TOWSON, MD—Fifteen Baltimore County public schools have been recertified as Green Schools by the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE), including five schools that have achieved “sustainable” status by participating for 14 years or more in the program.

The recertified schools are:

• Arbutus Middle School
• Battle Monument School
• Catonsville Elementary School
• Dulaney High School (Sustainable)
• Edgemere Elementary School
• Kenwood High School
• Lutherville Laboratory Elementary (Sustainable)
• Perry Hall Middle School
• Randallstown Elementary School
• Ridge Ruxton School
• Rodgers Forge Elementary
• Stoneleigh Elementary School (Sustainable)
• Timonium Elementary School (Sustainable)
• West Towson Elementary School
• Western School of Technology and Environmental Science (Sustainable)

Founded in 1999, the Maryland Green Schools Program seeks to enrich education by integrating hands-on, inquiry-based instruction to empower youth to reduce ecological impact and encourage sustainable practices at school, home, and in their communities. As schools recertify every four years, they continue to integrate and reinforce the lessons.

In a news release about the program, Laura Johnson Collard, MAEOE executive director, said, “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. . . . 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.”

Green schools in Maryland will be honored by MAEOE virtually on Wednesday, May 18, and at an in-person event at Sandy State Point Park on Thursday, May 26.