The Chesapeake Bay Bowl: Reason for Hope

May 13th, 2013 by Nick DiPasquale

Nicholas DiPasquale, students, and volunteers engaged in educational Chesapeake Bay activities at the 2013 Chesapeake Bay Bowl.

We often hear that the United States is losing its scientific and technical edge to other nations, and we lament the fact that our students don’t seem interested in learning about science or math. But that perception was shattered as I observed students from four watershed states and the District of Columbia compete in the sixteenth annual Chesapeake Bay Bowl at George Mason University.

The Chesapeake Bay Bowl is a regional division of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl, which tests high school students’ knowledge of the marine sciences. I had the opportunity to watch Bay Bowl competitors in action; it was amazing. These young people knew their science, from the names of the different ocean currents to the various parts of a wind turbine. They worked collaboratively to come up with the correct answers to the questions. You could almost see the “gears turning” as they raced against the clock to respond.

At noon on the day of the competition, I gave a lunchtime address on the Bay restoration effort. But I didn’t have to wonder if the audience understood my presentation. And I didn’t have to worry about the next generation of scientists who will pick up where we leave off to carry on the restoration work that began in the watershed some 30 years ago. As irony would have it, the first Bay agreement was signed at George Mason University in 1983. The work continues and this new crop of scientists will deal with new challenges, like addressing the impacts of climate change and new sources of pollution. I slept better knowing that they will be up to the task.

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Get your students involved in the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Bowl competition!

Stay Tuned: Are you interested in getting your students involved in the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Bowl?  Be sure to check Bay Backpack this fall for information on how to participate.  Teams typically are recruited in September/October, with statement of intent forms due in mid-October.  Next year, the competition will take place at the University of Delaware.

While you eagerly await the next Chesapeake Bay Bowl, encourage your students to learn about the many problems facing our nation’s largest estuary on the Chesapeake Bay Program website.

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Nick DiPasquale is the Director of the Chesapeake Bay Program. Nick has nearly 30 years of public policy and environmental management experience in both the public and private sectors. He previously served as Deputy Secretary in the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Director of the Environmental Management Center for the Brandywine Conservancy in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, and as Secretary of the Delaware Department of Natural Resource and Environmental Control.

What’s the State of YOUR School?

May 6th, 2013 by Jenny Wiedower

Key takeaways from Center for Green Schools 2013 State of our Schools Report

If you’re lucky, you spend your days at a school that has clean air, bright daylit classrooms and is a comfortable and pleasant place to be. If you do, you’re also in the minority. Far too many Americans learn and work in schools with crumbling facilities that negatively impact the health, safety and performance of its students, teachers and staff.

A report released in March by the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council estimates that $271 billion is needed to bring public schools in the United States up to working order and comply with the laws. That’s $5,450 for every of the nearly 100,000 public school students in the U.S. Adding modernization to this bill to meet the basic needs of students and teachers brings the total up to $542 billion.

These estimates are “best guesses” and are possibly on the low end; the report calls attention to the fact that it has been 18 years since the federal government conducted a comprehensive study of the condition of our nation’s public school facilities. The 1995 study revealed that an estimated 15,000 schools had air that was unfit to breathe! With the majority of schools still in use nearly two decades later, we aren’t optimistic that that number has decreased. The 5-page report explores the impact of school facilities on student behavior, health, education and communities.

The 2013 State of our Schools report, which features an inspiring introduction from President Bill Clinton, brings to light the fact that we are lacking critical data that allows us to address the safety, health, education and environmental challenges of our public school facilities. Better understanding would allow us to not only demonstrate that green schools can bring significant benefits to school and district facilities, but prove that we can invest school’s limited resources more efficiently, effectively and equitably.

Educators can support our efforts by raising awareness about the impact that the conditions of school facilities have on student performance and health. Join a local Green School Committee, work on the ground to improve community schools through our Green Apple Day of Service, earn a Green Classroom Professional Certificate, or connect with your local legislator on these important issues.

This isn’t a conversation about better buildings, it’s a conversation about delivering better education to our students, and ensuring that the places where they learn don’t make them sick, or in other ways jeopardize their future.

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Jenny Wiedower is K12 Manager with the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council.

Maryland Public Television celebrates Chesapeake Bay Week

April 17th, 2013 by Catherine Krikstan

The annual programming initiative will explore issues facing the watershed.

Image courtesy Maryland Sea Grant.

Maryland Public Television (MPT) will celebrate the nation’s largest estuary with a week of Chesapeake Bay-related programming, to begin on Sunday, April 21.

During Chesapeake Bay Week, a dozen programs will explore some of the most pressing issues facing the watershed, from the future of the agriculture and seafood industries to the health of iconic critters and waterways. An hour-long special called “Who Killed Crassostrea virginica?” will take a look at the demise of the Bay’s native oyster, while a 30-minute program called “The Last Boat Out” will follow a family of Virginia watermen as they question staying in the business of seafood harvesting.

Bay history, too, will be part of the annual event: “Black Captains of the Chesapeake” will highlight African Americans who have captained on the Bay, while “Growing Up on Tilghman” will explore what it was like to grow up in this quiet watermen’s community on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

“There is really rich content within these shows,” said Betsy Peisach, MPT’s managing director for education marketing and outreach. Peisach encourages teachers, in particular, to bring these programs into their classrooms where possible. And for those who teach middle-school science, MPT has developed an online interactive that allows students to explore the Bay, whether it is through a virtual tour of the Bay’s varied ecosystems or an online cinema that features clips from Outdoors Maryland.

MPT will wrap up Chesapeake Bay Week with a concert and volunteer-a-thon to connect viewers with volunteer opportunities across the watershed.

The Chesapeake Bay Program is a sponsor of Chesapeake Bay Week this year. Learn more.

This content originally appeared on ChesapeakeBay.net

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Catherine Krikstan is a web writer and social media specialist at the Chesapeake Bay Program.

Taking Tech Outdoors for EE Week April 14-20, 2013

April 8th, 2013 by Sarah Kozicki

Research indicates that 77% of teachers believe using technology in the classroom increases student motivation to learn, while 75% of 1,900 surveyed educators said students who spend regular time outdoors tend to be more creative and better problem-solvers. Click the image to view the complete, downloadable infographic, Tech & Our Planet, for more stats!

As the weather begins to warm, thoughts turn to outdoor activities. Fortunately, there are many ways to take classroom learning outdoors – sometimes in unexpected ways.

Join National Environmental Education Week (EE Week) for Greening STEM: Taking Technology Outdoors, April 14-20, 2013 and explore how technology can enhance environmental learning both inside and outside the classroom.  Hosted by the National Environmental Education Foundation, EE Week is the nation’s largest celebration of environmental education held each year the week before Earth Day and inspires environmental learning and stewardship.

In 2012, EE Week kicked off a multi-year Greening STEM initiative on the important role the environment plays in engaging students in STEM learning and helping them solve 21st century challenges.  The environment provides a gateway to STEM learning through hands-on, real-world projects on topics like energy efficiency and resource conservation that incorporate all four pillars of STEM. For instance, David Munson, Education Director at Project Noah noted that digital tools and other technologies can draw students “into the landscape – into their communities – and can provide an important bridge between the familiarity of the digital world and the discoveries that wait for them in nature.”

Research indicates that 77% of teachers believe using technology in the classroom increases student motivation to learn, while 75% of 1,900 surveyed educators said students who spend regular time outdoors tend to be more creative and better problem-solvers.

Coming up for EE Week

Stay tuned for details about an upcoming EE Week Google+ Hangout which will provide teachers and students from around the country the opportunity to go behind the scenes with meteorologist Dan Satterfield for an interactive presentation on how cutting-edge technologies are being utilized to forecast and understand wild weather. This EE Week offering will be part of a series of biweekly Google+ Hangouts with scientists leading up to Google’s third annual Science Fair.

Educators around the country are encouraged to register free and explore how today’s technology can enhance environmental learning and develop 21st century skills in creativity, innovation, communication and collaboration.

Connect with EE Week on Facebook and Twitter to stay posted.

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Sarah Kozicki is an Education Program Coordinator for National Environmental Education Week.

Tree Frogs, Pocket Gophers and Bears – Discover the Wild World of Trees!

March 11th, 2013 by Eliza Russell

Poster

National Wildlife Federation is celebrating 75 years of National Wildlife Week March 18-24.  This year we are “Branching Out for Wildlife” – examining trees and wildlife that depend on trees.  Take a moment to explore the wealth of information and resources we have at www.nwf.org/wildlifeweek.

Explore over 40 different species from trees that live for thousands of years to fish that live in trees and voles that spend their entire lives living high up in a tree. Download wildlife trading cards and games to test your student’s knowledge.   Create a stunning display in your classroom or measure yourself or students against a mega poster of a tree.  Challenge your students to make a difference at their school or in their backyards by planting a tree that they can nurture.  We can help you get trees and provide you with a how-to guide for planting and caring for them. Help us to reach our goal of planting 75,000 trees!

Join the adventure!  Take your students on a daily exploration of the wild and wonderful world of trees and the wildlife (including us) that depend on them.   Just think of all the amazing things we get from trees in addition to the air we breathe — paper and pencils fruit and nuts, wooden furniture and even buildings!  In these ways we all touch a tree more than 30 times every day.

For more information about the resources, lesson plans, and activities the National Wildlife Federation is providing in support of National Wildlife Week, visit:

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Eliza Russell is the Director of Education at National Wildlife Federation.

What’s on Tap for EE Week 2013

March 7th, 2013 by Sarah Kozicki

Photo Credit: David Munson

Hosted by NEEF, EE Week is the nation’s largest celebration of environmental education held each year the week before Earth Day and inspires environmental learning and stewardship among K-12 students. The 2013 theme, Greening STEM: Taking Technology Outdoors, will explore how technology can enhance environmental learning both inside and outside the classroom

EE Week will highlight the growing opportunity to engage today’s students in learning about the environment with new technologies that enable scientific research and develop 21st century skills, including creativity, innovation, communication and collaboration.

Among EE Week’s offerings for K-12 educators this year are a series of webinars:

  • On March 13 at 7:00 p.m. ET, join National Geographic Education and Esri to explore tech tools that engage students in citizen science projects and connect them with their local communities.
  • Then on April 3 at 7:00 p.m. ET, join EE Week and Green Teacher to learn how the Island Institute is turning student engagement with technology tools and media into a powerful venue for learning about their environment.

Google+ Hangout

And stay tuned for more details about how teachers and students can go behind the scenes with a scientist who is utilizing cutting-edge technologies to support environmental work in an upcoming EE Week Google+ Hangout. This is slated to be part of a series of biweekly Google+ Hangouts with renowned scientists leading up to Google’s third annual Science Fair.

Register for EE Week now to take advantage of these learning opportunities. There is no cost to register and participate in EE Week.

In addition to webinars, educators who register for EE Week 2013 will be able to take advantage of:

  • A free educator toolkit including tech tools, educational resources and suggested activities for engaging students in Greening STEM learning outdoors.
  • Case studies of technology in action and the educators and programs using it to enhance environmental and STEM learning and achievement in core subject areas.
  • Discounts, giveaways and special offers from our partners on environmental education tools, resources and professional development.

Stay tuned as more offerings become available. Visit www.eeweek.org/greening_stem to learn more or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

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Sarah Kozicki is an Education Program Coordinator for National Environmental Education Week.

Chesapeake Conservation Corps

March 4th, 2013 by Tara Baker

Chesapeake Conservation Corps volunteers

In 2010, the Maryland Legislature established the Chesapeake Conservation Corps Program to promote and sustain the environment by providing young adults with opportunities to gain career skills and become more engaged through meaningful community service in the fields of environmental restoration, sustainable agriculture, energy conservation, forestry and environmental education.  This leadership program, supported by the Trust, Constellation Energy, and the state of Maryland, matches young adults with organizations throughout the state for paid, fulltime, one-year term of service.  Individuals must be between the ages of 18 and 25 years at the time of enrollment. Corps Volunteers will receive an annual stipend of $15,500 plus health insurance, administered by the Trust. The purpose of the Corps Program is two-fold:  the first is for stipend Volunteers to work with Host Organizations and communities throughout Maryland to implement on-the-ground restoration and energy conservation projects. The second is to provide leadership and training opportunities for young adults pursuing environmental and conservation careers.

The Chesapeake Bay Trust is proud to announce the fourth year of solicitations for Volunteer Applications for the 2013-14 Chesapeake Conservation Corps. The Corps Program has grown from 16 Volunteers in its inaugural year to 21 in its second year to now 26 exceptional young people in year three who will gain valuable work experience and partner with local communities to advance conservation initiatives in Maryland by working on energy efficiency programs, restoration activities and neighborhood clean-ups, water quality monitoring programs, reforestation projects, job training programs for youth and so on. Even more, almost 30% of all program participants have been hired by their host organizations, which illustrates that the program not only creates employment opportunities but also increases the capacity of participating organizations to further their environmental missions.  Additionally, the program has a 100% retention rate – not a single volunteer has ever left the program early with the exception of those hired on mid-service term by their host organizations.

The Corps Program provides service-learning opportunities and green job preparation for young adults through multiple trainings, a capstone project, grant writing, site visits at other Host sites and attending the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Forum. Corps volunteers are also involved in a variety of activities and projects, including promoting, preserving, and protecting local streams, rivers, the Bay, and Maryland’s other natural resources; working with communities to promote energy conservation and mitigate threats to the environment; pursuing leadership opportunities that will advance environmental and conservation careers; obtaining training for careers that will be part of the emerging green economy; and educating and training communities about the long-term actions needed to promote, preserve, protect, and sustain the environment. One of the beauties of this Program is that each position at each Host each year is different. As a result, you can have one Volunteer out on a kayak performing water quality monitoring, another leading an energy conservation campaign or another working on a sustainable farm. Still the entire group is intertwined and visiting each other’s sites, attending each other’s events and always networking.

The Host Application Deadline has just passed and as a result any interested potential Volunteer Applicant can review the submitted Host applications to learn more about the organization and the position they are offering. After the April 19th deadline Volunteer and Host Applicants will begin to contact and connect with each other to determine their top picks. In June both Volunteer and Host Applicants will submit a ranking sheet of their top 5 which will be an important factor in determining who his matched and with whom. One can view all of the submitted Host Applications on our website.

Please click here to download the application. All applications must be RECEIVED by 5pm on April 19, 2013.

For any questions about becoming a Host Organization or about the Chesapeake Conservation Corps, contact Tara Baker, 410-974-2941, ext. 102.

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Tara Baker is a Program Coordinator at the Chesapeake Bay Trust.

Do Your Students Know What They Can Do To Reclaim the Bay?

February 25th, 2013 by Samantha Kappalman

Getting young students excited about what they and their families can do to “Reclaim the Bay” is the goal behind the Maryland Department of the Environment’s first Earth Day poster contest. K-through-8 students are encouraged to submit an entry that depicts what Marylanders can do to help restore the Chesapeake Bay.

Whether it is through Curriculum Extension Units, after-school programs or in science classes, we want to get the word out to our next generation of environmental advocates that Maryland is a leader in the Bay watershed’s restoration efforts. But we can’t do it at the State and local government levels alone. We need everyone to get involved in restoring the Bay.

We’ve put together a fun animation that can be shown in class or watched at home about the 10 things that everyone can do to help “Reclaim the Bay.” This poster contest is our way of having students show us what they think is the most important aspect of our Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts.

Many factors contribute to the degradation of our waterways. By making better choices we can continue to build upon the progress for a healthier Bay.

Thirty years ago, we began the first phase of the Chesapeake Bay restoration when Governor Hughes introduced a legislative package of 38 “Bay Initiatives.” These programs included strengthening existing sediment and erosion controls and creating the Critical Area Program, which designated areas for development and conservation.

From those beginnings to our current Watershed Implementation Plan to meet the requirements of the federal Clean Water Act, Maryland has worked with our inter-state Bay Program partners and our county and municipal governments to take the necessary steps to reduce pollution and restore the Bay. We are making great strides through this ongoing collaboration, but there is still more hard work to do if we are to succeed.

We hope that you can help us get the word out to students in K-8 – not only about this exciting opportunity, but also about the importance of doing what ever they can around their homes and neighborhoods to help with Bay restoration.

The deadline for contest submissions is Monday, April 8, 2013. Winners will be announced at a special event during Earth Week.

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Samantha Kappalman is Director of Communications & Digital Strategy at the Maryland Department of the Environment.

Make Your Local Birds Count Through the Great Backyard Bird Count

February 13th, 2013 by Zach Slavin

Blue Jay, by Linda Pizer, 2012 GBBC Participant

The 16th annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) will take place Friday, February 15th through Monday, February 18th. A joint project from Audubon, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and Canadian partner, Bird Studies Canada, this citizen science project is a great way to learn about your local birds and connect with nature while contributing valuable data to scientists and conservationists. Participants are asked to count the birds that they recognize for as little as fifteen minutes on one or more days of the count, and then submit their observations online at www.birdcount.org.You can count in your backyard, at school, at a local park—absolutely anywhere you can find birds.

The GBBC is a great opportunity for educators to introduce new audiences to the study of birds because we ask that participants only report the bird species that they are able to identify. With a bevy of educational and instructional resources available on the program website, you can share a PowerPoint presentation on how to participate, distribute simple participation instructions, and acquaint your audience with some of the most commonly reported birds. You can also download a data form on which to record your observations, and even get a printable checklist of the birds you are most likely to see in your area.

Teachers can participate with their classes in a number of ways. After introducing your class to a few species of birds, you can head out on one of the days of the count to tally the birds found around your school and then submit your results online. With older students, you can explain how to participate, review some basic bird identification, and then have students count in their backyards, or even out their windows! Those interested in photography should also be sure to bring their cameras along and submit their photos of birds (and birders) taken during the count to our annual GBBC photo contest. You can check out some of the last year’s winning photos for inspiration.

After the count, you can explore what has been reported in your area, and for the first time ever, view results from all around the world. So please, join us in this year’s Great Backyard Bird Count, and make your local birds count!

Please contact us at citizenscience@audubon.org for more information.

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Zach Slavin is a Program Associate at the National Audubon Society.

Seeking Host Organizations for Chesapeake Conservation Corps Volunteers

February 11th, 2013 by Tara Baker

Corps Volunteers staying clean at the Karen Noonan Center

In 2010, the Maryland Legislature established the Chesapeake Conservation Corps Program to promote and sustain the environment by providing young adults with opportunities to gain career skills and become more engaged through meaningful community service.  This leadership program, supported by the Trust, Constellation Energy, and the state of Maryland, matches young adults with organizations throughout the state for paid, fulltime, one-year term of service.  Individuals must be between the ages of 18 and 25 years at the time of enrollment. Corps Volunteers will receive stipends of $15,500 per year plus health insurance, administered by the Trust. The purpose of the Corps Program is two-fold:  the first is for stipend Volunteers to work with Host Organizations and communities throughout Maryland to implement on-the-ground restoration and energy conservation projects. The second is to provide leadership and training opportunities for young adults pursuing environmental and conservation careers.

The Chesapeake Bay Trust is proud to announce the fourth year of solicitations for Host Organizations for the 2013-14 Chesapeake Conservation Corps with a February 22nd deadline. The Volunteer Application will be launched on February 25th. In its inaugural year, 16 Corps volunteers worked on a variety of environmental initiatives including energy efficiency programs, restoration activities and neighborhood clean-ups, water quality monitoring programs, reforestation projects and job training programs for youth. The program expanded to 21 participants its second year, and now includes 26 exceptional young people in year three who will gain valuable work experience and partner with local communities to advance conservation initiatives in Maryland. For the fourth year, the Trust anticipates placing 20-25 Corps Volunteers in Host Organizations throughout Maryland with service to begin August 27, 2013. Almost 30 percent of all program participants have been hired by their host organizations, which illustrates that the program not only creates employment opportunities but also increases the capacity of participating organizations to further their environmental missions.  Additionally, the program has a 100% retention rate – not a single volunteer has ever left the program early with the exception of those hired on mid-service term by their host organizations.

The Corps Program provides service-learning opportunities and green job training for young people through environmental and energy conservation projects including their mandatory capstone project. Corps volunteers have been involved in a variety of types of activities, including promoting, preserving, and protecting local streams, rivers, the Bay, and Maryland’s other natural resources; working with communities to promote energy conservation and mitigate threats to the environment; pursuing leadership opportunities that will advance environmental and conservation careers; obtaining training for careers that will be part of the emerging green economy; and educating and training communities about the long-term actions needed to promote, preserve, protect, and sustain the environment. One of the beauties of this Program is that each position at each Host each year is different. As a result, you can have one Volunteer out on a kayak doing water quality monitoring and then another working on reforestation at a number of sites and another leading field experiences with kids. Still the entire group is intertwined and visiting each other’s sites, attending each other’s events and always networking.

Applications to serve as Host Organizations will include proposed scopes of work, and potential Host Organizations may suggest a wide range of activities to be undertaken by the Corps Volunteer in the fields of environmental restoration, energy conservation, sustainable agriculture and forestry, and/or K-12 environmental education.

Please click here to download the application. All applications must be RECEIVED by 5pm on February 22, 2013.

For any questions about becoming a Host Organization or about the Chesapeake Conservation Corps, contact Tara Baker, 410-974-2941, ext. 102.

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Tara Baker is a Program Coordinator at the Chesapeake Bay Trust.
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