Thanks to the passion, dedication and sheer tenacity of Maryland No Child Left Inside Coalition members across the state, we were able to defy the odds and make history this year with several groundbreaking achievements that have eyes across the nation focused on Maryland.
*First Environmental Literacy Graduation Requirement in the Nation. After years of hard work and passionate support by hundreds of organizations and thousands of individuals, Maryland became the first state in the nation to approve an environmental literacy graduation requirement to ensure all public school students receive a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary environmental education. Efforts to implement effective environmental literacy programs in every county school system are now moving forward, so stay tuned and check out the new online environmental literacy resources. (more…)
New Report and Parent Guide Says Outdoor Play Time Will Enhance Children’s Sleep
Parents will tell you there are few things worse than a child who needs sleep. With the back-to-school season in full swing, many parents are battling the bedtime routine again, a source of frustration for many families. A new report and parent guide “Green Time for Sleep Time” from the National Wildlife Federation says between racing around on tight schedules and staring at electronic media for hours a day, a majority of kids are sleep deprived.
US State Mows with Goats to Go Gently on Environment
Officials in Maryland have come up with an innovative, cost-saving way to protect the environment: they use goats to mow the grass.
The State Highway Administration came up with the novel idea while building an 85-million-dollar road bypass near the town of Hampstead, northwest of Baltimore, after it found that the construction site was home to bog turtles, the smallest turtle in the United States and a threatened species. (more…)
It’s official: Maryland Becomes First State to Require Environmental Literacy
In a historic vote yesterday, the Maryland State Board of Education provided specific guidance to all public schools to require that each student be environmentally literate before he or she graduates from high school.
The vote cements Maryland as the first state in the country to approve a graduation requirement in environmental literacy, a credit to Governor O’Malley, to board members, and to Dr. Nancy Grasmick, State Superintendent of Schools. (more…)
May Heirloom and Native Plant Sales
Date: Sat., April 29
Time: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Where: The grounds of the Audrey Carroll Audubon Sanctuary, 13030 Old Annapolis Rd, MD, (just West of Mount Airy). Click here for a map. (more…)
Sustainability, Local Sourcing Top Restaurant Trends
Sustainability, Local Sourcing and Nutrition Are Top Restaurant Menu Trends for 2010
More than 1,800 professional chefs – members of the American Culinary Federation – ranked nearly 215 food and beverage items, preparation methods and culinary themes to reveal the hottest restaurant menu trends in 2010. (more…)
University of Maryland Wins Architecture Contest at Energy Solar Decathlon 2011
The University of Maryland Sept. 28 took first place in the highly competitive Architecture Contest of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011. For the Architecture Contest, collegiate students from around the world are judged on the design and construction of attractive, high-performance houses that integrate renewable energy systems and energy-efficient technologies. Dennis Andrejko, representing the American Institute of Architects, presented the award in front of an audience that included government leaders and Solar Decathlon student team members. (more…)