SSFS Designated a Maryland Green School

Sandy Spring Friends School has been named a Maryland Green School by the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE). The announcement came on Earth Day 2026 with the notification from MAEOE, who shared: “This designation is more than an award—it’s a powerful reflection of your entire school community’s commitment to environmental leadership and literacy. Students, staff, and partners have come together to create lasting change, and the impact of your work will be felt for years to come.” 

The Maryland Green School designation follows a comprehensive application and review process that documents the School’s efforts to educate our community, implement programs to steward our land, and work towards a sustainable future. These initiatives include efforts in:

• Environmental Curriculum and Instruction 
• Student Action 
• Community Partnerships 

Some examples of initiatives and curricular programming include:

• Kindergarten Honeybee Study
• 4th Grade Farming and Compost Study
• 6th Grade Water Testing in the Sandy Spring Creek, part of the Anacostia River headwaters located on our campus
• Upper School Engineering Club participation in the DC Electric Vehicle Grand Prix
• Upper School Sustainable Gardening and Food Justice Intersession
• Senior Passion Project  - Building a student-run weather station on campus
• Partnership with Malik Family Farm to bring sheep to campus for solar grazing
• WELL Gold Certified Upper School Building - first high school in the U.S. to earn Gold certification
• Ongoing Environmental Professional Development for Teachers

The publicly-accessible view of the SSFS Application is available online.

About MAEOE: Maryland Green Schools Program is a statewide recognition program, coordinated by the 
Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE), that honors schools for leadership in environmental education, sustainability practices, and community engagement. There are 702 total Maryland Green Schools  as of 2026.