Huntingtown High School Continues Its Green Initiatives
Huntingtown High School (HHS) is a Calvert County Public School located in Southern Maryland. Approximately 1600 students attend HHS. Since Huntingtown High School opened its doors in 2004, staff and students have worked collaboratively to raise environmental awareness, improve stewardship, and reduce our school’s ecological footprint. In 2007, the Environmental Club started documenting the efforts of students and staff, which resulted in our first Green School Certification in 2009. The Environmental Club has continued to work with the Huntingtown High School community to continue their mission.
The Environmental Club has taken a special interest in habitat restoration. After raising our first diamondback terrapin in the classroom during the 2010-2011 school year, one of our larger focuses has been planting Bay grasses. We first planted Bay grasses on Poplar Island when we released our first terrapin, Myca, in 2011. Since then, we have planted Bay grasses on the HHS campus in a man-made shallow pond that are transplanted in the spring to Dominion Cove Point beach to, not only, restore habitat but also improve water quality.
HHS was built with motion-censored hall lighting to reduce energy consumption and motion-censored faucets in student bathrooms to reduce water consumption. Over the past couple of years, we have replaced our stairwell lighting with motion-censors and the types of light bulbs used throughout the building to promote energy conservation. Computers, monitors, beverage and snack machines have been set to timers so that they are shut-off over night. In addition, the Calvert County Public School system has offered monetary incentives for energy reductions.
HHS continues to raise environmental awareness through various curriculums. All academic level freshmen are required to take Environmental Science as their freshman science course. Many honors and AP students elect to take Environmental Science their junior or senior year. Throughout the Environmental Science curriculums, students focus on Earth’s resources, how humans have affected those resources and how we can conserve those resources. In addition, we continually strive to incorporate environmental learning across curriculums and enhance student learning through staff attendance at community workshops and professional development. Community partners have been essential in the development of student programs at HHS, professional development, and successful completion of projects.
The goal of The Environmental Club is to raise student, staff, and community awareness of human impacts on our environment. The creation of our nature trail has allowed many classes, organizations, and community members to enjoy outdoor experiences. We emphasize that small lifestyle changes can improve quality of life through promotion of a healthier environment for both humans and natural ecosystems.
The Environmental Club has taken a special interest in habitat restoration. After raising our first diamondback terrapin in the classroom during the 2010-2011 school year, one of our larger focuses has been planting Bay grasses. We first planted Bay grasses on Poplar Island when we released our first terrapin, Myca, in 2011. Since then, we have planted Bay grasses on the HHS campus in a man-made shallow pond that are transplanted in the spring to Dominion Cove Point beach to, not only, restore habitat but also improve water quality.
HHS was built with motion-censored hall lighting to reduce energy consumption and motion-censored faucets in student bathrooms to reduce water consumption. Over the past couple of years, we have replaced our stairwell lighting with motion-censors and the types of light bulbs used throughout the building to promote energy conservation. Computers, monitors, beverage and snack machines have been set to timers so that they are shut-off over night. In addition, the Calvert County Public School system has offered monetary incentives for energy reductions.
HHS continues to raise environmental awareness through various curriculums. All academic level freshmen are required to take Environmental Science as their freshman science course. Many honors and AP students elect to take Environmental Science their junior or senior year. Throughout the Environmental Science curriculums, students focus on Earth’s resources, how humans have affected those resources and how we can conserve those resources. In addition, we continually strive to incorporate environmental learning across curriculums and enhance student learning through staff attendance at community workshops and professional development. Community partners have been essential in the development of student programs at HHS, professional development, and successful completion of projects.
The goal of The Environmental Club is to raise student, staff, and community awareness of human impacts on our environment. The creation of our nature trail has allowed many classes, organizations, and community members to enjoy outdoor experiences. We emphasize that small lifestyle changes can improve quality of life through promotion of a healthier environment for both humans and natural ecosystems.
HHS
1. Terrapin Release Program and Habitat Restoration
In conjunction with the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Huntingtown High School has raised 3 Diamondback Terrapins from Poplar Island in the classroom throughout the past 3 school years. After caring for our terrapins throughout the winter and allowing them to grow instead of hibernating, we released them back where they hatched at a much bigger size giving them a better chance for survival.
2. Nature Trail
The Environmental Club worked with Cross Country Coach, Mr.Koch, to create our Nature Trail during the 2010-2011 school year. Modeled after the Robert Frost Trail in the Green Mountains, selected student poems were put onto signs and then posted along the trail.
3. Energy Reduction
In conjunction with Calvert County's Board of Education, Huntingtown High School staff and students have worked to decrease our energy consumption and reduce or carbon footprint.
4. First County Envirothon Win!
Guided by Mrs. Hanners, Huntingtown High School took their first Envirothon win during the 2011-2012 school year!
5. PLANS Program
The PLANS program is aligned for 9th Grade, Honors, and Advanced Placement (AP) Environmental Science classes. Each section investigates the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay and identifies common phyto and zooplankton communities and participates in classroom bioassays. At the end of the program, student research is presented among the partnership during a symposium with a keynote speaker.