March 31 - April 4
Welcome back to work folks, hopefully you're working on a fun project or making some moves for your organization. Today is Opening Day for the Baltimore Orioles which means that spring is officially here and that educators are finally able to take their classes outside.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the Maryland Green Schools applications are due this Friday at 4:00pm. Please email your applications to MDGSorganizer@maeoe.org or make sure they arrive at our office by snail mail at the deadline. They can also be dropped off at one of our designated drop-off sites that are listed on our website. We're really looking forward to seeing what these schools have done this year in the name of sustainability. With five schools up for our "sustained school" designation and another 71 applying to the program for the first year, it's sure to be a landmark year in the MD Green Schools Program. Please don't forget to sign up for one of our application review sessions throughout April: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C48AAA929A31-2014.
We have a variety of professional development events this week ranging from a conference to a stream clean-up. Have a good week.
We have a variety of professional development events this week ranging from a conference to a stream clean-up. Have a good week.
Professional Development
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GreenFest 2014Water Quality Begins At Home
April 5, 2014
10:00am - 4:00pm
Howard Community College
Burrill Galleria and Quad (click for map)
RAIN OR SHINE! (Most of GreenFest is inside.)
Join us for a free family event celebrating Earth Month on Saturday, April 5 from 10:00am – 4:00pm at Howard Community College in the Burrill Galleria. Vendors and non-profit displays will provide practical information about steps to take both at home and work to promote better water quality and a greener lifestyle.
Be sure to collect your favorite great green giveaways throughout the festival! Lunch will be available for purchase from two local vendors.
Here are some highlights to look forward to:
- Wake up with Fair Trade Coffee & Birds at 10am
- Outdoor Nature Play Space
- Live Reptile and Birds
- Kids Crafts
- Mini Farmers Market
- Solar Telescopes
- Tree/Shrub Planting
- Free Compost Bins
- Workshops and Speakers
- Local Green Businesses and Non-Profits
Native Plant Sale
Visit a variety of local native plant sellers. Ask questions, learn about what native plants will do well in your yard and purchase! 10-4 on the Quad.
Student Forum: Share Your Success
Students from area high schools will provide an overview of successful environmental projects at their schools and lessons learned. Projects include rain gardens, electronics recycling and more. Students can connect and learn more in the networking reception that is included. 1:30-2:30.
Rain Barrel Workshop
Two 1-hour long rain barrel workshops will be offered at GreenFest (10am and 12pm). Howard County residents (ONLY) can sign up to receive a free rain barrel with parts for at-home assembly. NOTE: Registration is closed for these workshops.
Shredding Event
Howard County will sponsor a free shredding event for all residents from 10am - 2pm in Parking Lot A at the Community College. The maximum limit is 3 bags or boxes per person of materials to be shredded. The shredder also accepts computer disks and compact discs (cd's) for shredding if valuable information is on them. For more details about shredding please contact 410-313-6444.
Howard County will sponsor a free shredding event for all residents from 10am - 2pm in Parking Lot A at the Community College. The maximum limit is 3 bags or boxes per person of materials to be shredded. The shredder also accepts computer disks and compact discs (cd's) for shredding if valuable information is on them. For more details about shredding please contact 410-313-6444.
Check out the times and titles of the workshops and outdoor activities HERE to plan your day at GreenFest.
Reflections: The 21st Century School Buildings Plan in Action – A Panel Discussion – Wed Apr 2, 5:30-7:30pm
As schools in Year 2 of the 21st Century School Buildings Plan head into the design process for new or modernized school buildings, join us at the Baltimore Design School (1500 Barclay St.) to hear from schools where work is already underway. Principals, partners, architects and city staff will share their experiences and lessons learned from the Year 1 school design process. The event will include a panel discussion and breakout groups. The entire school community — students, parents, school staff, partners, neighbors and representatives from civic and community associations — should plan to attend. More information is attached. RSVP via email to betterbuildings@bcps.k12.md.us. For more information about the 21st-Century Buildings Plan, call City Schools' Engagement Office at 410-545-1870 or visit:http://www.baltimorecityschools.org/Page/18905.Patapsco State Park Cleanup
Join PHG to be part of the annual "Project Clean Stream" in partnership with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, where hundreds of cleanups are going on throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed! Our park friends requested we clean up a section of Patapsco State Park off of Belle Grove Avenue that is in dire need of a cleanup! This is an area few people know about, but another example of a beautiful remote section of Patapsco State Park, popular for fishing and kayaking.
When
Saturday, April 5, 2014. Rain or shine!
Time
9 am - 12 pm. Please arrive no later than 8:45 am so we can begin on time!
Where
Patapsco State Park land off of Belle Grove Avenue in Brooklyn (see below for directions)
Registration
To register, go to http://www.patapscoheritagegreenway.org/eventcal.html
Click on "Event Registration."
Parking
Parking will be at the parking lot of the American Legion Post 34, 5526 Belle Grove Road, Brooklyn, MD 21225. Overflow parking will be across the street along Thomas Avenue. Look for the posted signs and our stream captain team wearing bright orange safety vests to direct you to registration!Directions
From Route 95 North
Take Exit 49A for Interstate 695 E toward Glen Burnie/Key Bridge
From Route 695 (Baltimore Beltway outer loop) - take Exit 6A - merge onto
MD-170 N/N Camp Meade Road toward Linthicum .
Travel approximately 2 miles. Look for the posted signs and our stream captain team wearing bright orange safety vests to direct you to registration!
To find this site using your GPS, the address of the parking lot is 5526 Belle Grove Road, Brooklyn, MD 21225 or you can also use 1 Thomas Avenue, Brooklyn .
What to wear
We recommend you bring along boots or other waterproof shoes, a hat, long pants and long sleeved shirt! By wearing long sleeves, long pants and gloves, it prevents you from any injury from jagged scrap metal or any sensitivities you may have from various types of vegetation.
What to bring
We especially need and appreciate when volunteers bring their own water or drink (to stay hydrated), work gloves, crab nets or fishing nets with long handles (to scoop trash out of the water in places that are too deep to retrieve it), shovels or other garden tools. We will be removing litter and trash out of the water or that has blown under bushes or among other vegetation! Most of the trash/litter is in the land next to the water and litter that has washed along the banks!
Please mark your name on your tools so if you leave them behind, we can return them to you later! We are a non-profit...by bringing your own tools and needed supplies it helps keep our costs down and earn our undying gratitude!
We also appreciate and recommend that you bring your own sunscreen and insect repellent. If you are allergic to insect bites or stings, please bring any needed medications and notify one of the stream captains of your allergy.
IMPORTANT: There are no close public restrooms so please plan accordingly.
Who can I bring?
You are welcome to bring your family and friends. Children under 16 are welcome if they are supervised and accompanied by an adult volunteer. Keep in mind that we will be cleaning up around deep water, so be prepared to keep a close eye on your children near the water. There is still a lot of small trash in the park areas close to the water if not removed will eventually wash into the water!
We hope to see you there!
Chesapeake Forest Gardens
A Permaculture Design Certificate Course
A Permaculture Design Certificate Course
Edible Landscapes ~ Forests and Watershed
In this twelve-day course over the span of eight months, you will dive deeply into the vision and practice of creating wholesome, dynamic, and resilient edible ecosystems using temperate deciduous forests as models. The teaching team will offer lectures, site walks, and experiential exercises to help you understand how the architecture, social structures, and successional processes of natural forests apply in the design of edible ecosystems of all kinds. We'll also learn about and practice water harvesting & storage options, biointensive gardening, reading patterns in natural systems, and understanding the cultural shifts required to transition in co-creating mindful communities of abundance.
Gain knowledge of local ecology & confidence in ecological design.
Experience a design process from start to finish of a site of your choosing.
Empower yourself as a steward of land regeneration & ecosystem health.
Enhance your knowledge of forest gardening, trees, plants, and care.
2014 Course Weekend Dates
April 5-6 September 6-7
May 3-4 October 4-5
May 31-June 1 November 1-2
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Early Bird Special through March 21, 2014 ~ $1000.
Starting March 22, 2014--Registration fee is $1100.
For more information and to register, click here!
A collaboration between Chesapeake Education, Arts and Research Society and Forested.
Kimberly L. Walsh
Executive Director
Toyota TogetherGreen Fellow
Toyota TogetherGreen Fellow
REGISTER- Stormwater Solutions: Rain Barrels and More (March 15, 2014)
REGISTER- Grafting Invasive Bradford Pears to Produce Fruit (April 12, 2014)
REGISTER- Financial Permaculture Convergence ~ Miami, FL (May 31-June 4)
SAVE THE DATES-Green Man Festival (May 10-11, 2014)
Chesapeake Education, Arts & Research Society (CHEARS)
P.O. Box 1841 | Greenbelt, MD 20768
| 2014 Maryland's Land Conservation Conference |
| Click here to register online |
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Do you like to spend time outdoors, want to try growing food, and are you interested in the environment? The Farm Alliance of Baltimore City and Real Food Farm are seeking responsible youth for the Baltimore Environment and Agriculture Apprenticeship Program. You’ll get to spend your summer farming, meeting new friends, and exploring Baltimore in a whole new way!
In a typical week, participants will spend four days farming at one of Baltimore’s urban farms and one day on a field trip. Some time during the regular farming sessions will be devoted to leadership development and job training (team building games, professional development mini-workshops) as well as presentations on environmental sustainability topics.
What will I do?
- You’ll help plant, weed, water, and harvest crops.
- You’ll help build new compost piles.
- You’ll process and prepare crops for market/distribution.
- You might work at a market stand or oversee produce distribution to customers.
- You might assist with minor repairs to farm infrastructure, such as hoophouses.
- You’ll play team games.
- You’ll participate in mini-workshops related to environmental sustainability and job readiness.
- You’ll prepare and deliver a presentation to community members about the summer experience.
What will I get?
- You’ll learn about farming and environmental sustainability.
- You’ll get to learn and practice important job skills, such as the ability to listen to directions , execute a task independently or with a team, and problem solving skills.
- You’ll get satisfaction from working hard.
- You’ll have fun and get to explore your city!
Sample work schedule:
7:45 AM – arrive in work clothes, meet with a production staff to determine work tasks for the day 8:00 AM – begin work tasks (planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, etc.) 10:00 AM – break 10:15 AM – continue work tasks 11:30 AM – lunch 12:00 PM – continue work tasks or mini-workshop 1:15 PM – dismissed
Locations:
- 2 days a week will be spent as a full group at Real Food Farm (2801 St. Lo Drive, in Clifton Park, NE Baltimore)
- 2 days will be spent working in small groups on other urban farms in Baltimore City
- 1 day will be spent on a field trip around the Baltimore region
Possible field trips:
- visiting one of Baltimore’s nature centers and urban parks
- observing aquaponics system at Cylburn Arboretum
- sailing in the Inner Harbor
Qualifications:
- Be able to work outside in high temperatures
- Have completed 10th, 11th or 12th grade
- Be self-motivated, responsible & easy going
- Be able to work as part of a team
- Be enthusiastic, energetic, and eager to learn
Steps to participate:
- Enroll with YouthWorks by March 14 (must be a Baltimore resident, age 14-21).
- Complete program application and return to Molly McCullagh (2445 E. 32nd Street, Baltimore, MD 21218,rffeducation@civicworks.com) by Monday, March 3. Download the BEAAP Application.
- Attend an on-farm interview during the weeks of March 17-28 (exact dates TBD). We have 10 slots available for this summer and we expect the process to be competitive.
Questions?
Contact Molly McCullagh, Education Coordinator at Real Food Farm – rffeducation@civicworks.com, 443-531-8346
2. Chesapeake Conservation Corps Member - MAEOE/Chesapeake Bay Trust
MAEOE has been selected as a potential host organization for the 2014-2015 Chesapeake Conservation Corps Program, a program that provides service-learning opportunities and green job training for young people through environmental and energy conservation projects. The program is administered by The Chesapeake Bay Trust, which matches young adults 18-25 with Maryland nonprofits and government agencies to work fulltime in the environmental field for a period of one year. This initiative, supported by the Chesapeake Bay Trust, Constellation Energy, and the state of Maryland, pairs young adults with organizations that provide hands-on environmental, leadership, and technical training opportunities. Not only are placed Corps Volunteers working fulltime in the environmental field for a year, but the Program also includes a number of other components and opportunities such as conferences, trainings, grant funding options, site visits to fellow Corps sites, capstone project and so on all culminating into an array of leadership, networking, experience, skill-building and professional growth. Applications are being solicited through April 18, 2014 and submitted via email to tbaker@cbtrust.org.
As a Chesapeake Conservation Corps member working at MAEOE you will be exposed to a variety of projects that will combine to provide you with a strong foundation for a career in environmental conservation. Your responsibilities will include:
A. Design and implementation of a Habitat Restoration or Conservation project that meets
the requirement of one of the Maryland Green School or Eco- School Best Management
Practices. These include; Water, Energy, Habitat Restoration, Building Structures for Learning,
Healthy School Environment, Waste Reduction, or Responsible Transportation. The Volunteer
will select two schools in Prince Georges County and two schools on the Eastern Shore. The
CCC will assist the four schools and their student Green Teams by:
a. Conducting a MDGS/Eco-Schools workshop for the schools’ staff and students
b. Meet regularly with student teams to plan a restoration/conservation project for the
school grounds
c. Assist in the design of the student driven project
d. Assist with finding resources for implementation including using an “All Hands on
Deck” approach and or mini grant funding if applicable
e. Implement the project with the students
f. Guide the students in documentation of the project for the MDGS application
Examples of possible projects include: Planting trees or shrubs, planting rain gardens, shoreline
erosion control plantings, butterfly gardens or meadows, energy audits
B. Design and implement Youth Leadership training and career choice components of the
2014 Maryland Green Schools Youth Summit. The Maryland Green Schools Youth Summit is
an annual environmental education event for Maryland schools. The Youth Summit event
attendance is approximately 3000 students from schools throughout Maryland. For some
students this is their first visit to the Chesapeake Bay. The CCC will volunteer will plan and
implement an activity with support from his/her line manager, the Eco-Schools representative
and a partner from the Alliance for Climate Education (ACE).
The event includes:
a. Award Ceremonies for schools and centers under the MDGS program
b. Environmental Youth Leadership and Career Development opportunities
c. Environmental Literacy Bazaar – Hands on Learning stations for all ages
d. Celebration – recognizing the impact and achievements of schools and nature centers
C. Assist with aspects of the Maryland Green Schools Program including:
a. Social media
b. Development of an online library
c. Presentations to schools and potential community partners
d. Represent MAEOE at local and regional environmental events
e. Assist with updating the MAEOE website, databases and online resources for schools.
2. Executive Director - Bethesda Green
The ideal candidate for Executive Director will:
Have substantive experience in, and knowledge of, the environment and energy fields;
Have at least five years' experience managing and motivating a staff of paid and volunteer personnel;
Have at least five years' experience in successful fundraising;
Possess excellent people and public speaking skills;
Entrepreneurial spirit and experience working in/with small businesses
Educational requirements: at least a bachelor's degree, although a master's degree would be preferable. Academic specialization could include (although is not limited to) environmental science; nonprofit management; public policy.
This is a full-time position with benefits, located in Bethesda, Maryland, part of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Compensation is negotiable and will depend upon the candidate. Bethesda Green is an equal opportunity employer and candidates from diverse backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply.
For detail job description, visit http://bit.ly/1m42jf8.
Written applications must be received by 5 p.m. eastern time, Wednesday, April 30, 2014 by email at jobs@BethesdaGreen.org or by regular mail at Bethesda Green, Attention: Search Committee, 4825 Cordell Avenue, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814.
For more info, visit www.bethesdagreen.org.
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Sumi Shrestha
Marketing and Operations Manager
Bethesda Green
4825 Cordell Avenue, Suite 200
Bethesda, MD 20814
sumi@bethesdagreen.org
240-396-2440 x106
http://bethesdagreen.org
3. Nature Center Facility Leader I - The Robinson Nature Center
NATURE CENTER FACILITY LEADER I
BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Howard County Recreation and Parks operates the Robinson Nature Center. This position performs intermediate level recreation services work ensuring the safe and efficient operation of the Center. This position provides support to the Community Facility Leader II and to full-time staff of the Center. This position will assist in providing customer service and support for center operations.
DUTIES:
• Assist with Activenet membership and program registration
• Assists customers in completing room reservation requests
• Performs opening and closing duties as assigned
• Set up and take down of equipment
• Answers a multi – line phone and directs calls to the appropriate coordinator
• Provides marketing and program promotion to walk in customers
• Performs data processing as assigned
• Assists with gift shop sales and inventory
• Maintains cleanliness of interior and exterior appearance of the center
• Makes phone calls as directed
• Communicates clearly and courteously with the public and coworkers
• Performs other duties as assigned to ensure the smooth operations of the center
• File permits and other paperwork
• Assists with completing center forms
• Monitors center patrons and enforces center rules
• Wear Recreation and Parks shirt and nametag
• Be trained in the use of the AED, CPR and First Aide
QUALIFICATIONS:
• Must have basic knowledge of nature center operations
• Possess good communication skills
• Be flexible, reliable, responsible and enjoy working with the general public
• Must be able to lift 40 pounds
• Must be at least 18 years of age and possess a high school diploma or GED equivalency
Please see attached Application.
Please submit applications and resume to Emily David edavid@howardcountymd.gov
The job will remain open until filled.
That's all for this week folks, as always stay tuned to our Facebook, Twitter, and website for the latest information on MAEOE.
