WORCESTER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS -

The Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education Announces 2022 Maryland Green School Awards

Baltimore, Maryland, April 22, 2022 – The Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) is pleased to announce that Berlin Intermediate (2001, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2022), Pocomoke Middle (2007, 2011, 2018, 2022), Snow Hill Elementary (2022), and Stephen Decatur High Schools (2022) have been certified as a 2022 Maryland Green Schools. These schools join Buckingham Elementary School (2018) and Snow Hill Middle School (2016), who have previously earned this distinction for Worcester County.

Maryland Green Schools are part of a national and international community of sustainable green schools. Our students are becoming better stewards of our Earth’s resources and developing a better understanding of their own local environment. There are 680 active Maryland Green Schools, 34% of all Maryland schools. 

While schools returned to in-person classes in September 2021, extracurricular activities were limited during the first half of the year. Due to Covid-19 health precautions, partners and volunteers could not support teachers on site with environmental education and sustainable school actions such as school gardens, installations of projects and composting in the cafeteria. Despite these challenges, teachers and students
continued with school greening efforts.

Over the past two years, our school has demonstrated and documented a continuous effort to integrate sustainable environmental management practices, environmental education curriculum, professional development opportunities, and community engagement into our daily operations. This award signifies that our school has made a commitment to developing stewards of the earth and reducing the environmental impact of our school.

“As young people are increasingly aware of climate change, we are inspired by their commitment to action and resolve to do their part to find solutions,” said Laura Johnson Collard, MAEOE executive director. “MAEOE welcomes the 16 new Maryland Green Schools and looks forward to seeing the students share their passion for the environment with their families and friends. As influencers, they can encourage others to recycle, plant vegetables and native plants and be more mindful of simple steps like turning off unnecessary lights.”

MAEOE will celebrate with Green Schools, Green Centers and schools that are interested in knowing more about the program at the Annual Maryland Green School Youth Summit on May 26, 2022, at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis.

About MAEOE: MAEOE is a non-profit organization. MAEOEs mission is to encourage, engage and empower the community to understand, responsibly use and promote the natural world. MAEOE s Maryland Green School program began in 1999. For a complete listing of Green Schools and Green Centers visit www.maeoe.org.