Every other year, the Carroll County Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) awards recognition to individuals or groups for their actions demonstrating environmental stewardship.  The goal of the Environmental Action Awards program is to foster community environmental stewardship through leadership and action by encouraging and recognizing community members and groups who voluntarily initiate projects, actions, and leadership to improve the environment and/or facilitate the sustainability of natural resources. 

Awards are presented to individuals and groups chosen from nominees submitted for consideration by their peers, although self-nominations are accepted.  Awards are granted for endeavors and projects that result in a positive benefit to the environment and have the potential for long-term community environmental benefit in each of three categories:  Educational Outreach, Positive Practices, and Student Engagement.

Award Winners

All three winning groups/individuals will be awarded a gift basket valued at approximately $300 from Sun Nurseries, a gift basket valued at $50 from JeannieBird Baking Company, and a gift card valued at $50 from Local Homestead Products.

• Student Engagement – Charlotte Grepps, Tainne Buchler, and Sarah Carpenter, as member of Girl Scout Troop 1290, partnered with the Downtown Sykesville Connection to implement a composting pilot program.  The initiative promoted composting as a practical solution to reduce landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions.  The project was aimed at educating residents, providing tools for composting, and fostering long-term behavioral change. As part of this effort, the girls drafted promotional content, researched composters, designed a survey, and presented to the Mayor and Council.  In addition to the gift baskets, Tainne, Sarah, and Charlotte will also be jointly awarded a $1,000 scholarship by Spot-On Engineering Solutions, Inc.
• Student Engagement Honorable Mention – To recognize the noteworthy efforts of the other Student Engagement nominees, Honorable Mentions were awarded to Colin Flanagan for his work with Trout in the Classroom at Century High School and Avery House for organizing and leading a trash clean-up that spanned three school campuses in Westminster. 
• Positive Practices – In 2024, a group of residents formed the Carroll Lutheran Village (CLV) Green Team to promote eco-friendly practices and partner with CLV’s management and staff to create a greener campus.  The members have organized presentations and video viewings, written monthly newsletter articles, and advocated for planting native trees, shrubs, and perennials throughout the campus.
• Educational Outreach – Sydney Lyle took the initiative to lead an effort at Friendship Valley Elementary school to increase recycling and decrease trash by educating school students and staff about recycling.  This effort included presentations, sorting activities, and signs.

Winners will be presented with their awards at the 2025 Carroll EnviroFest on October 25, 2025, at the Robert Moton Center in Westminster. 

The next Environmental Action Awards cycle will be held in 2027.  Start thinking now what you might be able to do in the next two years that would be worthy of nomination.  Check the EAC website early spring of 2027 for nomination information.  The 2025 Nomination Guidelines & Eligibility Criteria can be used as a guide for those who are interested in completing projects or initiatives for nomination in 2027. 

Thank you to our awards sponsors!    

• JeannieBird Baking Company
• Local Homestead Products
• Rudolph Girls Books
• Spot-On Engineering Solutions, Inc.
• Sun Nurseries, Inc. 

Documents & Links for 2025 Awards

• 2025 Environmental Action Awards Nomination Guidelines & Eligibility Criteria
  

Prior Awards Cycles

• 2023 Award Winners
• 2021 Award Winners
• Tree Planting Ceremony Program - September 28, 2018
• 2018 Winners
• 2016 Winners
• 2014 Winners
• 2012 Winners