ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Wes Moore has signed an executive order (PDF) to establish the Maryland Outdoor Learning Partnership. The new partnership will be dedicated to providing Maryland students with opportunities to learn about the environment, climate, and natural world outside of the classroom.

The Maryland Department of the Environment will create the new partnership to help students learn about environmental stewardship.

This initiative is part of the state’s efforts to reduce pollution.

“We owe it to the people of Maryland to keep our drinking water clean, keep our air safe, and preserve our natural treasures – from the Western Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay,” said Gov. Moore. “The hard-charging team at the Maryland Department of the Environment is helping us lead the way in environmental stewardship and climate action — while also creating good-paying jobs. Together, we will continue our work to build a Maryland that is cleaner, greener, and thriving.”

The outdoor learning partnership will include state agencies, federal partners, non-profit environmental and outdoor education organizations, and formal education partners.

Together, the partners hope to develop a program that will engage students in environmental stewardship and create a new workforce equipped to take on critical environmental challenges in the future.

The Maryland Department of the Environment has extensive experience in environmental stewardship. The new partnership will help to further enhance the state’s environmental education system and build a more resilient future for future generations.

The goal of this partnership is to create a more meaningful and lasting legacy for Maryland students, one that will inspire a lifetime of environmental stewardship. By engaging in nature-based activities, students will learn how to critical environmental processes work and why it’s essential to take care of our planet.

Officials say the Maryland Outdoor Learning Partnership is an innovative new initiative that will have a lasting positive impact on the lives of young people across the state. By connecting students with the natural world and empowering them to take an active role in environmental stewardship, the partnership is helping to build a more sustainable future for Maryland.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

Photo via the Maryland Governor’s Office