Governor Moore signs the executive order creating the Outdoor Learning Partnership. Photo courtesy Office of the Governor.

Governor Wes Moore established the Maryland Outdoor Learning Partnership (OLP) by Executive Order (EO) on April 22, 2024, tasking OLP with empowering all of Maryland's youth to grow as environmental stewards that access, conserve, and restore our natural resources to ensure a climate-ready Maryland.

Background

Co-chaired by the Secretary of Natural Resources or their designee and the State Superintendent of Schools or their designee, OLP consists of members representing state and federal agencies, non-profit organizations, Local Education Agencies, Parent-Teacher and youth-based organizations, and other stakeholders.

OLP’s diverse partnership builds on previous work of Project Green Classrooms (PGC) and the Maryland Partnership for Children in Nature. View the archived PGC website here. Revisit historic PGC Annual Reports and Recommendations here.

Responsibilities

In accordance with the EO, the responsibilities of OLP include:

1. Conduct a review of current environmental and climate change education efforts in Maryland;
2. Foster collaboration, coordinate resources, and deliver recommendations to decision makers in order to equitably ensure that:
1. Every Maryland student has access to environmental and climate education;
2. Maryland’s students have the knowledge and skills needed for success in college and the growing green workforce;
3. Maryland’s youth spend time outdoors engaging with nature;
4. Maryland’s Local Education Agencies lessen the environmental impact of their school buildings and grounds on their local watersheds; and
5. Maryland’s teachers have the funds, training, and support necessary to implement curriculum to support student achievement of the Environmental Literacy Standards, the Maryland Health Education Standards, Social Studies Standards, and other State standards of education as they relate to environmental literacy;
3. Engage with networks to ensure that environmental education is equitably implemented and sustainably funded across Maryland;
4. Support state leadership in the implementation and tracking of relevant Chesapeake Bay Program priorities; and
5. Report to and advise the Governor on the status of the Partnership’s work and provide an annual report by January 30th on the prior year’s progress.
   

Outdoor Learning Partnership Participation

To fulfill the responsibilities of OLP, the partnership seeks the following representatives as members:

• Three representatives of non-profit organizations dedicated to environmental education;
• One representative of a Parent Teacher Organization;
• Two representatives of local governments who have demonstrated leadership in sustainable development practices;
• Two representatives (teacher or principal) from an outdoor school, Maryland Green School, Maryland Green Ribbon School, or a school with a focus on environmental education;
• One Local Education Agency (LEA) environmental literacy supervisor or coordinator;
• One LEA sustainability supervisor or coordinator;
• One school Superintendent;
• One environmental education teacher;
• Two representatives of youth-based organizations; and
• Two representatives of the business community with demonstrated leadership in supporting green or sustainable workforce.

To serve on the OLP as one of the above-listed representatives, please complete the OLP Member Application Form, which will open on August 12, 2024, and close on September 12, 2024.

Staff Contacts