Photographs courtesy MAEOE
Celebrating 40 years of advocating for environmental literacy in Maryland
When a group of concerned individuals founded the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) in 1985, they embarked on a journey to empower members of Maryland’s communities through environmental literacy. Initiated as a grassroots effort, the nonprofit organization has grown significantly throughout the years—emerging as a leader in this critical movement. As MAEOE commemorates its 40th anniversary this year, it not only celebrates the significant milestones it has achieved but also looks forward to continued growth.
Guided by its mission to “encourage, engage, and empower [the] community to understand, responsibly use, and promote the natural world,” MAEOE advances environmental education and serves as a catalyst for environmental stewardship. Comprised of a statewide network of partners, the organization cultivates an understanding of environmental issues, promotes problem-solving skills, and encourages community engagement. In short, MAEOE leverages environmental education as the pathway to achieving environmental literacy—enabling individuals to make informed decisions and take action to protect the environment.
“Maryland has a long history of environmental education,” says Laura Johnson Collard, executive director, MAEOE. “By equipping educators, resource managers, environmental program coordinators, students, and others with the knowledge and skills they need to understand the environment, we advocate for a greener, sustainable environment.”
Maryland Green Schools Program
Established in 1999, the Maryland Green Schools (MDGS) program is the signature program of MAEOE. The program, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, has expanded to 22 of Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City, including every county except Somerset County. The MDGS program recognizes schools and organizations that connect students to nature and empower them to become environmental stewards.
According to MAEOE, 693 schools in Maryland are currently certified as Green Schools. This figure represents 38 percent of all schools in the state, including both public and private schools. MAEOE has set a goal to certify 50 percent of Maryland’s schools by 2028.
“Green Schools provide engaging and effective instruction by integrating environmental learning across all subjects,” Collard says. “The results are powerful. We see students leading composting programs, conserving energy, joining environmental clubs, and advocating for what is important to them. These stories give us hope. They remind us that when young people are empowered with knowledge and a connection to the world around them, they become the changemakers we need—not just for the future, but right now.”
Becoming a Green School involves a rigorous application process. To maintain award status, schools must reapply every four years. An annual Youth Summit celebrates the achievements of teachers, students, parents, staff, and partners who participate in the program.
“The health of our world is dependent on our future biologists, naturalists, conservationists, environmentalists, and creative thinkers,” says Melissa King, school library media specialist, Flower Hill Elementary School, Montgomery County Public Schools. “Becoming a Maryland Green School and continuing to do the work to maintain status as a Green School is extremely important to our students’ outdoor education experiences and opportunities for hands-on learning. Understanding how their conservation efforts help the Earth is a powerful learning experience.”
Although Maryland has always been a leader in the environmental literacy movement, the state made history in 2011 by becoming the first state in the nation to enact an environmental literacy high school graduation requirement. According to the mandate, every public school in Maryland is required to offer a comprehensive, multidisciplinary environmental education program integrated into the curriculum. This milestone not only underscores Maryland’s commitment to fostering environmentally literate students but also demonstrates its role as a model for other states.
Photographs courtesy MAEOE
Behind the Scenes at a Green School
Flower Hill Elementary School in Gaithersburg is just one of the many Green Schools in Maryland. As part of its curriculum, the school offers numerous opportunities for students to learn about the natural world and participate in hands-on learning activities. King teaches nature-related lessons to her students and leads outdoor projects.
Students take part in a variety of environmental projects, such as creating and maintaining a pollinator garden, performing campus clean-ups, building and monitoring bluebird boxes, and walking to the neighborhood pond for community clean-ups. In addition, King says the second graders grow lettuce in the spring and harvest it in June.
“My desire to learn helps me become a better teacher and offer a variety of experiences to my students,” King says. “It’s so rewarding to see my students grow. I love seeing them smile as they put their hands into the soil, marvel at the plants, flowers, birds, worms, and insects in our pollinator garden, and go on walking field trips in nature.”
King is the lead teacher for Flower Hill Elementary School’s Green School program. The school’s elementary science curriculum includes environmental education at every grade level.
40th Anniversary Celebrations
Although MAEOE formally commemorated its milestone anniversary during its annual conference in February, the organization will continue the celebration during an open house at its new office location in the Earl Conservation Center, 1212 West Street in Annapolis. The event will take place on September 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information, e-mail communications@maeoe.org.
“The work we do for the environment is so rewarding,” Collard says. “I love hearing from Green School students about what they are doing. Their stories fill me with hope for the future. I also love working with my colleagues throughout the region, the state, and the nation. Our organization is small, but we work with amazing people. We face challenges, but what we do collectively keeps us going every day.”
For more information about Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education, visit maeoe.org.
