Preschool students explored the butterfly life cycle through a hands-on science unit, observing caterpillars over several weeks as they formed chrysalises and emerged as butterflies. Students made daily observations and discussed changes they noticed. To deepen understanding, students read The Very Hungry Caterpillar and From Caterpillar to Butterfly, sang songs, counted caterpillars, and created butterfly art. The unit concluded with a walk to the campus pond, where students released the butterflies and discussed habitats and caring for living things, building early skills in science, language, creativity, and environmental stewardship.

Students learned why honeybees matter and how pollination helps produce the fruits and vegetables we eat. They studied the role bees play in supporting healthy ecosystems and food systems. During a visit to Sharp’s Farm in Brookeville, MD, Farmer Chuck explained how important honeybees are to the farm’s crops. Students observed an active hive and learned how bees help pumpkins and other plants grow, connecting their classroom learning to real-world agriculture.

First grade students explored the history of Sandy Spring through hands-on, place-based learning on the Sandy Spring Friends School campus. Students walked to the Sandy Spring, observing the natural landscape and discussing how access to water and land influenced early settlement. Through guided discussions, students compared present-day communities with those of the past while learning about Quaker values and local history.

Students participated in a cross-curricular “Apple Study” exploring apples through science, history, geography, and math. Students examined the life cycle of an apple tree, discussed the history of apples, and learned how farmers use cross-pollination to develop new varieties. During a hands-on taste test of five apples, students collected and graphed data, analyzed results, and discussed how growing conditions, pollinators, and consumer demand influence agriculture and local ecosystems.

Third grade students learned about stewardship and how campus ecosystems support wildlife by exploring what happens to pumpkins after Halloween. Students talked about food waste, decomposition, and how animals on campus can use natural plant materials as food sources. Following a campus blog project that showed wildlife activity when humans are away, students placed pumpkins in outdoor areas where animals could safely eat them and discussed how people and wildlife share the campus environment.

Fourth graders spent time at the campus farm adding compost to the garden beds, learning how food scraps turn into rich soil that helps plants grow strong and healthy. They explored why soil is important, how decomposition works, and how composting reduces waste. Students worked together to prepare the garden for planting and later saw how their efforts supported the school community when some of the vegetables were harvested for the cafeteria. This hands-on work gave them a real connection to sustainability and the impact of caring for the environment.

Fifth grade students participated in an Outdoor Education field experience at Seneca Creek State Park, where they hiked local trails and engaged in fishing as a way to study aquatic ecosystems. Through guided exploration, students observed habitat conditions, discussed native species, and considered how water quality and human impact affect wildlife. The trip provided hands-on, environment-based learning in a real-world setting.

Sixth graders end the year with a hands-on MWEE as part of their Earth Systems course. After learning about water properties, the water cycle, and human impact, students head to Sandy Spring Creek, part of the Anacostia River headwaters on our campus. They test phosphates, nitrates, dissolved oxygen, and bacteria levels, and conduct a macroinvertebrate survey to evaluate stream health. Through this fieldwork, students see firsthand how pollution and conservation affect a local watershed.

Seventh graders explored the Earth’s atmosphere through a hands-on display project. They investigated the layers of the atmosphere, weather patterns, and how the atmosphere supports life. Working in groups, students analyzed information, made observations, and decided how best to represent their findings. This project encourages critical thinking and connects classroom learning to real-world environmental systems.

Eighth graders engage in outdoor, environment-based instruction through hands-on field experiences at The Maryland Zoo, where they practice observation skills, study animal habitats, and investigate conservation issues. These lessons connect classroom learning to real-world ecosystems and help students develop understanding and responsibility for local and global environmental stewardship.

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At the March 4, 2026 all-school faculty meeting, Rebecca Kolowé, Director of Operations, presented a slide deck outlining the status of SSFS’s Green School application and shared the public link for faculty review.

Each April around Earth Day, SSFS hosts Our People, Our Planet Day (OPOP Day), a school-wide environmental celebration engaging all students from Preschool 3 through Grade 12 in age-appropriate lessons, reflection, and intention setting around a shared sustainability theme. The day includes an all-school assembly, workshops on topics such as recycling, rain gardens, and campus sustainability, and hands-on service projects (planting, weeding, trail work, and outdoor space improvements) ensuring every division participates in meaningful environmental learning and stewardship.

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Our Upper School Engineering Club built an electric vehicle for the DC Electric Vehicle Grand Prix. Over the winter and early spring, they designed, tested, and modified the car, ending with a race-ready vehicle in school colors. The competition focuses on efficiency, not speed, as teams must complete as many laps as possible using limited battery power. Through the process, students gained practical experience with energy use, sustainable transportation, and hands-on engineering.

As their senior class gift, the Class of 2025 approved the creation of a comprehensive digital archive of school yearbooks. While print copies remain part of the school’s tradition, the addition of a permanent digital archive significantly reduces the need for reprints, duplicate copies, and physical storage over time. By digitizing past and future volumes, the Class of 2025 helped ensure that alumni, students, and community members can access archival content without requiring additional physical production.

Preschool students learned about stewardship by discussing how to care for the planet. Students practiced turning off lights, sorting recyclables and trash, conserving water, and collecting litter on the playground. To apply their learning, they created Earth-friendly fashion pieces using recycled materials and showcased them in an Earth Day Fashion Show attended by families and friends. This project helped students practice waste reduction, reuse, and environmental responsibility.

In March 2024, Upper School students participated in the SSFS & Friends Intersession, engaging in stream and woodland service projects on campus in partnership with Montgomery County Parks’ Weed Warriors and Salt Watch programs. They tested stream health indicators and helped remove invasive species threatening native trees. Through this hands-on restoration work, students contributed to protecting local ecosystems, strengthened their understanding of environmental stewardship, and earned service hours.

During the March 2025 Sustainable Gardening and Food Injustice Intersession, students took direct action on environmental and food justice issues. At Blueberry Gardens, Tanglewood Flower Farm, and Common Root Farm, they transplanted bushes, prepared beds, cultivated soil, and weeded crops to support sustainable growing practices. Students also volunteered at DC Central Kitchen and Shepherd’s Table, helping with meal prep and service. Through hands-on work in farms and community kitchens, students contributed to habitat care, sustainable food systems, and hunger relief.

Each October, Community Day engages the entire school in hands-on stewardship projects across campus. Mixed-age groups maintain gardens and outdoor classrooms, remove trash, rake leaves, weed planting areas, clean up tree lines and pond spaces, and complete farm tasks. Students also care for shared spaces through staining fences, maintaining picnic tables, and beautifying natural gathering areas. By working together in our forests, fields, and shared spaces, students strengthen their connection to the natural environment while taking responsibility for the care of our campus.

Fifth graders harvested 588 radishes from Friends Farm and used averages and basic statistics to calculate their total yield. The radishes were then delivered to our dining hall to be served fresh on the salad bar. By growing food that is actually used in school lunches, students play a direct role in supporting healthier meals while learning about farming, food systems, and sustainability.

As part of a senior passion project, a student is installing a student-run weather station on campus to expand hands-on climate learning at SSFS. Inspired by experience as a National Weather Service storm spotter and independent research on extreme weather, the student designed the project to move beyond classroom study into sustained action. Students will maintain the station, collect and analyze real-time weather data, and share findings with the school community. Located in our Upper School building, the station serves as both a learning tool and visible structure that encourages ongoing observation of local climate patterns and environmental change.

SSFS maintains a long-term partnership with Feeding America through our annual Empty Bowl Project. Sustained since 2005, this student-led arts and service initiative is embedded in both curriculum and community life. Over the course of a year, students, parents, and staff work together in our pottery studio throwing, shaping, and glazing bowls, often contributing to pieces begun by someone else. The following year culminates in a community dinner where the bowls are displayed and offered for donation. All proceeds support Feeding America. This ongoing cycle of shared creation and service reflects our commitment to environmental justice, community health, and equitable access to food.

Sandy Spring Friends School has an ongoing partnership with Manna Food Center through the Smart Sacks program, which helps address food insecurity in Montgomery County Public Schools. Every other week, Lower School students pack bags of donated food to provide weekend breakfasts and lunches for children in need. Through this hands-on work, students learn about sustainable food systems, the value of reducing waste by redistributing food, and how caring for their community is part of environmental stewardship.

SSFS partners with UGI to maintain campus solar panels and with community partner Naveed Malik of Malik Family Farm, who manages solar grazing. Using sheep to control vegetation, reduce mowing, and promote sustainable land management, this approach allows students to see the sheep on campus and learn through the farm program how solar grazing works as an alternative land management strategy. This partnership models environmental stewardship and gives students a hands-on example of renewable energy in action.

In 2020, SSFS opened the first high school in the U.S. to earn WELL Gold certification with our new Upper School building. Designed for health, sustainability, and environmental wellness, the building prioritizes air and water quality, natural light, and overall comfort for students and staff. This achievement was made possible through the support and funding of the entire SSFS community, reflecting our shared commitment to a learning environment that cares for both people and the planet.

SSFS has a 473.7 kW ground-mounted solar array on campus, developed in partnership with Standard Solar and UGI Performance Solutions. The system generates clean electricity for the school, helping reduce energy costs and decrease reliance on fossil fuels. Producing renewable energy on our own grounds reflects SSFS’s long-term commitment to sustainability and gives students a visible, real-world example of how schools can invest in clean energy solutions.

SSFS is home to a registered Maryland Big Tree, a Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides). Once known only from fossils and thought extinct, the species was rediscovered in China in the 1940s and is now considered endangered in the wild. This deciduous conifer, one of only three remaining redwood species, can grow over 160 feet tall. The tree serves as a living example of biodiversity, conservation, and natural history on our campus, supporting environmental education and stewardship.

The garden area in front of our Lower School is recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. It provides food, shelter, and habitat for native wildlife. Students pass through and learn from this space as part of their daily school experience.