Our Senator
Kathy Klausmeier
From the Neighborhood, For Our Neighborhoods.

Towson, MD (June 4, 2008) -County Executive Jim Smith today honoring 42 Baltimore County schools that have earned recognition as Maryland Green Schools through a rigorous statewide program that emphasizes hands-on environmental education, combined with sustainable landscaping and building operations practices.

Calling the program an excellent complement to his countywide Green Renaissance initiative, Smith presented Green Renaissance Executive Citations to the principals of seven newly designated Green Schools as well as Marshy Point Nature Center, and Herring Run Watershed Association, both of which were named as Maryland Green Centers through the same program. The Maryland Green Schools program is sponsored by the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) and administered in Baltimore County by the Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management.

The program recognizes and supports public and private schools and centers that use their campus and the local environment as a place to learn, model environmental best management practices and work with community partners to enhance environmental stewardship. Green Schools and centers engage in a broad range of projects such as tree planting, energy and water conservation initiatives, erosion control and pollution prevention, recycling, wildlife habitat and storm water management.

“The Green Schools program gives students a deep understanding of how our daily lives affects the environment and lets them see firsthand how they can make changes to minimize environmental impact,” Smith said. “I think it would be great if every school in Baltimore County operated as a Green School.”

The county’s Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management (DEPRM) provides assistance to local schools that choose to pursue the Green School designation. DEPRM offers schools technical environmental support, and assists them in identifying resources, developing community partnerships, and completing the rigorous Green School applications.

"It is very exciting to see so many Baltimore County schools achieve Green School status," said Baltimore County Council Chair Kevin Kamenetz. "The County Council has been very supportive of efforts to make all of Baltimore County more environmentally conscious, and having more than 40 schools and centers recognized for their environmental efforts is very encouraging."

For more information about this non-competitive award program, call Baltimore County DEPRM at 410-887-4488, ext. 251, or visit the Maryland Association of Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) website: www.maeoe.org.