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Training Teachers to Bring the “Outside In”

When my son asked me the other day “Mom, why do you have to teach teachers?  Don’t they already know how to teach?”  I had to pause to think about how to answer that in 12 year old terms.  I said, “Well, you know how you update your favorite video games?  It’s still the same …

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Restoring Native Tree Canopy to the City of Lancaster’s Culliton Park!

With several years in the making and an array of partners, the recently opened Culliton Park is a sight to see. Culliton Park lines Water and Furnam Streets serving as a mecca for community living and celebrates art in the southwest block of the City. By calling out the connection to community artwork, the theme …

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2020 Year of the Woman Blog Series Recap

In 2020, the Alliance celebrated the official Year of the Woman by highlighting some of the female-driven achievements of the Chesapeake Bay watershed from the past 100 years. We interviewed dedicated female leaders who are near and dear to our hearts, and the hearts of many in the Chesapeake. We spotlighted environmental enthusiasts, artists, nonprofit …

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Monitor Moment: Gwen and Walter Harris

Volunteer citizen scientists have been monitoring water quality as part of the RiverTrends project for over 35 years. Each month, monitors gear up to collect observational data and measure the trends of their local streams, including air and water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, bacteria, and salinity. These dedicated monitors give us a direct connection …

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America Recycles Day Reminds Us to Reduce & Reuse First

There is increasing general awareness that plastics cause problems. We see them clogging our waterways, swirling around in the ocean, and even entering digestive systems of humans and other animals. We are told to recycle, that recycling eliminates the problem, and once a piece of plastic leaves our hand and falls into the recycling bin, …

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Celebrating 15 Chesapeake Watershed Forums — Virtually!

This past week on October 29th and 30th, we hosted our 15th Annual Watershed Forum! We want to thank everyone who participated in this year’s unique, virtual Forum. Over 425 people attended throughout the two days of online sessions. Highlights from the Watershed Forum include a live panel and Q&A with Elizabeth Rush, the author …

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Riparian Rangers Spotlight

As November turns the corner, autumn weather has begun to deepen our world with burnt orange hues, maroon, and umber tones. The leaves have fallen and are turning crisp underfoot. The trees are now returning to dormancy for the remainder of the year. Despite this, our work is not yet over for the season. This …

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Year of the Woman: A Voice for Environmental Education with Krista Weatherford

When you meet Krista Weatherford, you can’t help but feel welcomed into her circle of friends. As the Director of Programming and Community Engagement at Maymont, she certainly knows how to use her southern charm, creativity and professionalism to oversee a multitude of activities for people visiting the park. Read more about Krista Weatherford in this month’s edition of our Year of the Woman blog series.

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Investing in Our Contract Partners

One of the most underrated aspects of the Alliance’s work with the RiverSmart Homes program is its potential value for small companies looking to move into green infrastructure, such as rain gardens, rain barrels and permeable pavers. By providing training and ongoing support, we enable contractors to take on new, ecologically responsible projects.

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Dangerous Doppelgangers of Native Trees

Oh, the horror! Controlling invasive plants can be grisly work, and in the heat of hunting down and hacking away at victims of land management, mistaken identity can result in tragedy. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve heard landowners say that they’ve committed ghastly acts against trees and shrubs that they thought were invasive …

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