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Potomac Conservancy recently completed a land cover assessment of Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS), and led over 900 students in planting more than 350 native trees and shrubs on FCPS school grounds in an effort to demonstrate the great opportunity that exists to increase tree canopy on FCPS campuses.

The Conservancy’s goal for this project is to work with Frederick County’s Board of Education (BOE) to establish an achievable tree canopy cover goal for all FCPS sites. The aim is to then have this goal supported by FCPS and incorporated into policy by the BOE for maintaining and increasing tree canopy cover on FCPS sites.

The land cover assessment (using 2005 aerial imagery) was completed in partnership with the USDA Forest Service. Based on the assessment, Potomac Conservancy estimates that cumulatively FCPS school sites contain approximately 12% tree canopy cover and approximately 38% of land open and available for tree canopy increase.

Fall tree plantings were supported by Frederick County’s Schoolyard Habitat Program and Maryland DNR’s Tree-mendous Maryland. Funders included the USDA Forest Service and the Chesapeake Bay Trust.

• At Urbana Middle School, in Ijamsville, more than 100 native deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs were planted to extend a forested area.

• At Tuscarora Elementary School, in Frederick, 125 native trees and shrubs were planted to re-establish a former buffer that divided the school property and adjacent open land- land that is currently being converted into a large residential development.

• Kemptown Elementary School students, in Monrovia, participated in Growing Native and collected over 200 lbs of native tree seeds, established a grow-out station (a school-based community nursery), and planted 20 native trees and shrubs on their school ground. The grow-out station will be managed by students and teachers to provide a sustainable source of seedlings for future tree plantings at Kemptown Elementary and elsewhere in the county.

• Walkersville High School and Walkersville Elementary School students paired up to enhance their adjacent school grounds with over 100 trees native trees and shrubs.

Urbana Middle School, Kemptown Elementary School, and Walkersville High School and Elementary School are located in wellhead protection areas, as are more than 40% of Frederick County public schools.

The Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT) recently awarded a $44,000 grant to Potomac Conservancy and the Potomac Watershed Partnership to continue collaborating with FCPS to further their efforts to maintain and enhance tree canopy on Frederick County public school grounds.

For more information on the FCPS Greening Initiative, contact Heather Montgomery at 301-608-1188 x 209 or montgomery@potomac.org.