IRVINE NATURE CENTER NAMED MAEOE GREEN CENTER
June 2, 2005
Contact: Jeff Muller, 410-484-2413 ext. 23

The Irvine Nature Center has been recognized as the first Green Center in the Baltimore-area by the Maryland Association of Environmental and Outdoor Educators (MAEOE) during a ceremony that took place at the Community College of Baltimore County at Catonsville. The Green Center Awards program honors Outdoor Schools and Nature Centers in Maryland that model excellence in environmental education.

“We are honored to receive this award,” stated Dick Gibbs, Irvine’s Executive Director, “especially during this time of growth for the center. With so much of our energy focused on creating our new home in Caves Valley, we are extremely proud to be able to continue to deliver an outstanding level of service that has warranted such a prestigious designation.”

The award was presented by Stephen L. Pattison, Assistant Secretary for the Maryland Department of the Environment; Ed Davis, Constellation Energy Group; Will Williams, Steve Heacock, and Jeanne Armacost, MAEOE; Kelly Hasty, Store Manager for REI in College Park; and Terry Galloway, Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The award included a citation from the Governor, a check for $800, a red osier dogwood tree, and a commemorative flag.

Irvine received its designation because of its commitment to providing environmental education to Baltimore-area schools, helping schools “green” their urban schoolyards, and modeling sustainable practices. Over the past thirty years, Irvine has engaged hundreds of thousands of students and area residents, and has initiated a number of important programs, including Household Hazardous Waste Day, Project Clean Stream, and the annual Native Plant Seminar and Sale.

Medfield Heights Elementary School in Baltimore City, a participating school in Irvine’s Natural Connections urban outreach program, was one of only ten schools in the state to receive Green Schools designation this year.

Founded in 1975, the Irvine Nature Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to environmental education.  The Center is located on the grounds of St. Timothy’s School at 8400 Greenspring Avenue, Stevenson, MD (1 mile north of the Baltimore beltway exit 22).  Call 410-484-2413 or visit www.explorenature.org for more information.