News

Our first major volunteer day of the season was a huge success! The weather cooperated, and it turned out to be a beautiful day! CEC volunteers and staff were joined by enthusiastic volunteers including: nine students, principal Jeff Tillar, teachers Monica McDonald, Robert Scarborough, and Michael Adams, all from Adams Academy; four crew members from Greenskeeper Environmental; and seven Master Gardeners.

We got off to a great start with the Master Gardeners volunteers: Joyce Donlon, Susan Steele, Kim Morrow, Sandy Patterson, Bob Bates, Malcolm Doying, and Pat Shema. Master Gardeners divided up and worked with small groups of Adams Academy students. Activities included mulching the paths along the Forest Buffer, clearing cut grasses and weeds and mulching the Sweet Bay Magnolia Rain Garden, and planting grasses and mulching in the Biolog Rain Garden. The groups rotated between the different activities so that all had an opportunity to participate in each activity. Students had the opportunity to learn about the environmental amenities at their campus, and they enjoyed themselves…not to mention, they were a real help!

Additionally and fortunately, Jeff Schwartz, owner of Greenskeeper Environmental, joined us and donated services by having three staff from his crew help out by cutting and hauling grasses, weeding and mulching. (This is the same company that's done outstanding work on the major invasive species removal and reforestation on the grounds along the riparian forest buffer, covering over five acres of the ten-acre campus.)

Marilyn and Tim from Maryland Public Television filmed all of the various activities spread out over a large expanse in the front portion of the campus; and they conducted several filmed interviews. Volunteers that were filmed highlighted the Adams Academy/Chesapeake Ecology Center partnership; the value of Rain Gardens and other native plant installations; the RainScaping Campaign; and, of course, the tremendous value of volunteer assistance, for which we are very grateful! The 24 Native Plant Demonstration Gardens and Sites would not be possible without the tremendous assistance of numerous volunteers!

We thank Master Gardeners, Adams Academy students and staff, the Greenskeeper Environmental crew, CEC volunteers and staff, and of course Maryland Public Television!

Photos of the event are posted on Picasa at: http://picasaweb.google.com/zoralathan/4209CECVolunteerDayFilmedByMPT?authkey=Gv1sRgCNXt0tDPnpbp7gE#