May 2019 GVC Newsletter
Water/Ways Makes a Splash in Baltimore County
The  Historical Society of Baltimore County (HSBC)   will be the first of six Maryland sites to host  Water/Ways , a traveling Smithsonian Institution exhibition, brought to the state by the Maryland Humanities’ Museum on Main Street program.  Water/Ways  will be open to the public in the historic Almshouse in Cockeysville for six weeks, from  May 25 to July 6 during HSBC’s 60th anniversary year. 

The  Water/Ways  exhibition dives into water, exploring water’s effect on the landscape, settlement and migration, and its impact on culture and spirituality. The Maryland tour showcases the state’s unique water stories and history in locally-generated work. 

The GVC is excited to be one of 30+ Water/Ways partners that will augment the exhibition with water-related programming around Baltimore. Join us at our June 29 Rain Barrel workshop or July 6 Adopt-a-Stream Training at Cromwell Valley Park.

For more information about Water/Ways , visit: www.hsobc.org/waterways/
Cultivating Water and Garden Stewards at Our Lady of Mt Carmel
What does a ball of yarn, a bag of trash, and food dye have to do with the Chesapeake Bay? These were all educational tools used by Kolya Braun-Greiner of Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake to engage participants at our April 13th Kickoff Event for the Clear Creeks Bay-Wise Project at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School and Parish (OLMC) in Essex. Twenty seven OLMC members joined us to learn more about becoming an environmental steward. Volunteers participated in three hands-on and thought provoking activities:

  • "A Day Around the Bay" illustrated a boy's walk to and from school and the sources of pollution that he encounters

  • "Streams in the Wasteland" where teams had to sort trash items in order in which they biodegrade

  • "Web of Life" illustrated the interdependence of plants and animals native to the Chesapeake Bay
"... we can awaken to a simple truth, now that like the soil, water, and mountains , each of us is a caress of God experienced in the connections we make with all creation..." from Doug DeMeo's Pope Francis' Laudato Si - in spoken word
The take home message of these activities was further enhanced by the powerful words of Monsignor Bob Hartnett on what it means to preserve God's creation. Pastoral Associate Doug DeMeo gave a moving rendition of his poem, Pope Francis' Laudato Si - in spoken word . Po

OLMC students have already had a chance to dig in and become water and garden stewards! Middle and high school students participated in a native tree planting and Bayscape garden installation on campus. OLMC members are invited to join us on June 15 for our Water and Garden Keepers workshop , which will include hands-on garden maintenance tips.
Upcoming Calendar of Events
We're excited to announce a new volunteer opportunity with our Forest Steward workshops . Participants will learn how to identify invasive plants and how to remove them, and then install native plants in their place! Our Forest Stewards will be working at Bee Tree Preserve ( June 15th , June 29th ) and Gunpowder Falls State Park - Bunker Hill ( June 22nd , June 30th ). Each workshop can accommodate 30 volunteers, so make sure to spread the word!
Saturday May 25: Rain Barrel workshop
Saturday May 25: Tree Maintenance
Saturday June 1 : Rain Garden workshop
Saturday June 1: Tree Maintenance
Saturday June 8: Tree Maintenance
Saturday June 15: Forest Steward workshop
Saturday June 15: Tree Maintenance
Saturday June 22: Forest Steward workshop
Saturday June 22: Tree Maintenance
Saturday June 29: Tree Maintenance
Saturday June 29 : Rain Barrel workshop
Saturday June 29: Forest Steward workshop
Sunday June 30: Forest Steward workshop
Spotlight on GVC Interns
Jillian Anderson (Tree Maintenance Intern) is a senior at Towson University majoring in Environmental Science. After graduation, she hopes to work for the State of Maryland or an environmental non-profit. She enjoys working outdoors with the GVC and knowing that her hard work is benefiting the health of the Gunpowder watershed. She loves hiking and seeing how the GVC is preserving beautiful places for her and others to enjoy.
Taylor Pearson (GVC Crew Chief) is a senior at Towson University majoring in Environmental Biology. She started volunteering with GVC as a way to get service hours and feel good about planting trees on Saturday mornings. Almost two years later, she has worked her way up to Crew Chief. Upon graduation, she plans to work in conservation biology, preferably with animals.
Olivia Veno (GVC Crew Chief) is a senior at Towson University majoring in Environmental Biology. She chose to intern with GVC because of their friendly and educational atmosphere. Getting hands-on experience planting trees, Bayscapes, and rain gardens has made her aware of the conservation efforts going on in our local community. She enjoys being outdoors and wants to pursue a career in environmental conservation or habitat restoration.
Make a Difference
Cheers for Charlie! We are pleased to announce that Charlie Conklin is the GVC's 2019 "Hero of the Green" for his three decades of service to the Gunpowder Valley Conservancy. Join us as we celebrate Charlie at our September 14th fundraiser at Conrad's Ruth Villa in Middle River. Tickets on sale now!
GVC's spring tree planting season has concluded with great success! 261 volunteers planted 482 trees on 6.75 acres within the Gunpowder watershed. Check out our volunteer photo albums to see more smiling faces!
The United Nations just released a report that 1 million plant and animals species are at risk of extinction. It's a grim reminder why the GVC works hard to protect our forests and streams, vital habitat for so many species.

"For a long time, people just thought of biodiversity as saving nature for its own sake...but this report makes clear the links between biodiversity and nature and things like food security and clean water."

Read more here.