Eco Notes

Envision the Choptank Releases New Agricultural Incentive Programs for Healthy Rivers

August 1, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Envision the Choptank is a partnership that works to find collaborative solutions to restore fishable, swimmable waters to the Choptank River while working to meet the needs of local communities. With support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Envision the Choptank is offering incentive money to farmers to accelerate the implementation of clean water practices in the Choptank River watershed. These practices include wetlands, grass and forested buffers, and bioreactors. The incentives are designed to thwart common barriers to implementation by providing more flexible payments, opportunities to reduce wait-times, assistance with landowner costs associated with federal and state cost-share programs, and options to install practices outside of cost-share programs.

The grass buffer program provides a flexible width option (10-50 feet), no mowing restrictions, and a shorter time commitment (three years). Participants receive $900 – $1,300 per acre. This program offers a great opportunity for landowners to try out a buffer before having to make a long-term commitment with a cost-share program.

The forested buffer program is similar to state and federal programs but expands the opportunity to include upland farm areas that are no longer operational due to the installation of other conservation practices, irrigation challenges, or the squaring-off of fields. Participants receive $2,000 per acre.

Grass buffer along a stream in an agricultural field.

The wetland restoration program offers $3,000 per acre to use flexibly to accommodate landowner needs. Funds can cover an engineering design that helps expedite the project through the Soil Conservation District process. Alternatively, funds can offset the landowner portion of state or federal cost-share programs. And finally, funds can support both design and construction if cost-share programs are not being used.

Bioreactors are now an approved cost-share practice through the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share (MACS) Program. To further incentivize this farm- and water-friendly practice, Envision is offering to cover the landowner portion of the cost-share, or 12.5% of the total cost.

Agricultural landowners with property in the Choptank River watershed and an interest in grass or tree buffers, wetland restoration, or bioreactors, may be eligible for these incentives. Areas within the Choptank River watershed include portions of Dorchester, Caroline, Talbot, and Queen Anne’s County, Maryland, and Kent County, Delaware. For more information, contact Whitley Gray at wgray@shorerivers.org or 443.385.0511 ext. 202.

ShoreRivers protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

shorerivers.org

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ShoreRivers Developing Modern Stormwater Plan for Historic Chestertown

July 26, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Polluted runoff from rain events, also known as stormwater, has the potential to devastate local water quality in the Chesapeake region, including right here in Chestertown. ShoreRivers, in partnership with Washington College and with generous grant funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), is developing a Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan for the Town of Chestertown to improve the health of the Chester River.

When completed this fall, the plan will include an evaluation of existing stormwater infrastructure as well as recommendations for new environmentally-friendly stormwater features such as rain gardens, tree plantings, impervious surface reductions, and habitat creation areas. Through uptake by plants and infiltration, these features reduce and remove pollution from stormwater runoff.

The final plan will also include an online mapping tool, developed with cutting-edge Geographic Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology that identifies existing and proposed stormwater features.

“We’re really excited to play a role in establishing Chestertown as a leader in water quality and environmental improvement efforts,” said ShoreRivers Chester Riverkeeper Tim Trumbauer. “Not only will the recommendations of this plan help the Chester River, but modern stormwater upgrades like rain gardens create native habitat for birds and pollinators, and beautify our public spaces.”

ShoreRivers restoration specialist Josh Biddle inventories stormwater infrastructure at the Chestertown Marina using GPS and GIS technology.

Further complicating the issue, historic Chestertown’s existing stormwater infrastructure is, well, historic. With the exception of modern stormwater facilities in newer areas of town and the step pool system near Kent Plaza, Chestertown’s stormwater system was developed simply to control flooding and does little to improve water quality.

According to data from the Chesapeake Bay Program, stormwater is the fastest growing source of pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. The list of impairments created by stormwater is long: nutrient and sediment pollution, trash, super-heated water from parking lots, erosion and soil loss, to name a few.

According to Mayor Chris Cerino, ShoreRivers’ project supports the Town’s commitment to the river. “This stormwater plan is an important step forward in Chestertown’s ongoing effort to reduce impervious surfaces and improve water quality.”

All plan documents, including online mapping resources, will be available to the public, and ShoreRivers will work with the Town and other partners to implement the recommendations of the plan over the coming years.

Questions, concerns, or ideas about stormwater in Chestertown may be sent to Chester Riverkeeper Tim Trumbauer at ttrumbauer@shorerivers.org.

ShoreRivers is a not-for-profit organization that protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

shorerivers.org

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ShoreRivers Hires Environmental Engineer to Meet Pollution Reduction Goals

July 23, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

ShoreRivers is excited to announce the addition of William Ryall, a licensed professional environmental engineer, to its staff. This position will enable ShoreRivers to prepare in-house engineered designs for projects, thereby streamlining the restoration process and getting more projects in the ground to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution to our rivers and the Chesapeake Bay.

Ryall comes with over ten years’ experience in environmental engineering and specializes in designing stormwater retrofits, wetland and stream restoration, and shoreline erosion control. He will also design conservation drainage practices on farmland, such as denitrifying bioreactors, saturated buffers, drainage management, and structures for water control.

Environmental Engineer William Ryall

ShoreRivers is pleased to add this specific expertise to their suite of professional staff. “Environmental engineering services have become a choke point for installing practices on the Eastern Shore,” says Executive Director Jeff Horstman. “Due to a combination of factors, the professional technical services required to meet Bay cleanup goals simply do not exist on the Eastern Shore. ShoreRivers is excited to pilot this innovative public/private partnership to bring this needed service to the region so we can put more projects on our land to filter water.”

The Maryland Watershed Implementation Plan requires a significant increase in pollution-reducing project installations by 2025 to meet federally-mandated Chesapeake Bay restoration goals. The Eastern Shore of Maryland is a priority area: 32% of the State’s nitrogen reductions will come from the agricultural sector on the Eastern Shore basin. Therefore, it is imperative that experienced technical staff are available to design agricultural projects.

The creation of this position was possible through support from The Keith Campbell Foundation and in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Maryland Department of Agriculture, and local Soil Conservation Districts.

ShoreRivers protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

shorerivers.org

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ShoreRivers Launches Trash-Free Campaign

July 18, 2020 by Spy Desk 1 Comment

Join the Trash-Free ShoreRivers Campaign to clean up our waterways. From now until September, ShoreRivers will provide supplies (including trash bags and work gloves)and limited edition stickers for clean water advocates who clean up trash from their local public spaces and then send us photos of their efforts for social media shout‑outs. This campaign is a great segue into the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s Project Clean Stream program,a Bay-wide effort to clean up trash, which kicks off September 11.

A recent Google Community Mobility Study showed that public spaces in Maryland have seen a 144% increase in visitation since this time last year. Our communities have suffered during this pandemic, and now look to the energizing and healing power of nature for physical and mental relief. ShoreRivers is proud to see our community taking a common interest in our waterways. Unfortunately, increased park visitation often results in increased litter, which ultimately ends up in our rivers.

“Every morning I take a pair of grabbers and some trash bags, and head down to my local park with my dog Rogue,”says ShoreRivers Choptank Riverkeeper & Director of Riverkeeper Programs Matt Pluta. “There is something empowering about taking ownership of a public space, and being outside and doing good for the environment has lifted my spirits. I hope the rest of our community follows suit in picking up trash to keep our rivers and shared spaces clean.”

Staff members and volunteers from the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum collected trash during the 2019 Project Clean Stream.

To join the Trash-Free campaign, head down to your local park or public space, pick up trash,take a photo, and post on your social media accounts with the hashtag #trashfreeshorerivers—it’s as simple as that! ShoreRivers will also post participants’ photos to help promote cleaning up our parks and waterways. Supplies are available for pickup by appointment at ShoreRivers’ offices in either Easton or Chestertown. Please contact Connor Liu at cliu@shorerivers.org with photos and/or questions about clean-up supplies. Once you have sent a photo of your picking up trash pick-up, you will receive your limited edition sticker!

Trash-Free ShoreRivers is an extension of the Don’t Paddle Past It campaign, a litter cleanup and outreach program that encourages boaters to stop littering and to pick up trash in the water or along the shoreline. These campaigns are made possible by a grant through The Maryland Environmental Trust in partnership with the Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Forever Maryland Foundation.

While participating in this campaign, ShoreRivers recommends strict adherence to social distancing guidelines and health safety protocols, including the use of gloves, masks, and hand sanitizer before, during, and after trash cleanups. ShoreRivers is committed to healthy waterways across Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and we appreciate our supporters’ participation in this campaign to prevent trash from ending up in our local rivers.

ShoreRivers protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

shorerivers.org

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Pickering Creek Audubon Center Programs Adapt to Meet the Need!

July 15, 2020 by Pickering Creek Audubon Center Leave a Comment

Spring student field experiences at Pickering Creek Audubon Center may have come to a grinding halt this past March thanks to the health pandemic, but it didn’t mean students weren’t still being connected to the outdoors and in-depth science investigations with Pickering Creek’s help. As schools closed, the four full time Pickering Creek staff and their three seasonal educators quickly shifted gears as the landscape for students evolved through April and May. Ultimately the Center worked in partnership with science supervisors and teachers in Caroline, Talbot and Wicomico Counties to create substantial “learn from home” materials for students. In most school systems, students received 2-4 weeks worth of materials at a time, and Pickering provided intact units that covered science content being offered by schools during one of those multi week periods. Science content provided by the Center refreshed students on experiences and materials already covered earlier in the year with Pickering Creek about birds, habitat and the Chesapeake Bay. With materials provided by the Center in consultation with teachers, students learned about specific issues relating to the health of our environment for both birds and the Bay even while schooling at home.

As an example, high school students in Caroline County explored the driving question, “How have humans impacted habitat health in the Chesapeake Bay watershed?” Students considered the schoolyard inventory they had conducted during the winter and research they had conducted while school was still being conducted in person through mid March. They then read about conservation success stories provided by the Center, where communities understood a conservation issue and took action to address the situation. Next, students explored why scientists collect data and collected data of their own about habitat in their yard or neighborhood.

Exploration of nature for all continues at Pickering Creek.

Based on the data collected, students then reviewed a selection of at home actions they could take and chose one that they felt they could implement. These actions included, making a poster about the conservation issue, writing a letter to someone who can make a difference, or making a household policy that would have a positive impact. Each action option provided detailed guidance on how to complete the process and think through the information the student may want to highlight and share. The effort concludes with reflection on the project encouraging the student to consider what they liked about the project, what was hardest and advice they would give future students participating in the program. One exemplary student project was a poster for her community that identified invasive plants that should be avoided and great native plants that can be used in their place to make a yard beautiful and help pollinators like monarch butterflies. Brian, a middle school teacher captures the program’s impact well, “ Working through the project with my students has ultimately brought us to a deeper level of realism when it comes to our direct impact on wildlife in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The way each lesson and project was designed provided my students with confidence in their own voice; even to the point of empowering many to go above and beyond school requirements and act as the “driving force of change” throughout their own communities. Thank you so much for helping us access that power within, and for the steadfast support you’ve provided us throughout the school year.”

Since early April, Pickering Creek Audubon Center has also been offering online programming for adults about various topics including shorebird and raptor identification, using native plants to benefit wildlife, and listening and understanding bird language. Attendance at these online offerings has been robust with over 100 households participating in some of the programs. Kids have also enjoyed online story times, exploration of turtles, tracks and traces of mammals and the very popular kids “draw along.” This summer in lieu of the ever popular EcoCamp, Pickering is hosting “EcoCamp at Home” which includes a collection of materials to help young naturalists explore their own yards, online meet-ups and special opportunities to visit Pickering for a family exploration activity. Spaces are still available.

In addition to local programming for the Eastern Shore community, Pickering staff was also able to contribute to the nationally distributed Audubon for Kids website, sharing engaging materials on climate and how it effects birds. Pickering Director Mark Scallion says, “While we can’t wait to have students back outside at the Center, we are pleased by the materials we’ve continued to be able to bring to our community to help make sure everyone is still connected to birds nature and the outdoors around them.”

At home nature activities and a list of upcoming online programs can be found on Pickering Creek’s website: www.pickeringcreek.org. The Center’s trails are open daily through the summer from 7am-7pm and feature over four miles of paths through meadows, wetlands, forest and along tidal Pickering Creek.

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Adkins Arboretum Releases Field Guide Series, Virtual Education Materials

July 12, 2020 by Adkins Arboretum Leave a Comment

Want to learn more about native trees and plants? Adkins Arboretum has released a series of family-friendly field guides as an introduction to some of the more than 600 species of native shrubs, trees, wildflowers, ferns, grasses and vines found on the Arboretum site.

While the Arboretum’s public education programs are on hold due to safer-at-home advisories, grounds are open daily for exploring. The new Adkins Field Guides provide a helpful starting point for exploring the natural world or introducing a young naturalist to the wonders of the wild.

Each guide includes a video and printable support activities with select points of identification and examples of each species’ ecological benefits and cultural significance. All allow ample opportunity for exploration. Currently, guides are available for American beech, paw paw, shining sumac and white oak.

The field guide series was produced by Schoolhouse Farmhouse of Cordova and was made possible through generous funding by the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority and Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area. Music for the first four guides was performed by National Music Festival musicians during the Arboretum’s 2019 Forest Music program. The bassoon composition, titled “Arboretum,” was written by Brad Balliett specifically for this performance.

The Adkins Field Guides comprise just one of several initiatives to make outdoor education accessible, both to those who visit the grounds in person and those who visit online. Each Thursday, staff release a new, family-friendly “Take It With You!” activity that visitors can use to add an extra layer of fun and adventure to their walks at the Arboretum. Visitors can download a PDF or simply snap a photo of the activity with their phones. A paper copy is posted on the back door of the Visitor’s Center, along with other information to keep members and friends up to date.

Sylvan Kaufman, the Arboretum’s science advisor and the principal of Sylvan Green Earth Consulting, has developed a series of short education videos about the natural history of some of the plants on the Arboretum grounds. Each video is packed with information on identification, plant-animal interactions and some human uses for the plant. In addition, monthly “What’s in Bloom?” guides, information for birders, and the Arboretum’s recently revamped Native Plant Database provide valuable resources for exploring nature at Adkins and beyond.

The Adkins Field Guides and all other virtual resources are available at adkinsarboretum.org.

Adkins Arboretum is a 400-acre native garden and preserve at the headwaters of the Tuckahoe Creek in Caroline County. For more information, visit adkinsarboretum.org or call 410-634-2847, ext. 0.

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Research Team Receives $10M to Transform Shellfish Farming with Smart Technology

July 1, 2020 by University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Leave a Comment

University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) researcher Matt Gray and a group of University of Maryland researchers and institutions throughout the U.S. received a $10 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to bring advanced technology to the domestic shellfish aquaculture industry, with a specific focus on improving bottom-culture of oysters. The five-year project seeks to develop an autonomous underwater vehicle that can help with management of crops, improve understanding of lease conditions, and do all of this will having a low environmental impact.

Matt Gray

“We believe oyster crops could be better managed and tracked with underwater vehicles equipped with sensors that also have environmental sensing capabilities,” said Matt Gray, an ecophysiologist working on sustainable fisheries at UMCES’ Horn Point Laboratory in Cambridge, Maryland. “This might sound far-fetched until one learns about how terrestrial farmers can track crop growth and harvest crops while they are far from the field using satellites and computer-controlled tractors.”

Oysters have a long and treasured history in the Chesapeake Bay region, and the aquaculture industry is growing rapidly in Maryland. Gray’s role in this project is to help understand how technology can improve production, as well as explore how technology makes production more ecologically sustainable or even beneficial to the environment. At the Horn Point Laboratory, his work is to broaden the base of knowledge and provide relevant information to help inform stakeholder, management, and policy in Maryland and elsewhere.

“While the wild fisheries are at historic lows, the aquaculture industry is growing rapidly in Maryland and there is a lot of excitement and interest in seeing it grow. Oysters, including those being grown in farms, improve the environment, so the expansion of the industry will also benefit the Bay’s health,” said Gray.

The team, led by Professor Miao Yu of UMD’s A. James Clark School of Engineering, will develop novel technologies and a sustainable management framework to help farmers tap the economic potential and environmental benefits of shellfish aquaculture, which until now has been bottlenecked by outdated tools and methods.

“Aquaculture of shellfish such as oysters, mussels, and scallops provides a sustainable, environmentally beneficial source of high-protein food, as well a way to grow the economy in rural coastal areas,” said Yu, who will lead the multi-institutional team of engineers, biologists, computer scientists, economists, and educators. “Up to this point, we haven’t really explored this industry’s potential because it still relies on antiquated technologies—in some cases, tools that go back hundreds of years.

“By developing and incorporating advanced technologies into shellfish farming, including the use of underwater drone monitoring and smart harvesting, we can bring about a major boost in production,” Yu said.

Aquaculture of shellfish is perhaps the most ecologically sustainable form of aquaculture, as well as an important driver of coastal economy. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has ranked the U.S. high for potential industry growth of this high-quality and nutritious protein source, but the industry lacks the basic technological advancement found in today’s digital, automated world.

Along with improving the efficiency of aquaculture industries, increasing technological advancements can be beneficial to wild fish populations and the continuing effort to increase the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

“Oysters—including those being grown in farms—improve the environment, so the expansion of the industry will also benefit the Chesapeake Bay’s health,” said Gray. “We’re excited to see how technology can improve production while at the same time making that production more ecologically sustainable or even beneficial to the environment.”

“Drone-based technologies for crop surveying and early disease detection. Vision-guided crop cultivation. GPS-guided harvesting. These technologies exist for land agriculture; why shouldn’t they for shellfish aquaculture, too?” said Clark School Professor Yang Tao, a collaborator on the grant. “It’s a great opportunity for us to help the coastal communities of the U.S. and Maryland, including the Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf, and Chesapeake.”

Current practices and technologies used in shellfish farming have many shortcomings. For example, harvesting of bottom-culture shellfish relies on dredging, in which machinery drags a net across the bottom of an ocean, bay, or other body of water to scrape up and collect buried shellfish. The process is highly imprecise and can be ecologically catastrophic by damaging reefs, which are important habitats for oysters and other aquatic species.

By synthesizing recent advances in the fields of robotics, agricultural automation, computer vision, sensing and imaging, and artificial intelligence, the team will develop new, smart technologies and a management framework to help enhance productivity and profitability for both farmers and coastal economies while better protecting fragile aquatic ecosystems.

“In land agriculture, tractor operators use visual cues such as rows of crops to achieve precise harvesting; however, there are no geo-visual cues available for shellfish farmers. This, coupled with the inaccuracy of naval GPS, leads to disorganized and wasteful dredging paths,” said Tao. “A smart dredging process that incorporates available, modern technologies such as real-time, high-precision GPS, underwater imaging and sonar positioning, and advanced environmental sensing would help—and these are solutions within reach.”

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Horn Point Laboratory Offers “Bay 101” Virtual Seminars

June 26, 2020 by Horn Point Laboratory Leave a Comment

Every Wednesday from July 8 through August 5 from 5:00 to 5:30 pm you can join Horn Point Laboratory researchers and participate in a free, virtual seminar series about the science of the Chesapeake Bay. The thirty-minute programs will shed light into the mysteries of the Bay and highlight Horn Point programs working to improve the health of the Bay and its aquatic life. Questions and participation by all will be encouraged.

The Chesapeake Bay and its rivers are the lifeblood of the Eastern Shore, defining the region like no other water body in the world. While many easily recognize the natural beauty Bay country offers, the Horn Point Laboratory’s “Bay 101 – Science of the Chesapeake for Non-Scientists” will make the science of the Chesapeake Bay as accessible as its beauty.

Pour your favorite beverage, get comfortable, and dive in to science to see the Bay in a whole new way with Horn Point Lab’s – Bay 101.

To register, visit umces.edu/hpl or contact Carin Starr at cstarr@umces.edu.

Seminars include:

July 8: “Chesapeake Bay’s currents and winds for sailors and water enthusiasts” Bill Boicourt

Beneath the sometimes hard-to-predict tides of Chesapeake Bay are remarkably dynamic motions. We will explore this classic estuary and the forces that drive it.

July 15: “News on living shorelines to protect our waterfronts” Cindy Palinkas

Living shorelines are a more natural way to protect shorelines from erosion and provide valuable coastal habitat. Learn about what happens after they are installed, both at the shoreline and in adjacent waters.

July 22: “Bolstering the Maryland oyster aquaculture industry” Shannon Hood

Oyster aquaculture is a growing industry in Maryland, attracting people from diverse backgrounds. Learn about this industry which provides an opportunity to feed a growing population, while providing ecological benefits that can benefit all of us.

July 29: “Modeling: what it is and how it helps predict the future of the Chesapeake Bay” Kenny Rose

Many large-scale restoration projects rely heavily on computer simulation models to determine the best ways to restore the system and how progress will track in time. Learn the basics of these types of models and how they are used, using Chesapeake Bay as an example.

August 5: “Chesapeake Bay underwater grasses” Lorie Staver

Underwater grasses are an important component of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and an indicator of Bay health. Learn about what they are, why they matter, and about our role in their decline and recovery.”

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

The Horn Point Laboratory is part of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, the University System of Maryland’s environmental research institution. UMCES researchers are helping improve our scientific understanding of Maryland, the region and the world through five research centers – Chesapeake Biological Laboratory in Solomons, Appalachian Laboratory in Frostburg, Horn Point Laboratory in Cambridge, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology in Baltimore, and the Maryland Sea Grant College in College Park. www.umces.edu.

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Pickering Creek Audubon Center Launches EcoCamp from Home

June 25, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Camper George gathers creatures in his bucket.

With the coronavirus causing the cancellation of this year’s wildly popular EcoCamp at Pickering Creek Audubon Center in a traditional format this year, the Center is excited to present EcoCamp From Home! This program consists week long themed adventures over four weeks from mid July to mid August and gives your outdoor adventurer the guidance and inspiration they need to experience nature this summer the EcoCamp way! Campers will receive a kit with themed indoor and outdoor activities, a guided activity book and supplies to help them explore outdoors in their own backyards. Camp families will have the opportunity to continue learning with self-guided activities at Pickering Creek, and may safely borrow supplies and equipment at the 400 acre Center.

EcoCamp From Home’s flexible formatting allows families to adapt to their own schedules, and the wide range of activities included helps each camper engage with nature on their terms. Bi-weekly online meetings will provide social interaction, while campers learn about nature and science from Pickering educators and other guest scientists! It’s a great way for kids to have fun in this summer while connecting with the natural world. This summer program is designed to get kids outdoors for discovery in your own backyard, with adventures in learning that inspire a life-long curiosity in nature and science. Our fun, time-tested camp programs, adapted for home, spark curiosity and sharpen thinking skills through experimentation, exploration, art, community science and sharing our findings.

EcoCamp from Home begins with Backyard Bugs from July 13-17 and explores what kinds of bugs are in your backyard or nearby park. Kids will fill their nets with butterflies, beetles, and dragonflies, dig for worms and ants, and check plants for caterpillars! They will see how many bugs they can catch, learn how a bug sees, and improve habitats for bugs at home. The second week’s theme is Super Scientist from July 20-24 and focuses on learning how to hone investigative science skills. Campers will observe a seed beginning to germinate, extract DNA from a strawberry, survey wetlands at Pickering Creek or nearby their home and test their engineering skills. Science is all about asking questions about the world around you, and we have a lot of questions!

Week three features Habitat Heroes from July 27-31 and explores the question, “What makes a habitat thrive?” Campers will explore local habitats, learn how to tell if they’re healthy or not, and find out how you can help! Build a bird feeder for your yard, test the water at Pickering Creek or a stream near your home, and engineer your own bird’s nest at home. Campers will be heros to local animals and plants! The final week of EcoCamp from Home is entitled Night & Day from August 3-7. Campers learn how are early birds different than night owls and whether we have the same senses as bugs or bat. We’ll find out the answers to these questions during this week of daily and nightly games and experiments! Campers will test their senses to their limits, discover how animals sense their habitats, and learn how your own senses can make you a better nature explorer.

EcoCamp From Home activities are designed so that most campers can complete them on their own, however taking on the program as a family activity can be very rewarding and is welcome.

Each week’s themed kit contains an EcoCamp 2020 drawstring bag to keep your camper’s exploration supplies together, plus a wood cookie necklace for their nature names and containers for scooping, collecting, and earth moving. Additional supplies vary by week, including outdoor equipment (i.e. bug nets, kids binoculars), experimental setups (i.e. pipettes, test tubes), and crafts (i.e. pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks).

To learn more and register visit https://pickering.audubon.org/programs/ecocamp-home

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