1. MAEOE Green Schools Initiative
Maryland Association for Outdoor & Environmental Education

2. MAEOE Green Schools Initiative
Part of the Maryland Green Schools Program(MGSP), a sustainable schools program that aligns with the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement
Goals:
Promote the incorporation of hands-on, inquiry-based instruction in the classroom
Increase awareness of environmental issues and the impact on society and public health
Encourage students to employ sustainable practices to reduce our footprint
Founded in Nationally recognized program. Currently, there are approximately 450 Green Schools.

3. Green School Objectives
Environmental issue instruction
Professional development
Celebration of green practices
Community partnerships
Solid waste reduction
Energy conservation
Water conservation
Habitat restoration
Structures for environmental learning
Objectives encompass initiatives that engage both faculty and students. Ones on left are highlighted, and we will come back to those, as they fall under the criteria to become a Green School.

4. Criteria to become a Green School fall within three domains
Delivery in curriculum and instruction (in all 4 areas) to develop environmental literacy among students
Professional development with at least 10% of staff informed and engaged
School-wide celebration event
School-Wide Environmental Behavior Changes*
2. Develop and maintain sustainable practices
Energy conservation, waste reduction, habitat restoration, structures for environmental learning, etc..
3. Community Partnerships
Partner active within school
* Not mandatory

5. Why do we want to become a Green School?
Because we are global citizens and care about the environment (?)
It is a platform to apply for Green Ribbon School certification
Increase environmental literacy among our students and provide meaningful ways for our students to engage in sustainable practices at school and at home

6. What is environmental literacy?
An environmentally literate person, both individually and together with others, makes informed decisions concerning the environment; is willing to act on these decisions to improve the well-being of other individuals, societies, and the global environment; and participates in civic life. Those who are environmentally literate possess, to varying degrees:
Knowledge and understanding of a wide range of environmental concepts, problems, and issues;
A set of cognitive and affective dispositions;
A set of cognitive skills and abilities;
The appropriate behavioral strategies to apply such knowledge and understanding in order to make sound and effective decisions in a range of environmental contexts.
It is not just knowing, but DOING.
Bottom line is that being environmentally literate is not just having a knowledge of environmental issues, but changing behaviors and decisions to reflect an understanding that humans and the environment are connected in many facets (ecologically, culturally, economically). So this ties into Homewood’s mission statement….
North American Association for Environmental Education’s (NAAEE)

7. Homewood’s Mission Statement
The Homewood Center is a student-centered learning environment where students and staff alike are inspired and empowered to become global citizens through the promotion and practice of environmental literacy, awareness, and stewardship.
We know that one of the biggest challenges we undertake is to prepare our students for the real world – becoming productive and good CITIZENS. This is an opportunity to contribute to those efforts in a very direct way with salient outcomes that are measurable and meaningful.

8. This year’s goals…. Begin building: Community partnerships
Robinson Nature Center and others
Professional development
In-service training during program meetings
Celebration of green practices
Earth Day Celebration
We need two years of activities/initiatives to submit a Green Schools application. We would like to start building this year.
We already have a relationship with the Robinson Nature Center. We can use them as a resource to meet criteria in all categories.

9. This year’s goals cont’d….
Gather student and teacher input:
Environmental issue instruction
Ideas from teachers about lessons and activities that incorporate environmental literacy in the 4 content areas.
Sustainable practices (must be student-driven)
There must be 2 actions within each of the following categories
Waste reduction Water conservation
Energy conservation Habitat restoration

10. Your input is needed
How can you integrate environmental stewardship awareness and education into your classroom, lessons?
What can we do to integrate sustainable practices at Homewood that can be employed at home, as well?
Ideas for activities on Earth Day?