Environmental Leaders Program

Originally launched during the 2015 academic year, the Bethesda Green Environmental Leaders Project draws students from Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Walt Whitman, and Walter Johnson, focuses on environmental stewardship via impactful projects and community engagement with schools and neighborhoods, and encourages cooperative project development and delivery. Each student completes a focused conservation project of their choosing. The student projects are highly visible and are synchronic with the Montgomery County goals to bring awareness to climate change, promote biodiversity and conserve water and energy.

The 2018-2019 Leadership Academy students studied the impact of overfishing and illegal and unreported fishing and the environmental and animal welfare implications of large-scale agribusinesses in the Mid-Atlantic. Past projects have included topics such as a sustainable agriculture video for teens, erosion planting at United Universalist Church, a youth forum on climate change, and creating a large model of the lifecycle of plastic.

Bethesda Recycles

Since 2008, the recycle bins installed by Bethesda Green have collected on average over 5,000 pounds of materials annually.

In partnership with The Bethesda Urban Partnership, Bethesda Green supports the Bethesda Recycles program through planning for bin upgrades, mapping assets and education. This year we are working to install 50 new bins in downtown Bethesda.

Enhancing the Green on Greenery Lane: Stormwater Reduction Project

Glen Waye Gardens Condominium is a 214-unit garden apartment condominium complex with a five-acre footprint on a 15-acre property that drains into the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River. Built in the late 1960’s, it was converted from a rental property into a condominium and is now populated by residents of modest means. This project was made possible by funding from the Chesapeake Bay Trust and Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection. Award funding is provided through Montgomery County Water Quality Protection Fund.