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Community Corner

Summer's Almost Here But School Is Still On My Mind

Maryland has a wonderful Green School program.

School’s almost out.  Another year has flown by.  In fact, 2011 is flying by too – we’re half way through it already which is very difficult to believe.  And with this recent weather, we’re already experiencing the dog days of summer.

The other day I was reflecting on these things, planning how to keep myself and my kids cool and occupied during the summer, and wondering how two months off of school would go this year.

Then, in true “Going Green” fashion, I started to wonder a bit more about the “Green School” flag that flies at my daughter’s school, and at many others around Howard County.

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What exactly is a “Green School” and how does a school earn that designation? 

There are actually many “Green School” programs across the country, and a lot of them are simply focused on energy conservation.  Not that that is a bad thing!  It’s wonderful – but we are lucky that here in Maryland the program is more of a “holistic, integrated approach to authentic learning that incorporates local environmental issue investigation and professional development with environmental best management practices and community stewardship” according to The Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education.

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All K-12 schools in Maryland are eligible – both public and private.  Currently there are 42 schools in Howard County that have earned the designation, and the process getting there isn’t easy.

First, schools must document specific activities accomplished over a 2 year period.  This includes: classroom integration of environmental issue instruction, professional development, celebration, demonstration of selected conservation best management practices (BMPs), sustained school-community partnerships to enhance environmental learning and more, according to the MAEOE.

While that might not seem like a lot at first glance, it is in fact a tremendous amount of work for a school and the nominating committee responsible. 

So why bother?

Well, simply because it’s worth it.  The recognition is nice, but even more so are the benefits that the school reaps not only from the program, but from the learning process it takes to get there.

Students participate in environmental activities integrated into the curriculum, and most importantly, the school’s environmental impact is lessened.  The process a school goes through to obtain the Green School designation builds community, creates awareness and promotes an aura of permanence within the school.

For example, students may create a habitat that needs to be maintained, or create a butterfly garden, a greenhouse or even a nature path.

Official incentives and rewards include the following, as noted on the MAEOE website:

•  Maryland Green School flag
•  Statewide and local county/city recognition
•  Visibility as a model for other schools and for the local neighborhood
•  Gifts
•  Native MD tree from MD Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Tree-Mendous MD "Gift of Tree" Program.
•  1:1 match on future Tree-Mendous tree orders through MD DNR
•  Green Centers: State and local recognition, native MD tree, Green School flag and banner, other gifts.
•  Upon renewal of GS status: Statewide and local county/city recognition, cash award, plaque, other gifts

Is your school a “Green School”?  If not, you should ask the administration why not, and perhaps start a movement to get it there.  The rewards to the environment and to the school make it well worth it.

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