1.7.08
DNR Offers Volunteer Training Workshop on July 11
ANNAPOLIS – The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is seeking enthusiastic adults to become TEAM (Teaching Environmental Awareness in Maryland) volunteers. TEAM DNR is a volunteer program committed to educating elementary and middle school students about the Chesapeake Bay and other Maryland environmental issues through hands on presentations in classrooms around the state.
“TEAM volunteers are helping to create the next generation of environmental stewards,” said Amy Henry, Conservation Education Specialist at DNR. “Volunteers help students understand the importance of conservation and restoration through hands-on activities and presentations.”
TEAM Volunteers provide an important link between DNR, schools, and students. Since 1998, TEAM DNR volunteers have delivered 1000 classroom programs and inspired more than 30,000 students in Maryland. Currently, TEAM offers schools-free classroom programs on the Chesapeake Bay watershed, streams, oyster reefs, horseshoe crabs, and Chesapeake watermen.
The next volunteer workshop will be held on Friday, July 11, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in the first floor conference room of the Tawes State Office Building (580 Taylor Ave. in Annapolis). Participants will be trained on three of the four classroom programs. DNR will provide snacks and beverages, but participants are asked to bring their own lunch.
To register for this workshop, contact Amy Henry at 410-260-8828 or ahenry@dnr.state.md.us.
Volunteers should have an outgoing personality and a strong desire to protect the Chesapeake Bay. While no prior teaching experience is necessary, volunteers should enjoy working with children. For more information, visit www.dnr.maryland.gov/education/teamdnr.
To help ensure that all Maryland children have an opportunity to experience and connect with nature, Governor O’Malley recently signed an Executive Order establishing the Maryland Partnership for Children in Nature. This coalition of state, local, private and non-profit partners is charged with promoting the well-being of youth by accelerating environmental learning, connecting communities to parks and public lands and expanding opportunities for structured and unstructured outdoor time in nature for both play and learning.
Labels: Annapolis, chesapeake bay, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, environment, martin o'malley, Maryland, oysters, Tawes State Office Building, Team, watermen, watersheds, wildlife
30.6.08
Final free fishing day of the summer
ANNAPOLIS MD — Governor Martin O’Malley has proclaimed Friday, July 4th as Take Me Fishing Day, and is encouraging Maryland citizens and visitors to take a young person out for a fun, fishing adventure on Maryland’s third and final free fishing day of 2008.
“We are committed to continuing the traditions of our parents and theirs by teaching Maryland’s children to fish, and in doing so instilling an appreciation of the past, present and future gifts of our spectacular waterways,” said Governor O’Malley. Take Me Fishing Day is an opportunity for families to bond and to help our next generation grow to become informed stewards who will continue Maryland’s rich fishing heritage.”
Maryland’s citizens have a strong connection to the state’s diverse aquatic resources, and fishing is a tradition which has been passed down through generations of Maryland anglers. Fishing is an enjoyable outdoor activity that instills a love of nature, teaching children about the importance of conservation and protection of our natural resources. Family outdoor adventures not only foster a connection with nature but also between parents and children, and provide families with an activity they can enjoy together for a lifetime.
While children under 16 do not need a license to fish in Maryland, Free Fishing Days allow those 16 and over to catch and possess finfish in the tidal and nontidal waters of the State for recreational purposes without an angler's license, Chesapeake Bay sportfishing license, or any fishing stamp normally required by the State.
To help ensure that all Maryland children have an opportunity to experience and connect with nature, Governor O’Malley recently signed an Executive Order establishing the Maryland Partnership for Children in Nature. This coalition of state, local, private and non-profit partners is charged with promoting the well-being of youth by accelerating environmental learning, connecting communities to parks and public lands and expanding opportunities for structured and unstructured outdoor time in nature for both play and learning. By taking a child fishing, parents provide him or her the chance to develop ties with our waterways and reinforce the importance of sustainability in future interactions with the environment.
“Take me fishing day is one more opportunity for everyone to enjoy Maryland’s great outdoors this holiday weekend,” said the Governor.
Take Me Fishing, is sponsored by the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating and thereby increase public awareness and appreciation of the need for protecting, conserving and restoring this nation's aquatic resources. RBFF is funded primarily through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
For more information about fishing in Maryland, visit www.dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/.
Labels: anglers, Annapolis, environment, fishing, marine habitat, martin o'malley, Maryland, wildlife
DNR Encourages Holiday Travelers To Get Their ‘Bay Game’ On
ANNAPOLIS, MD — Independence Day is drawing near and for many Marylanders, the Fourth of July holiday weekend means the beach, family barbeques, fireworks, and – to the dismay of children everywhere – long car rides. To direct restless energy during summer travel, parents are invited to pick up a free copy of the 2008 Maryland Bay Game, available at public libraries and visitor’s centers across the state.
“The Bay Game is a great summer tradition for Maryland kids and families,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “It’s educational, fun and interactive, making it the perfect preface to the outdoor activities of the long holiday weekend.”
Accompanied by a group of Kent County children and counselors from Echo Hill Outdoor School, Governor O’Malley unveiled the 2008 game at the Capital for a Day celebration in Chestertown on June 17. The annual publication is filled with interesting facts and interactive games and puzzles, covering a variety of topics such as watersheds, wildlife, trees and forests, geology and agriculture.
“This year’s edition is themed Celebrating Children in Our Natural World, and is designed to inspire children to get outside and enjoy the outdoors — whether on vacation or at home,” added the Governor.
The Bay Game is one of many state efforts to help Maryland young people connect with nature – a critical connection if they are to grow into healthy, environmentally responsible adults. In April, Governor O’Malley created the Maryland Partnership for Children in Nature, a coalition of state, local, private and non-profit partners charged with promoting the well-being of youth by accelerating environmental learning and expanding opportunities for outdoor experiences.
Created in 1998 to educate children on the basics of conservation biology and the importance of Maryland’s natural resources throughout the mid-Atlantic region, Maryland’s Bay Game was the first of its kind in the nation. While the game initially focused on the drive from the Bay Bridge along Maryland Routes 50 and 404 to the beaches of Ocean City, it has since been expanded to encompass natural resources across the state. The Maryland Bay Game reaches nearly one million travelers of all ages annually through print and online editions.
A downloadable version of the 2008 Maryland Bay Game is also available online at www.dnr.maryland.gov/baygame.
Labels: Annapolis, chestertown, echo hill, independance day, kent county, Maryland, nature, o'malley, watersheds, wildlife
