School Yard Cleanups Put Trash In Its Place

March 8th, 2010 by Libby
Photo contest winner from the Potomac River Watershed Cleanup last year

Photo contest winner from the Potomac River Watershed Cleanup last year.

A great way to get your kids outside this spring is by hosting a “School Yard Cleanup” in conjunction with the Alice Ferguson Foundation’s 22nd Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup.  On Saturday, April 10th thousands of volunteers of all ages will be participating at sites all across the Potomac watershed.  By conducting a cleanup around this time at your school’s action project will inspire school spirit, let the students have fun and get a little dirty, and beautify your school yard as well as be a part of this huge watershed-wide event.  It is a simple activity that doesn’t take a lot of preparation or money.

Since 1989, more than 50,000 volunteers have teamed with 375 partner organizations to tug over 3 million tons of trash from the watershed’s streams, rivers and bays.  Last year´s haul of over 290 tons included more than 27 tons of recyclables, 41,122 Plastic bags, 2,095 tires, 17 bicycles, 16 shopping carts, 9 Metal and plastic barrels, 5 TVs and 5 refrigerators!  The Alice Ferguson Foundation needs your help this year on Saturday, April 10th to help put trash in its place!

Visit the  Potomac Cleanup website and look under “Cleanup Resources” to find lessons, activities and a kid-friendly PowerPoint with step-by-step instructions on how to organize a cleanup on your school grounds.   Register your school yard as a cleanup site with the Alice Ferguson Foundation’s Potomac River Watershed Cleanup and the Foundation will provide bags and gloves to you free of charge.

Additional Resources:

Trash Related Lesson Plans – Bay Backpack

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Libby Campbell is the Deputy Director of the Alice Ferguson Foundation.

Why Teach About Watersheds?

February 25th, 2010 by Krissy
Map of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Source: National Geographic

Map of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Source: National Geographic

We all live in a watershed and chances are if you are on the Bay Backpack site you live in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  The Chesapeake Bay watershed stretches across more than 64,000 square miles, encompassing parts of six states -Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia – and the entire District of Columbia.  Almost 17 million people live in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and the things those people do every day impact how clean our local waterways are.

So What is a Watershed?

A watershed is an area of land that drains into a particular body of water like the Susquehanna River or the Chesapeake Bay.  When it rains all of the water that falls on the land has to go somewhere, so it drains off the land, our roadways and parking lots into local streams.  Threading through the Chesapeake watershed are more than 100,000 streams and rivers.  These streams then feed into large rivers such as the Susquehanna, Potomac and James.  All of these rivers eventually run into the Chesapeake Bay carrying with them any pollutants (like lawn fertilizer or oil from parking lots) that have washed off the land and other hard surfaces.

Why Should I Teach About Watersheds?

Understanding the links between what we do on the land and our waterways is the key to having healthy, safe rivers and a clean Chesapeake Bay.  Water is critical to all aspects of our lives.  Most of our drinking water comes from our local river so it is important that we understand the connections between people, land and waterways.  We are the source of all the solutions to problems that pollute our waterways.  Each and every person’s actions can and do have an impact on cleaning our own streams and rivers.

So How Do I Teach About Watersheds?

There are already tons of lessons and activities out there that teach about watersheds.  Here are a few of the best ones you can use in your classroom.  These include hands-on investigations that get students actively engaged in learning.

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Krissy Hopkins is part of the Chesapeake Bay Program's Fostering Stewardship Team and Education Workgroup.

Conservation Landscaping and Schoolyard Habitat Toolkits

February 19th, 2010 by Karen
Schoolyard Habitat Toolkit

Schoolyard Habitat Toolkit

As communities all across the Bay region are reexamining how to maximize the ecological potential of community spaces, the USFWS Schoolyard Habitat Partnership with the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education and the NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training Program releases the capstone toolkits of their 6-year partnership. These toolkits are designed to help project leaders access the best available resources to help create excellent Schoolyard Habitat and conservation landscaping projects.

Conservation landscapes are landscapes designed, planted and maintained to benefit people and the local ecosystem. The Toolkit for Conservation Landscaping for Community Spaces provides a framework for project designers to achieve a balance between ecologically significant landscaping and community engagement.

Excellent Schoolyard Habitat projects need support both with on-the-ground project implementation and classroom curricular-connections. The Schoolyard Habitat Program Development Toolkit enables providers of environmental education programs to more effectively assist schools in the development of sustainable, integrated schoolyard habitat projects.

These productions of the Schoolyard Habitat Partnership cannot be copied for resale however it can be copied for educational purposes.

Download the Toolkits

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Karen Kelly Mullin is the Principal of the Willow Oak Group.

Snow No! A Rough Winter for the Chesapeake

February 10th, 2010 by Krissy
Satellite image of the Chesapeake region taken February 7th, 2010. Photo Credit: NASA GSFC, MODIS Rapid Response

Satellite image of the Chesapeake region taken February 7th, 2010. Photo Credit: NASA GSFC, MODIS Rapid Response

February 2010 is one for the record books.  With nicknames like Snowmageddon, Snowpocalypse, and SnOMG the newspapers are deeming the blizzard that hit this month the end of the world.

The storm that dumped 30 plus inches on the Chesapeake region, almost overnight, can be seen from space thanks to NASA’s Wallops satellite.  This image, take on February 7th, 2010 shows the extent of the winter blast that pounded the area.

Snow extended north into New York, south into Virginia and blanketed the Eastern Shore with fresh powder.  The snow hides the large cities of Baltimore, Washington and Harrisburg, which are usually visible on satellite images as large grey patches. In this image, these major cities are blanketed under the snow hiding the impact we have on the landscape.

Along with being a striking way to view our region, this image also offers up a great learning opportunity for students, showing them how geography and the weather can influence our local waterways.

Can your students answer the following questions about this picture?

  1. Where is the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and what body of water does it empty into?
  2. What long river runs south through New York and Pennsylvania and empties into the top of the Chesapeake Bay?
  3. Why do some of the rivers look brown in color while others appear bluish-green?
  4. What mountain range cuts through the left corner of this image?

If you have more questions submit them through our comments!

Additional Resources:
Daily Satellite Image of the Chesapeake Bay – NASA, MODIS Rapid Response
Weather Related Lesson Plans – Bay Backpack

Answers:

  1. The mouth of the Chesapeake Bay is in Virginia, where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean.
  2. The Susquehanna River, which runs for 444 miles from its source in Cooperstown, NY until it empties into the Chesapeake Bay at Havre de Grace, Md.
  3. Polluted water running off our roadways and parking lots drains into our rivers and streams and eventually the Chesapeake Bay. This polluted water appears brown in color because it is full of sediments and nutrients that wash off the land. Heavy rains and snow melt wash thousands of gallons of polluted water into the Bay each year.
  4. The Appalachian Mountains, which run from Newfoundland 1,500 miles south-west into Alabama. The Appalachians cut through all of the Chesapeake Bay watershed states but Delaware.
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Krissy Hopkins is part of the Chesapeake Bay Program's Fostering Stewardship Team and Education Workgroup.

Manassas Park Elementary School Goes Green

February 2nd, 2010 by Matt

Manassas Park Elementary School from Chesapeake Bay Program on Vimeo.

From a rainwater harvesting system to a light that tells children when the temperature is ideal outside for opening windows up, this school has thought of it all. Architects from VMDO teamed with Manassas Park Elementary School to build a structure that focuses on sustainable design through eco-friendly approaches. Please send this video to those you feel may be able to benefit from it. All videos produced for the Chesapeake Bay Program can be seen at the links below.

http://vimeo.com/chesapeakebay

http://www.youtube.com/user/chesbayprogram

Feel free to contact mrath@chesapeakebay.net with any questions or comments
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Matt Rath is Multimedia Specialist for the Chesapeake Bay Program. Producing videos, photos, and other web content for the Program and our partners.

Bay Backpack Launch Promotes Environmental Education

February 1st, 2010 by Krissy
Representative John Sarbanes boasts his support of the Bay Backpack, promoting citizen stewardship through our students.

Representative John Sarbanes boasts his support of the Bay Backpack, promoting citizen stewardship through our students.

Mike Land from the National Park Service delivers the Bay Backpack demo at the launch event.

Mike Land from the National Park Service delivers the Bay Backpack demo at the launch event.

From the historic McNasby’s Oyster Company building at the Annapolis Maritime Museum, the Chesapeake Bay Program announced the launch of Bay Backpack.  Over 40 folks packed into the bay room to hear officials, including Representative John P. Sarbanes and Annapolis Mayor Josh Cohen boast their support of Bay Backpack.

The event kicked off with Peyton Robertson, Director of NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Office, officially announcing the launch of Bay Backpack.  He reflected on all the NOAA projects occurring in Annapolis, including the deployment of a CBIBS buoy in the Severn River and a new partnership through NOAA’s BWET Program that will allow the Annapolis Maritime Museum to  provide all elementary school students in the City of Annapolis with a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience.  Peyton expressed Bay Backpack will allow teachers throughout the Chesapeake region to get their students outside too.  This tool provides teachers with the resources they need to integrate environmental education and Chesapeake Bay issues into their classrooms.  Bay Backpack covers all the bases: teaching resources,  field study programs, and training and funding opportunities.  It’s the whole package in one stop.

Annapolis Mayor Josh Cohen then offered his support of Bay Backpack.  Mayor Cohen was elated Bay Backpack will connect Annapolis teachers with resources to get their students outside.  Bay Backpack is a great project that will further Maryland’s Partnership for Children in Nature working to ensure all Maryland youth have the opportunity to learn about their environment and connect with the natural world.

Representative John Sarbanes spoke next,  noting citizen stewardship is the only way we are going to save the bay.  By educating and engaging our youth, through the MWEE process, we are building a sustainable future for the Chesapeake region. We are educating the next generation of Bay stewards who will care for and protect this national treasure.  He was delighted to offer is support of Bay Backpack and environmental education throughout the region.

Rebecca Bell, from the Maryland State Department of Education added this tool will help the state of Maryland achieve its goal of providing every student with a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience or MWEE every year.  Students who receive these experiences are the ones who go on to become environmentally conscious business owners and executives.  Rebecca was happy to offer the support of the Maryland State Department of Education to get this tool into every classroom in Maryland.

The event closed with a demonstration of Bay Backpack by Mike Land with the National Park Service.  Mike walked the group through each of the sections of Bay Backpack and encouraged everyone to spread the word about the site.  Tell other parents, tell your friends and most importantly tell your kid’s teacher.  Follow Bay Backpack on Twitter @baybackpack or become a fan on Facebook.

Help us spread the word!

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Krissy Hopkins is part of the Chesapeake Bay Program's Fostering Stewardship Team and Education Workgroup.

Welcome to the Bay Backpack!

January 19th, 2010 by Krissy

Welcome to the Bay Backpack, THE source for Chesapeake Bay education resources, field studies, trainings and funding opportunities for educators.  Take some time to explore the pages of the Bay Backpack to discover ways to get your student’s feet wet and hands dirty.  Read the blog for exciting project ideas for your school and tips on ways to integrate outdoor education into your curriculum.  Be sure to sign-up for our newsletter to receive a monthly email with news and new resources.

Watch our informational video about Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience or MWEEs.  MWEEs enable students to participate in hands-on environmental learning about the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Throughout the MWEE process, students develop a sense of environmental ethics and stewardship that are essential to the long-term sustainability of the Chesapeake Bay. The Bay Backpack, a resource designed to help educators provide meaningful watershed educational experiences or MWEEs to their students.

So take some time to pack your own Bay Backpack with resources and get your students outdoors!

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Krissy Hopkins is part of the Chesapeake Bay Program's Fostering Stewardship Team and Education Workgroup.

How to Create a Schoolyard Habitat

January 17th, 2010 by Krissy

This schoolyard habitat and garden acts as an outdoor classroom for the entire school

This schoolyard habitat and garden acts as an outdoor classroom for the entire school

Creating a habitat for wildlife in your schoolyard will not only give local wildlife a safe healthy place to live, but it will provide students with an easily-accessible outdoor classroom and provide opportunities for students to observe wildlife in ways they may not have had otherwise. Habitat loss is an increasing pressure on wildlife. Whether you live in a city, in a forest, or in wide-open farmland, every little step you can take towards protecting your local environment will help. It will help the environment in the short-term, and spark a long-term interest in students, which could stay with them into adulthood.

After learning how to create and care for the habitat, students can observe various animals better than they might have been able to otherwise. Students can watch as beautiful butterflies land and enjoy their mud bath. In the spring, students can watch adult birds go to/from a bird house with small twigs, then watch as the parents start bringing food to the young. Finally, students might be able to see the fledglings take their first ventures out into the wild. Classes can also observe as plants begin to grow, flowers bloom, and insects pollinate. As the season changes from summer to fall, trees can provide a lesson in biology, while squirrels’ nut-gathering can be a behavior study.

A successful habitat for wildlife needs several things. Food, water, shelter/cover, and a place for animals to safely rear their young are all essentials. The National Wildlife Federation provides a guide on how to create a schoolyard habitat, as well as instructions on how to register your habitat with the National Wildlife Federation’s Certified Wildlife Habitat™ Program.

Resources:

Schoolyard Habitat Guide – Fish and Wildlife Service

Native Plants of the Chesapeake Guide – Fish and Wildlife Service

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Krissy Hopkins is part of the Chesapeake Bay Program's Fostering Stewardship Team and Education Workgroup.

Follow Captain John Smith’s Footsteps

January 15th, 2010 by Krissy
Paddlers on the upper Patuxent River. Photo Credit: IAN Jane Thomas

Paddlers on the upper Patuxent River. Photo Credit: IAN Jane Thomas

Take your students on a journey of discovery, following in the footsteps of legendary explorer Captain John Smith. During Smith’s three years in Virginia, from 1607-1609, he navigated thousand of miles through the Chesapeake’s Rivers.

You and your class can recreate a small part of Smith’s Voyage by paddling or kayaking along the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. The trail is a great way to get your students outside to learn the history and meaning behind Smith’s journey. Learn about Native Americans, including the tale of Pocahontas, and settlers’ encounters with them. Or visit the bay’s bountiful diversity of plants and life and learn how the environment has changed over time.

Begin charting your course NOW!

Additional Resources:
Chesapeake Now and Then – National Geographic

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Krissy Hopkins is part of the Chesapeake Bay Program's Fostering Stewardship Team and Education Workgroup.

Become an Oyster Gardener

January 10th, 2010 by Krissy
After tending their oyster garden all school year, these Virginia students released their oysters into the river.

After tending their oyster garden all school year, these Virginia students released their oysters into the river.

Tending an oyster garden is a great way to get your students actively involved in efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay. The Eastern Oyster is one of the most important species in the Chesapeake Bay because of its ability to filter water. One adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day. But because of over harvesting and disease the oyster population is at 1% of its historic level. By becoming an oyster gardener your class can help boost the oyster population and make the waters of the Chesapeake a little cleaner.

Here’s how you can participate. Your class can construct oyster cages out of wire mesh or PVC piping. The cages are then filled with baby oysters called ‘spat’ that you will care for over the next year. Oyster cages can be hung from a pier or piling close to your school. During the year your students will have to care for your oyster cages, cleaning the muck off of them weekly. Once your oysters mature and grow they will be collected and planted in a sanctuary reef.

You can integrate math, science and writing skills into an oyster gardening project by measuring the growth of your oysters over the school year and having each student keep an observation journal recording any other critters you find living in the oyster cages. You can also teach your students about the historic oyster catch through activities such as Oysters and a Clear Bay.

To find an oyster gardening program in your area visit Marylanders Grow Oysters, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Oyster Program or Virginia Oyster Gardening Program.

Additional Resources:
Oyster Gardening Guide (pdf.)

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Krissy Hopkins is part of the Chesapeake Bay Program's Fostering Stewardship Team and Education Workgroup.
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