TOWSON, MD—Baltimore County Public Schools this week awarded $43,000 in environmental literacy grants to 27 schools, marking the 11th anniversary of its “Clean Green 15 Litter Challenge” program and kicking off the next year’s competition.
The annual Clean Green 15 competition encourages schools and volunteers to conduct quick, 15-minute local litter cleanup events. During the 2024-25 school year, 27 county public schools earned grants ranging from $900 to $3,000 to support school-based environmental projects and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) resources.
“Congratulations to all those who participated in helping to keep our schools, grounds, and communities clean and green,” said BCPS Superintendent Myriam Rogers. “Their efforts through Clean Green 15 will create dividends for years to come. Caring for the environment, their schools, and neighborhoods has benefits that touch on the health, well-being, and success of our students and their families, and their work today will go a long way to creating responsible, caring citizens tomorrow.”
Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier highlighted the program’s success in tapping into community pride. “Baltimore County is home to miles of beautiful shoreline, acres of forested parkland, and communities full of people who deserve a clean and healthy environment,” Klausmeier said. “The Clean Green 15 Litter Challenge is a great way to tap into residents’ community pride so we can eliminate litter in our neighborhoods and build a cleaner, greener future together.”
Funding for the grants came from multiple sources. The Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability and The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc., each contributed $23,000. An additional $20,000 was provided by the Baltimore Community Foundation for “Green Boost Grants,” specifically targeting BCPS Community Schools within the Gwynns Falls and Jones Falls watersheds. These waterways are subject to state and federal mandates for trash reduction. Community Schools offer additional services to students and families.
The following prizes were awarded:
Grand Prize Volunteers ($3,000) – Pinewood Elementary School
Grand Prize Cleanup Results ($3,000) – Catonsville Elementary School
1st Prizes ($2,000 each)
- Carney Elementary School
- Dumbarton Middle School
- Western School of Technology
- Watershed Public Charter School
2nd Prizes ($1,500 each)
- Hillcrest Elementary School
- Perry Hall Middle School
- George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology
- Battle Monument School
3rd Prizes ($1,000 each)
- Carroll Manor Elementary School
- General John Stricker Middle School
- Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts
Baltimore Community Foundation Green Boost Grant Awards
1st Prizes ($2,000 each)
- Hebbville Elementary School
- Woodlawn Middle School
- Woodlawn High School
2nd Prizes ($1,500 each)
- Woodmoor Elementary School
- Owings Mills High School
3rd Prize ($1,000)
- Featherbed Lane Elementary School
Honorable Mentions ($900 each)
- Bedford Elementary School
- Church Lane Elementary School
- Deer Park Elementary School
- Edmondson Heights Elementary School
- Johnnycake Elementary School
- Milbrook Elementary School
- Wellwood Elementary School
- Woodholme Elementary School
Nearly 50 of Baltimore County’s 176 public schools, centers, and programs participated in the initiative this school year, conducting a record 690 cleanups involving 8,019 volunteers from schools and community groups. They collected 3,702 bags of litter, preventing it from reaching waterways and the Chesapeake Bay. This marked an increase from the 2023-24 school year, when 6,874 individuals collected 3,228 bags of litter during 502 cleanups.
The countywide Clean Green program is open to any group, including school-based groups, places of worship, youth groups, civic or community groups, scout troops, sports teams, businesses, or other organizations. Participating groups are asked to report their cleanups online and designate a school to receive credit toward the grant competition.
Team BCPS Clean Green 15 is a collaborative initiative of the Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability, the Office of County Executive Katherine Klausmeier, BCPS, and The Education Foundation of BCPS.
Officials encouraged continued participation for the next awards cycle, with groups eligible to log cleanups from May 1, 2025, through April 30, 2026.
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