Calleva Outdoor Adventures Prince George’s County Patuxent Research Refuge National Wildlife Visitor Center William S. Schmidt Outdoor Education Center Patuxent River 4-H Center Alice Ferguson Foundation Patuxent River Park St. Mary’s County Elms Environmental Education Center Talbot County Environmental Concern Wetland Learning Campus Washington County Claude E. Kitchens Outdoor School at Fairview Wicomico The Ward Museum Assateague State Park Maryland Coastal Bays

Resources, Ideas MAEOE’s website: Maryland Green Centers Packets Other schools applications

Timeline Your school’s actions over two school years from September to June File Intent to Apply by Feb 1 st of Year 2 Applications are due April 1 st of Year 2 All actions don’t need to be completed by April 1 st.

Application Process Applications can be paper, website, Power Point or a Wiki Look at examples on the MAEOE website Organize by Objective and Criteria Include a photo CD Documentation needs to be complete but not necessarily voluminous

Application Guide How much is enough? Guidelines in the binder Rubric to measure your actions Reviewers are not familiar with your school – tell us about you

2012 Youth Summit Sandy Point State Park – June 1, 2012 FREE All day environmental education event Meet environmental providers from all over Maryland.