Thousands Awarded to Baltimore County Public Schools In Annual Clean Green 15 Litter Challenge

BALTIMORE COUNTY - On June 7, the annual Team BCPS Clean Green 15 Litter Challenge recognized the efforts of students, schools, and community volunteers who clean up their schools and surrounding neighborhoods.

The Clean Green 15 competition invites schools and volunteers to conduct 15-minute litter cleanups. In recognition of the 422 cleanups carried out since last spring, 30 BCPS schools received grants ranging from $250 to $2,500. These grants will fund school-based environmental projects and STEM resources.

According to BCPS, throughout the year, 6,040 participants, including students, school staff, volunteers, and community partners, gathered 2,091 bags of litter. They also removed nearly 15,000 pounds of large-scale trash, preventing it from entering waterways and the Chesapeake Bay.

Participation this year saw an increase of 16 percent compared to the previous year, with 44 BCPS schools and 829 additional volunteers joining the challenge.

At the June 7 celebration held at the Watershed Public Charter School in Windsor Mill, representatives from winning schools were honored. The event, led by Debbie Phelps of the Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, also marked the beginning of a new year of Clean Green competition among county schools.

The Watershed School, honored as a 2023 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School for its environmental stewardship, was a fitting venue for the award ceremony. Its curriculum emphasizes ecological sustainability and incorporates Maryland E-Literacy standards into daily lessons.

The following amounts were awarded to participants:

• Grand Prize – Cleanup Results: $2,500 to Charlesmont Elementary School
• Grand Prize – Volunteers: $2,500 to Bear Creek Elementary School
• Special Schools: $1,000 to Battle Monument School
• High School – 1st Prize: $2,000 to Franklin High School
• High School – 2nd Prize: $1,000 to the Western School of Technology
• High School – 3rd Prize: $500 to George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology
• Middle School – 1st Prize: $2,000 to Perry Hall Middle School
• Middle School – 2nd Prize: $1,000 to Hereford Middle School
• Middle School – 3rd Prize: $500 to General John Strickler Middle School
• Elementary School – 1st Prize: $2,000 to Pinewood Elementary School
• Elementary School – 2nd Prize: $1,000 to Seven Oaks Elementary School
• Elementary School – 3rd Prize: $500 to Logan Elementary School

More News from Perry Hall

• Baltimore Officials Provide Update On Parasite Detected In Lake Druid Reservoir Cryptosporidium, commonly found in lakes and rivers, has the potential to cause gastrointestinal issues, especially in individuals with weakened immune systems.
• New BusWhere App Gives Baltimore County Parents Real-Time Insights On School Bus Locations The app allows parents to track their child's school bus in real-time, addressing prior concerns related to bus punctuality and occasional no-shows.