Kamenetz, Dance Applaud Community Response to Clean Green 15 Litter Challenge
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 3, 2014
CONTACT: Ellen Kobler
Office: 410-887-2470
Cell: 410-365-2834
Kamenetz, Dance Applaud Community Response to Clean Green 15 Litter Challenge
With Four Full Weeks to Go, Groups Have Logged Nearly 80 Litter Clean-ups So Far
Towson, MD – County Executive Kevin Kamenetz and Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Dallas Dance commended the efforts of dozens of community and school groups who have embraced the Team BCPS Clean Green 15 Litter Challenge. Groups ranging from school environmental clubs to community associations, sports teams, church groups, PTAs and walking groups have reported some 80 litter clean-ups to date as part of the challenge, each designating a Baltimore County public school to receive credit toward winning an environmental grant.
“I am very pleased to report that that groups participating in the Team BCPS Clean Green 15 Challenge have already collected more than 425 bags of litter, much of which would have otherwise made its way through our storm drains directly into our waterways,” said Kamenetz.
A number of schools have gotten off to a strong start in the challenge with multiple litter clean-ups to their name. Some of the early enthusiasts include Chapel Hill Elementary School, Dundalk Middle School, Logan Elementary School, Ridgely Middle School and Westowne Elementary School.
“We are delighted with the response from our community partners around the County as well as the many groups within our schools who are participating in these quick litter pick-ups,” said Dance. “This is yet another example of how the ‘Team BCPS’ spirit of cooperation brings positive results for the whole community.”
About the Team BCPS Clean Green 15 Litter Challenge
Through this program, BCPS schools and their community supporters are competing through the end of June to conduct the most Clean Green 15-minute litter clean-ups and anti-littering outreach efforts. Examples of groups can include school-based groups, places of worship, youth groups, civic or community groups, scout troops, sport teams, businesses or other organizations that want to help clean up their community. Groups are asked to report their clean-ups on the BCPS website at bcps.org/teambcps.
The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools will award grants to the winning schools to fund school-based instructional projects emphasizing the theme of environmental literacy. One school will be awarded the grand prize of a $4,000 grant, and one school from each level (elementary, middle and high school) will win first prize grants of $2,000 each. Second place schools from each level will win a STEM Resource Enrichment Experience conducted by Hot Spots Extended Care Programs, Inc.
The challenge is a collaborative effort of Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability (EPS), Baltimore County Public Schools and the Education Foundation of Baltimore County. Sponsors include Comcast, Hot Spots Extended Care Programs, Inc. and Maryland Environmental Service.
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