Clean Green 15: Litter Challenge
Grants for Schools That Work to Clean Up Their Community
Since the 2013-2014 school year, Baltimore County Public Schools has partnered with Baltimore County Executive and the Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability (EPS) to host the Clean Green: 15 Litter Challenge.
Through this program, BCPS schools and their community supporters conduct quick 15-minute litter clean-ups between May 1st and April 30th and compete to see which school communities can log the most clean-ups. Community groups include school-based groups, places of worship, youth groups, civic or community groups, scout troops, sports teams, businesses or other organizations, and environmental organizations and others that wish to help clean up their community. Groups report their clean-ups HERE.
In June, The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools awards grants to the top winning schools to fund school-based instructional projects emphasizing the theme of environmental literacy. Review and award of projects conducted by the schools are based on the school communities participating, the number of 15-minute litter clean-ups, the number of participating volunteers, and the amount of litter collected.
Winners recognized at the June 4, 2024 Clean Green 15: Litter Challenge 10th Anniversary celebration are asked to submit their grant proposals on or before December 6, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. HERE.
- Application Window Closes: December 6, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
- Committee Review: December 9, 2024 - December 13, 2024
- Grant Recipient Notification: December 18, 2024
- Web site Updated and Media Release: December 20, 2024
- Project Summary Submission to The Education Foundation of BCPS: May 23, 2025
- Submission of Recipient Grant Survey: May 23, 2025
Congratulations Grant Recipients for School Year 2024-2025
School Year 2023-2024 Highlights and Grant Award Winners
From May 2023 through April 2024, the Clean Green 15 Litter Challenge resulted in
502 clean-ups conducted with
6,874 volunteer sessions where volunteers filled
3,228 bags with trash that would have wound up in our streams and the Bay.
The Foundation is delighted to report that the response to the challenge continues to grow with 54 percent more bags collected than last year!
In addition to litter, Clean Green 15 volunteers collected
many tons of bulk trash items from parks, streambanks, schoolyards and other locations all around Baltimore County.
The estimated weight total for this year is 19,132 pounds.
Clean-ups included schoolchildren organized by teachers during the school day and community-based activity.
Congratulations to this year’s winners!
View their Grant Storyboards here!
Clean Green 15: Litter Challenge Honorable Mention Winners
Awarded $650.00 & a set of 6 Litter Grabbers
Catonsville Middle School
Stephanie Fanshaw, Principal
Dulaney High School
Sam Wynkoop, Principal
John Enders, Science Teacher and Leader of the Environmental Issues Club
Franklin High School
Kieran J. O'Connell, Principal
Dr. Erin Kennedy, FHS Environmental Club Sponsor
Meredith Merrill, FHS Science Department Chair
George Washington Carver Center for Arts & Technology
Erin Trivas, Principal
Debra Glassman, Science Teacher
Hebbville Elementary School
Jordan Filderman, Principal
Hagit Barrett, Classroom Teacher & Co-Green School Facilitator
Julie Brethauer, Reading Specialist & Co-Green School Facilitator
Hereford Middle School
Julie Dellone, Principal
Adam Friend, Science Teacher
Elise Zanetti, Science Teacher
Pinewood Elementary School
Tricia Rueter, Principal
Tara Brickley, Green team Leader
Watershed Public Charter School
Christina Sawyer, Interim Executive Director
Woodlawn Middle School
Rochelle Archelus, Principal
Moe Owens, Senior Community School Facilitator
Anna Williams, Community School Facilitator
Woodmoor Elementary School
Franchesca Brown, Principal
Dr. Alicia Bennett, Community School Coordinator
Verdell Clark, Classroom Assistant
Ramona Wilson-Xu, ESOL Teacher
Clean Green 15: Litter Challenge 2024 Special School Winners
Awarded $1,000.00 & a set of 6 Litter Grabbers
Battle Monument School
Kyle Martin, Principal
Tate Whitson, Assistant Principal
Desiree Werner, Green School Committee Chairperson/Staff Development Teacher
Clean Green 15: Litter Challenge 2024 3rd Place Winners
Awarded $1,000.00 & a set of 6 Litter Grabbers
Edgemere Elementary School
Alexander Paradis, Principal
Mary Sinicropi, Environmental Club Sponsor
General John Stricker Middle School
Melanie Kearns, Principal
Hollie Rakowski-Griffin, Science Dept. Chair
Sparrows Point High School
Emily Caster, Principal
Clean Green 15: Litter Challenge 2024 2nd Place Winners
Awarded $1,500.00 & a set of 6 Litter Grabbers
Dumbarton Middle School
Mandy Shanks, Principal
Janice Millard, Science Dept Chair and Green Team Leader
Stephen St. Germain, Teacher Leader
Hillcrest Elementary School
Debita Basu, Principal
Mary Beth Capka, 2nd grade Teacher
Wendy Weber, PTA Environmental Committee
Western School of Technology
Jewell Ralph, Principal
Kimberley Bickerstaff, Ecology and AP Biology Teacher
Kate Bickerstaff, 9th Grade Student
Mark Kather, Environmental Technology Teacher
Clean Green 15: Litter Challenge 2024 1st Place Winners
Awarded $2,000.00 & a set of 6 Litter Grabbers
Carney Elementary School
Stephen Price, Principal
Katie Hauf, 4th grade teacher
Cara Liggett, Art teacher
Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts
Dr. Scott Rodriguez-Hobbs, Principal
Christy Clark, Science Teacher and Clean Green 15 Coordinator
Perry Hall Middle School
Lisa Perry, Principal
Ken Compher, Teacher and Green Schools Advisor
Becky Kulinski, Teacher and Green Schools Advisor
Clean Green 15: Litter Challenge 2024 Grand Prize Clean Up Winners
Awarded $3,500.00 & a set of 6 Litter Grabbers
Sandy Plains Elementary School
Christina Davis,Principal
Megan McFadden, Academic Engagement Teacher and Green School Coordinator
Clean Green 15: Litter Challenge 2024 Grand Prize Volunteer Winners
Awarded $3,500.00 & a set of 6 Litter Grabbers
Berkshire Elementary School
Cheryl Brooks, Principal
Amanda Lazur, Kindergarten Teacher
Clean Green 15: Litter Challenge 10th Anniversary Grand Prize Volunteer Winners
Awarded $5,000.00 & a set of 6 Litter Grabbers
Charlesmont Elementary School
Colleen Banks, Principal
Claudia Enders, Special Education Teacher
Clean Green 15: Litter Challenge 2024 Grand Prize Clean Up Winners
Awarded $5,000.00 & a set of 6 Litter Grabbers
Reisterstown Elementary School
Candace Brinkley, Principal
Sandy Caccamisi, Kindergarten Teacher
Watch a clip of the celebration featured on WMAR Channel 2 News.
To view the storyboards of the grant recipients for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years, click here!
The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc. solicits the community to obtain partnerships in order to award the winning schools funding to continue their efforts. The collaborative process educates our students and the school community about litter including our civic and community groups, to record the litter clean-ups and number of volunteers who participated.
A special thank you to our Clean Green 15 sponsors for supporting BCPS schools and Environmental Literacy!
The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools works in collaboration with Ms. Ellen Kobler, Senior Advisor for Communications and Community Engagement, Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability.
To support the continued growth and success of BCPS students and schools, please contribute to the school system through the Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc.
To acquire information pertaining to all grant opportunities contact:
Ms. Deborah S. Phelps, Executive Director – dphelps@bcps.org
Dr. Heather RC Wooldridge, Associate Director- hwooldridge@bcps.org
Ms. Cindy M. Whitcomb, Administrative Assistant – cwhitcomb@bcps.org
The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc. Headquarters
105 W. Chesapeake Avenue, Suite B-1
Towson, Maryland 21204
O: 443-809-8962
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