Notes from the Field: MCBP Virtual Learning Modules
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lthough our plans for spring public events and school activities have been altered, MCBP has taken appropriate
measures to ensure continued community engagement opportunities in the form of virtual learning.
We have been busy creating weekly online learning modules that are now accessible through a combination of our website and social media accounts.
The new virtual learning program called "Notes from the Field" is a resource for all ages. Weekly, we will provide a conglomerate of materials for anyone to use to bulk up their knowledge on the following topics: agriculture, bay-friendly backyards, water, forests, and observations. Information will be provided through daily postings of relevant websites, lesson plans, videos, and "Ask-an-Expert" question and answer sessions. Please visit our website at
https://mdcoastalbays.org/virtual-learning
to access the bulk resource pages, and visit our Facebook and Instagram for daily posts.
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Seal Release - Amelia Bedelia
We know there are a lot of disappointed seal stewards out there as the seal season started late and there were only two that needed protecting. But that's actually a great thing.
Our first one had to be collected by the National Aquarium. She was a small harp seal suffering from severe dehydration. She was named Amelia Bedelia and spent just over three weeks at their Animal Care and Rescue Center. She was silently released due to current restrictions but now more than ever, we feel lucky to be able to maintain a close connection to nature! Remember, keep seals safe, give them their space. Proper viewing is 150 feet from the animal.
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Estuary Explorers Summer Camp
Calling all students entering 5th and 6th grade! MCBP is offering an amazing, hands-on summer camp this year through OC Recreation and Park. Click here* for camp dates, registration, and more info!
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Youth Environmental Action Summit
On March 12, Liz and Chandler attended the Youth Environmental Action Summit at the Ward Museum in Salisbury. At the summit, Liz lead a workshop focused on watersheds of the Eastern Shore and engaged student attendees in a variety of hands-on science programming. Chandler accompanied the group of Snow Hill Elementary School students she has been mentoring throughout the year to the Summit. She cheered them on as they gave their presentation and as they were awarded full funding ($327) for their environmental action plan proposal! Liz and Chandler were inspired seeing so many empowered young students given an opportunity to be heard throughout the community.
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A Message From MCBP Staff
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The staff at the Maryland Coastal Bays Program hope all of our wonderful supporters and volunteers are staying safe and healthy during this period of uncertainty. We wanted to provide an update about some of the operations and events going on at MCBP. Currently, our office is closed to the public until further notice. If you need to reach us, please reach out to us by email, as we are working remotely from our homes.
Although our office is closed, there are still ways to be engaged with us. We will continue to post to our Facebook and Instagram and to share resources about the Coastal Bays. Check out our virtual learning module, Notes from the Field, to learn more about available educational resources. Our spring events, Discover Your Watershed and our Earth Day Clean Up, have both been postponed until the summer. Ocean Pines Bay Day has been cancelled for this May and we are currently in the process of determining if it will be rescheduled for this fall. And lastly, we are still waiting to determine if we will be able to complete this year's Terrapin Survey. Please stay tuned and check our social media as we post more updates.
We thank the community for their support during these challenging times and encourage everyone to stay safe!
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Carly Toulan joins MCBP as our new Environmental Scientist!
If you were to go back to MCBP's June 2019 newsletter, you would see that I was just starting out as an intern at Coastal Bays. I had just graduated from the University of Maryland Baltimore County with a B.S. in Geography and Environmental Science
and was new to the non-profit world. The last sentence in my bio spoke about my goal of one day working for an organization that I am passionate about, one that incorporates education, restoration, and science and research.
In less than a year, so much has changed and I am very excited to say that I have met my goal by becoming the newest staff member here at the Maryland Coastal Bays Program. I am thrilled to start this new chapter in my life and ready to learn even more about the beloved Coastal Bays. What I am looking forward to the most is diving into more in-depth research and data analysis, as well as participating in the numerous fun samplings and surveys we conduct throughout the early spring and summer months. Lastly, I am eager to meet and develop relationships with all the volunteers and people who make up the Coastal Bays' family!
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Living Local: Small Scale, Large Impact
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Farm Spotlight: Splendid Earth Acres
Last Friday we released the first farm spotlight article as a part of our "Living Local: Small Scale, Large Impact" program.
The goal of Living Local is to educate the Coastal Bays community about the beneficial impacts of small-scale farming with sustainable practices on the Coastal Bays watershed, while also encouraging the consumption of local products. Throughout the next few weeks our Chesapeake Conservation Corps member, Chandler, will be releasing articles highlighting a variety of these local farms to recognize their healthy and sustainable farming practices.
Please click here to read the Bayside Gazette article highlighting the Living Local program.
The first article spotlights Splendid Earth Acres and can be found on our website by clicking the "Living Local" button on the left hand side of the screen, or you can access the article directly by following this link.
Splendid Earth Acres was started by Jeanne Vander Clute in 2018. Her small farm only occupies one sixth of acre of her backyard, but this modest operation is teeming with growth. Please visit our website to read Jeanne's article and learn more about the practices she implements and how you can support her! Splendid Earth Acres is one of many growing small-scale farms in the Coastal Bays watershed, be sure to follow along as we highlight many of these inspiring farmers and their practices throughout the coming weeks.
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