William Schmidt Environmental Center

The William Schmidt Environmental Center, located in Brandywine, Maryland, serves as a premier outdoor educational facility for the Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) system. Situated on a sprawling, 500-acre site, the center provides students with immersive, hands-on learning experiences designed to foster an appreciation for nature and environmental stewardship. By moving beyond the traditional classroom, the facility allows students to directly engage with diverse ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, and fields, helping them understand complex ecological concepts through fieldwork and scientific observation.

The center’s programming is deeply aligned with the PGCPS curriculum, offering specialized field trips that emphasize environmental literacy and sustainable practices. Whether students are participating in water quality testing, wildlife identification, or exploring the center’s "Green" building initiatives, the goal is to cultivate the next generation of environmental problem-solvers. By bridging the gap between academic theory and the natural world, the William Schmidt Environmental Center plays a critical role in enhancing the district’s science instruction while inspiring a lifelong commitment to the protection and preservation of our environment.