Going Green in Schools

There has been a lot of "green action" going on in Charles County Public Schools. Since the County started implementing single stream recycling, recycling dumpsters that are at each school can now be used for more than just the cardboard and paper collection. We can now recycle glass, aluminum cans, paper, plastic and cardboard on each school site. We were also able to get a recycling dumpster at NCEEC, so we no longer need to make weekly trips to the Pisgah transfer station. The use of these dumpsters will greatly reduce the volume of materials going to the landfill. The recycling efforts have been embraced by students and staff in many schools. At one elementary school, the students have recycling contests by grade level. The materials are collected, counted and graphed. Students have taken the lead!

Photo Left to Right: Jason Walent, Sarah Geiger, Erin Beauvais, & Ryan Burton.

Another exciting event happened on June 2, 2009. Arthur Middleton Elementary School and Milton Somers Middle School were awarded Green School status. Begun in 1999 by the Maryland Association of Environmental and Outdoor Educators, these awards take a tremendous amount of effort to qualify and apply for. Green Schools are recognized as those that use the school site and instruction to teach students about environmental challenges facing Marylanders. They model environmental best management practices in building and landscape design, maintenance and operations. These schools work with community partners to enhance environmental learning, as well as design and implement projects that result in a healthier environment. Both schools worked very hard and join Piccowaxen Middle School as Green Schools of Charles County. Currently we know of at least six other CCPS sites working on Green School applications. These include Dr. Brown, Gale Bailey and J.C. Parks Elementary Schools and Northpoint, Thomas Stone and Westlake High Schools.

New to NCEEC

Red-Tailed Hawk

January 2010 brought exciting raptor news to NCEEC. We received a female Red-tailed Hawk and transferred our male Red-tailed Hawk to Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Nature Center in Calvert County, a quieter setting which better suits his needs. The new hawk was transferred to us by falconer, Jeff Wood who hunted with the bird. Unfortunately, she chased a rabbit into brush which was hiding a piece of old farm equipment and she was injured. Her broken wing was treated and healed, but she is no longer able to get to the height she needs to hunt successfully or defend her territory so Jeff asked if we could keep her at NCEEC. She is settling into her new home as visiting CCPS 5th graders will see.