Pollinators are more often related to upland environments. Come
explore the various pollinator visitors to the Chesapeake Bay's many
wetland ecosystems.
Participants will gain ideas and inspiration to restore their
aging-schoolyard habitat back to its original beauty. Participants will
leave with suggested maintenance plans and tips to increase their use
and efficiency as an outdoor classroom.
Wetlands are located across the world on every continent but
Antarctica. Participants will view and explore the wonders of wetlands
and how they are used across the world.
Participants will gain inspiration to enhance an existing garden or
create new gardens that incorporate winter interest into the space.
Join EC for a three-day long professional
development series designed to connect your students to authentic
wetland learning experiences.
WOW! WOW! Facilitator is a special MAEOE customized combination
course of Environmental Concern's WOW! The Wonders of Wetlands and WOW!
Facilitator Training workshops. Participants will learn the basics of
wetland ecology while learning the processes of leading WOW! workshops
and protocols of the nationwide WOW! Facilitator Network. Participants
will also receive a wetland resource guide with over 50 hands-on,
multidisciplinary activities, and ideas for student action projects.
Upon the completion of this course, participants will have a strong
background in wetland ecology and the ability to lead their own WOW!
workshops for their local community.
Participants will learn the step-by-step process for creating or
enhancing wetlands on school grounds or within the community. POW!
guides participants through wetland design and construction with the
goal of utilizing the habitat as an outdoor classroom. POW!
includes cross-curricular activities that allow students to participate
in the design, installation and monitoring of a schoolyard habitat.
EC staff will guide participants through the
various citizen science applications available (e.g. E-Bird, Project
NOAH, Journey North, Project Budburst, Leafsnap and more) to connect
your students to authentic learning experiences utilizing campus outdoor
classrooms.
Wetlands 101:
Wetlands come in all different
shapes and sizes. There may be one right in your own backyard! Come
learn about the basics of wetlands and their vital contributions to the
health of the Chesapeake Bay.
Thirsty Thursday for Wetlands, Rain Gardens
& More!
Journey North— Become a
Monarch Scientist at Home:
Elizabeth Howard from Journey
North joins EC remotely from Vermont as a special guest speaker. Learn how to track monarch
data from the comfort of your home while contributing to a global
study of wildlife migration and seasonal change with Journey North.
Join the movement and become a citizen monarch scientist.
MAMI
Workshops
An Introduction to Living Shorelines:
Participants will learn the basics of living shoreline structures as
a means to control erosion and protect waterfront property.
Constructing Bee Hotels:
Bee populations across the world are in a state of significant
decline. Participants will construct a basic bee hotel and explore the
variety of design plans available to create beautiful pieces for their
backyards.
Life in a Chesapeake Bay Marsh Tour:
Join EC Staff for a tour of the wetlands that have
been restored or constructed across the region. Wetlands play a vital
role in the health of the Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem. Gain inspiration to
construct or restore your own wetlands during this Saturday morning
tour.
Building Stream Buffers:
Participants will learn about vegetative buffers and
how they are used as an important conservation tool used to improve the
health of the Bay. Come learn how to install buffer areas to
improve water quality for fish and aquatic organism found in local
streams.
Why Natives?
MAMI
Workshops
Milkweeds for Monarchs:
MAMI
Workshops
BMP Options for Stormwater Runoff:
Participants will learn the defining characteristics
of best management practices and the structures that are available to
take responsibility for the stormwater runoff at home and in their
communities.
Citizen Science - Tracking
Monarchs:
Monarch Rearing:
MAMI
Workshops
Late Season Nectar Sources for Monarchs:
MAMI
Workshops
Exploring Wetland Wildlife:
Wetlands were once
referred to as the "original 711." They provide an abundant array of
resources for wildlife. Whether that wildlife is passing through for
water and rest, or living within the wetland's acreage, you will fund a
diverse group of organisms. Come explore the various wildlife species
found in wetlands.
Green School Application
Pre-Review:
As a MAEOE Green Center, EC is
excited to open our facility and share our staff with local schools and
volunteers to pre-review their 2017 MAEOE Green School application
drafts. EC staff will offer support and critiques to ensure your
application meets the requirements. MAEOE Green School applications are
due March 17, 2017. Don’t miss out!
Conservation Landscaping
Techniques:
Living Shorelines, native
plantings, meadows, forests, Oh my! Gain a better understanding of
techniques and practices that will improve your home’s habitat value.
Gardening with native plant species allows homeowners to become
designers of habitat for a variety of wildlife—waterfowl, songbirds,
mammals and more.
Hydrophytic Plants:
Wetlands are a unique ecosystem
inhabited by specialized water-loving plant species. Come increase your
knowledge of wetland plants and the adaptations they possess to best
survive in a wetland environment.
Habitat Maintenance and
Monitoring Techniques:
This program provides
participants an understanding of the necessary maintenance and
monitoring techniques required to ensure their habitat is functioning
properly. Participants will focus on best management practice habitat
types (e.g. wetlands, rain gardens, native plantings, etc.) that are
essential in contributing to the improved health of the Chesapeake Bay.
Rain Gardens: Landscaping
for Water Quality:
This course introduces
participants to the concept of rain gardens with a focus on their
benefits to the environment and the surrounding watershed. Participants
will leave with the basic knowledge of how rain gardens are designed,
created and maintained.
Butterfly Gardening:
MAMI
Workshops
Hydric Soils Basics:
Wetlands are a unique ecosystem
defined by specialized hydric soils. Come increase your understanding of
what hydric soils are while learning about the variety of soils found on
the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
Chickens, IPM and You!
Learn how to start a flock of
chickens (with baby chickens or by hatching eggs) to naturally control
your property’s weeds. Participants will gain helpful tips on chicken
breeds, do-it-yourself chicken coop plans, and how to pasture chickens
using portable, poultry fencing and more.
Milkweed Planting Workshop:
MAMI
Workshops
Best Management Practices for Weed and Pest
Control:
MAMI
Workshops
Native Plants for Happy
Pollinators:
MAMI
Workshops
Wetlands Boot Camp–
Educators’ Professional Development Summer Institute:
Join EC for a week-long
professional development series designed to connect your students to
authentic wetland learning experiences. Five courses are available. Pick
one or join us all week.
WOW! The Wonders of
Wetlands:
WOW! introduces participants to
wetland ecology through a study of the three parameters of wetlands:
vegetation, soils and hydrology. Participants will also learn
about wetland functions and values by utilizing K-12 cross curricular,
inquiry based activities. Leave with a wetland resource guide with
over 50 hands-on, multidisciplinary activities, and ideas for student
action projects.
For more information on WOW!
the Wonders of Wetlands
Wetlands' Bootcamp
Rain Garden Designers:
Participants will learn how to
build a rain garden from start to finish while gaining the understanding
of their benefits to the environment and the surrounding watershed.
Participants will leave with the basic knowledge of how rain gardens are
designed, created and maintained. Environmental Concern specializes in
the implementation of student-centered action projects. Participants
will learn helpful tips and strategies to include students throughout
this process, so they gain the skills to implement action projects on
their own in the future.
Wetlands' Bootcamp
Schoolyard Habitat
Maintenance and Monitoring:
Schoolyard Habitat Maintenance
and Monitoring provides educators with an understanding of different
habitat types and how to properly maintain the space with their
students. Participants will also learn how to identify a schoolyard
habitat’s success by utilizing K-12 cross curricular, inquiry based
activities. Educators will gain valuable tools to increase
students’ interest in wetland maintenance, and inspiration to involve
the entire school in the process.
Wetlands' Bootcamp
Student Action Projects for
Watershed Improvements:
This course provides Educators
with the tools they need to implement student-driven meaningful best
management practices to improve the health of their local watershed.
Educators will leave with activities and tools to ensure their programs
are meeting the new MWEE requirements.
Wetlands' Bootcamp
Wetland Plant ID: Know ‘Em
and Grow ‘Em:
This introductory wetland plant
identification course provides participants with an understanding of
wetland plant ecology and adaptations, and the resources to identify
plant species in the field. Materials will also cover native and
non-native species and planting tips.
Wetlands' Bootcamp