The Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) is pleased to announce that Queen Anne’s County Public Schools (QACPS) has schools receiving the 2025 Maryland Green School Awards. Maryland Green Schools are part of a global community of sustainable green schools. There are 693 active Maryland Green Schools, 39% of all Maryland schools. 

QACPS received certification as a Maryland Green School after demonstrating and documenting a continuous effort to integrate sustainable environmental management practices, environmental education curriculum, professional development opportunities, and community engagement into our daily operations. The award signifies their commitment to developing stewards of the earth and reducing the school’s impact. Grasonville Elementary School has earned the Sustainable School designation, and Kennard Elementary School has reached the Sustainable Bronze level for 18 years of continued participation. QACPS is committed to maintaining 100% Green School certification across all of its schools, continuing a longstanding tradition of environmental excellence.

 “Green Schools provide engaging and effective instruction by integrating environmental learning across all subjects. 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, says Laura Johnson Collard, Executive Director of the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE).”

These schools are models within our state and in the U.S. Students want to participate, whether it is part of classwork or they initiate a project in a green club. Students are encouraging others to make a difference.

MAEOE will celebrate with Green Schools, Green Centers, and schools that are interested in knowing more about the program at the Annual Maryland Green School Youth Summit. 

About MAEOE: MAEOE is a non-profit organization. MAEOE’s mission is to encourage, engage and empower the community to understand, responsibly use, and promote the natural world. MAEOE’s Maryland Green Schools Program, celebrating 25 years. For a complete listing of Green Schools and Green Centers visit www.maeoe.org.