Chesapeake Conservation Corps
Host Organization Cover Sheet
2013 – 2014
www.chesapeakebaytrust.org / 410-974-2941
1.
Applicant Information
Name of Organization/Legal Applicant:
Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve – MD
Street Address:
Tawes State Office Building, 580 Taylor Ave, E-2
City/State/Zip:
Annapolis, MD 21401
County:
Anne Arundel, PG, Harford, and Somerset
Main Telephone:
410.260.8730
Web Page:
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/bay/cbnerr/
Legal Applicant Federal I.D. Number:
52-6002033
State Legislative District:
30
U.S. Congressional District:
1, 2, 3, 5
Executive Director:
Jennifer Raulin
Executive Director’s Telephone:
410.260.8745
Name of Application Writer/Initial Contact:
Coreen Weilminster
Contact’s Title:
Education Coordinator
Contact’s Telephone:
410.260.8744
Contact’s Email:
[email protected]
Name of Corps Volunteer Mentor:
Coreen Weilminster
Mentor’s Title:
Education Coordinator
Mentor’s Telephone:
410.260.8744
Mentor’s Email:
[email protected]
Number of Corps Volunteers Sought
1
2. Type of Organization (check one):
Non-profit organization
School
Community associations
Service, Youth, or Civic Groups
Institutions of Higher Education
Local government (county or municipality)
Unit of State Government
X
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3. Organization Mission:
The mission of the Reserve is to improve coastal resource management by increasing scientific understanding of
estuarine systems and making estuarine research relevant, meaningful, and accessible to managers and stakeholders.
The Reserve’s overarching goals are to:
•
•
•
Strengthen the protection and management of the Reserve to advance estuarine conservation, research and
education.
Increase the use of science and Reserve sites to address management issues.
Enhance peoples’ ability and willingness to make informed decisions and take responsible actions that affect
Maryland’s coastal communities and ecosystems.
Detailed goals, objectives, and strategies are described in the CBNERR Management Plan at
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/bay/cbnerr/Management_Plan_2008.asp.
The Reserve will help achieve the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) mission key objectives. The
mission of DNR is to preserve, protect, enhance and restore Maryland's natural resources for the wise use and
enjoyment of all citizens. Key objectives that the Reserve will help achieve are:
•
•
•
•
•
Sustainable Populations of Living Resources and Aquatic Habitat
Healthy Maryland Watershed Lands, Streams and Non-Tidal Rivers
Natural Resources Stewardship Opportunities for Maryland’s Urban and Rural Citizens
Conserved and Managed Statewide Network of Ecologically Valuable Private and Public Lands
Diverse Outdoor Recreation Opportunities for Maryland Citizens and Visitors
These objectives are in pursuit of a vision of a Maryland that honors the interconnectedness of life by striving in all of
its actions to safeguard and steward its natural resources for now and for future generations.
4. Types of Activities in which a Volunteer Corps Member will be engaged (see “Corps Volunteer
Eligible Activities” section above for description of each activity type. Check all that apply.
Environment/Watershed Restoration
Energy Conservation
Agricultural
Forestry
Education
X
X
5. Short Description: Please provide a short numbered list (5 Maximum) of the Corps Volunteer’s
responsibilities and activities. Keep in mind, this description will be posted online and used to solicit
Corps Volunteer Applicants (about 100 words maximum).
• Based in the DNR’s CBNERR-MD offices in Annapolis, build estuarine and environmental literacy through
•
•
•
programs with teachers, students, and communities that will connect them to the Bay and move them to
take action toward its protection and restoration.
Protect, manage and restore three ecologically-valuable estuarine sites and provide stewardship
opportunities for Marylanders.
Assist in the implementation of educational and restoration/stewardship activities at the three Reserve sites,
by working with communities and schools to understand both short- and long-term actions needed to
preserve, protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay. (The three sites are Anita C. Leight Estuary Center in
Harford County, Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary and Patuxent River Park, in Prince George’s and Anne Arundel
Counties, and Monie Bay in Somerset County.)
Participate in Federal (NERRS), State (DNR), and Local (County partners) coordinated activities to promote
the mission of the Reserve.
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6. General Liability Insurance: Does your agency currently have general liability insurance for its
volunteers?
Yes
X
No
Partnership Application Electronic Signatures
In submitting this partnership application to become a Chesapeake Conservation Corps Host
Organization, we attest that all information provided is true to the best of our knowledge.
February 21, 2014
Signature of Legal Applicant Director
Date
Coreen E. Weilminster
February 21, 2014
Signature of the Host Organization Supervisor
Date
Thank you for applying to be a Chesapeake Conservation Corps Host Organization!
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Chesapeake Conservation Corps
Host Organization Narrative Instructions
2012 – 2013
www.chesapeakebaytrust.org / 410-974-2941
Please include a narrative, not to exceed 4 pages, addressing the following:
1) Activities:
The Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve - Maryland (CBNERR-MD) is seeking 1 Chesapeake Bay
Conservation Corps Volunteer to help support and strengthen its Education program and Stewardship program goals
in the following ways:
A) Education Goal: Build estuarine and environmental literacy through programs with teachers, students,
and communities that will connect them to the Bay and move them to take action toward its protection and
restoration.
CBNERR-MD is an important vehicle for increasing understanding and awareness of the Chesapeake Bay as a vital and
productive albeit challenged estuarine system. Reserve education, training and outreach programs have helped
various communities take action to preserve, protect, and sustain the environment based on that increased
understanding and awareness. Students, teachers, decision makers, citizen groups, and the public have learned
about such topics as energy conservation and “green” sustainable practices, climate change and development
impacts and mitigation strategies, bay grasses and efforts to restore them, and other topics relevant to Chesapeake
Bay preservation, protection, and restoration. All educational opportunities strive to integrate research with
educational and outreach programming.
CCC Volunteer will primarily support the Education Goal through activities which continue to build estuarine and
environmental literacy, including:
• Assist in the implementation of educational activities at the three Reserve sites, by working with communities
and schools to understand both short- and long-term actions needed to preserve, protect and restore the
Chesapeake Bay. (The three sites are Anita C. Leight Estuary Center in Harford County, Jug Bay Wetlands
Sanctuary and Patuxent River Park, in Prince George’s and Anne Arundel Counties, and Monie Bay in Somerset
County.)
• Help develop and implement interactive hands-on and inquiry-based environmental and energy conservation
education programs in both the field and the classroom.
• Work with teachers, students, and others to use CBNERR’s “Energy Audit Kits” to teach them how to evaluate the
energy use of their facilities.
• Assist in the organization and implementation of Data & the Estuary teacher training workshops (which include
Osprey and Pelican banding) and Teen Environmental Leadership Training programs including the Patuxent Teen
Paddle, and with Wetlands & Wildlife Field Day, a multi-day MWEE for all fourth graders in Somerset County.
• Assist the Reserve Sites, MAEOE “Maryland Green Centers,” with aiding regional schools at become MAEOE
Maryland Green Schools.
• Promote the visibility and transfer of information about the Reserve to teachers and students.
• Represent CBNERR-MD with exhibits at the following educational and teacher professional development events:
2015 Annual MAEOE Conference in Ocean City, MD and the 2015 Maryland Green Schools Youth Summit.
• Assist the Education Coordinator with the DNR-specific education outreach TEAM DNR program, volunteerfacilitator trainings, and new program development (Climate Change teacher professional development).
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B) Stewardship Goal: Protect, manage and restore three ecologically-valuable estuarine sites and provide
stewardship opportunities for Marylanders.
The health, productivity, and integrity of the three Reserve components and their resources must be protected and,
where necessary, restored in order to provide a stable environment for research, monitoring, and education
programs. These programs, in turn, are used to train communities and individuals about short-term and long-term
actions needed to preserve, protect, and sustain the environment, focusing on the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.
Protection is achieved through land acquisition, Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) and conservation easements
with local partners. The Reserve also provides stewardship opportunities for Marylanders through restoration and
citizen scientist (volunteer) programs.
CCC Volunteer will primarily support the Stewardship Goal by participating in stewardship opportunities for
Marylanders offered through the Reserve, including:
• Help update protection documents (such as Memoranda of Understanding and conservation easements).
• Assist the Stewardship Coordinator in restoration efforts, such as invasive species removal, deer management,
wild rice restoration, habitat mapping and hydrological restoration in ditched Marshes
• Help plan and implement citizen scientist monitoring programs, such as water quality, bay grasses, reptiles and
amphibians, fish, benthic macroinvertebrates and birds. Monitoring programs provide valuable data to the
Reserve and to other groups within DNR for restoration and management purposes.
• Assist with restoration/citizen scientist field trips and events, such as Osprey banding, Horseshoe Crab Spawning
Surveys, and winter waterbird counts.
• Promote the visibility and transfer of information about the Reserve and translate pertinent scientific information
to a variety of audiences, including volunteers and other community participants.
• Assist with monitoring efforts, including GIS mapping projects, where appropriate.
• Promote the visibility and transfer of information about the Reserve to local communities and partners.
• Help develop an annual bio-blitz program at the Monie Bay site and Drawbridge Farm property.
• Work with National Geographic Society FieldScope to develop bio-blitz data layers for the three reserve sites in
Maryland.
2) Outcomes:
Chesapeake Bay is a significant cultural, economic and recreational resource, yet its health is in trouble.
Unfortunately, many citizens do not understand the concept of a watershed, how storm drains connect them to the
Bay, or how the health of the bay is actually determined by their everyday decisions. This gap in understanding
contributes to the difficulty individuals have taking actions that contribute to restoring the Bay and changing
behaviors that further impair the Bay’s health. Education, in the schools, in the field, and in the community, is a key
part of bridging this gap in understanding and enabling students, teachers and citizens to make informed decisions
regarding our region’s most important natural resource. Recognizing this need for quality environmental education,
Governor O’Malley set a goal of 100% environmental literacy in his Partnership for Children in Nature Plan.
Additionally, the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement recommends that all students have meaningful watershed education
experiences (MWEE) in elementary, middle and high school. CBNERR has been an invaluable asset supporting these
goals through teacher trainings, field and school-based programming, curricula and web-based tools.
From October 2012-September 2013 the Reserve conducted over 390 Chesapeake Bay education programs, reaching
8,694 K-college students (roughly 22,421 contact hours), and reached 117 teachers (for 1,437 contact hours) through
professional development, as well as seeing roughly 28,500 visitors to the CBNERR-MD component sites for passive
education, and public programs. Additionally, 15 research and monitoring programs were implemented. Stewardship
programs logged 5,218 volunteer hours and protected 6,363 acres of the pristine tidal fresh marshes, estuarine
marshes, uplands, and open waters that encompass the three Reserve sites (Otter Point Creek, Harford Co.; Jug Bay –
Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary in Anne Arundel Co. and Jug Bay Natural Area in Prince Georges Co.; and Monie Bay,
Somerset Co.). Prince George’s County is a minority majority county and Somerset County is a severely underserved
county in Maryland.
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For the past few years, the NERRS budget has been reduced by as much as 20% annually. The current round of
funding is anticipated to remain lean, without restoration of those depleted funds. Activities at the Reserves have
been maintained within these budget reductions, but every bit of support to continue this level of activity helps. A
Conservation Corps Volunteer would be working with staff to maintain and build this momentum. A sampling of the
activities the volunteers would participate in implementing include
Support
Program
Event
Season
Educ. Contacts/
Volunteer Hours
Data & the Estuary teacher training workshops
Teen Leadership Training (e.g., Patuxent Teen Paddle)
On-site and in-school education programs at Otter Point
Creek and Jug Bay
Annual Wade-in OPC
Educ.
Educ.
Educ
June-August
July – August
Oct-May
30 teachers
24 Teens
variable
Educ./Stwd.
June
50 vol. / 300 prtcpnts
National Estuaries Day public event
National Estuaries Day Somerset Intermediate School
Wetlands & Wildlife Field Day (Somerset Co 4th Grade)
Educ.
Educ.
Educ./Stwd.
September
October
September
400 participants
250 participants
325 students/ 17 tchrs
Green Schools Summit (Education Outreach Exhibit)
MAEOE Conference (Exhibitor/Presenter)
TEAM DNR outreach
Marsh Clean-up & wetlands study (Somerset 6th grade)
Educ.
Educ.
Educ.
Educ./Stwd.
June
February
September - May
October
2000 - 4000 stud.
400 -600 educators
variable
270 hours
Annual marsh clean-up Bosley Conservancy
Annual Clean-up Monie Bay
Secretive Marsh Bird Survey
Juvenile Fish Sampling
Purple Loosestrife removal
Wild Rice Restoration
GIS Mapping of invasives and invasive control
National Geographic FieldScope Bio-Blitz project
development
Stwd.
Stwd.
Stwd.
Stwd.
Stwd.
Stwd.
Stwd.
Educ./Stwd.
March
April
May-July
July –Sept
July-August
June-August
All year
All year
250 hours
150 hours
48 hours
240 hours
84 hours
60 hours
150 hours
variable
3) Advancement of mission:
The mission of the Reserve is to improve coastal resource management by increasing scientific understanding of
estuarine systems and making estuarine research relevant, meaningful, and accessible to managers and stakeholders.
The Chesapeake Conservation Corps (CCC) Volunteer will directly advance that mission.
Specifically, the CCC volunteer will enable CBNERR-MD to maximize its education efforts, as they directly translate
into behavioral changes, manifesting in restoration/stewardship projects and activities at the Reserve components,
and throughout the Bay. The addition of a Corps volunteer would advance the CBNERR-MD strategically in building
upon its existing successes in education and stewardship:
• To raise the bar on the academic quality of education programs, tie programs more closely to State education
standards, help schools fulfill meaningful watershed education experience (MWEE) requirements, and tie into
STEM programming .
• To train and educate citizens to participate in education and stewardship activities.
• To complement existing education programs with additional community education and stewardship
opportunities, including targeting underserved populations.
• To continue to implement educational programs that improve awareness and build community-level support
for estuarine and coastal stewardship.
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4) Key Staff:
The Reserve program is coordinated by a Reserve Manager. Each designated component also has a Site Manager who
works for the local partner. Functional duties are sometimes shared among multiple staff. The Reserve core staff are
employees of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Site partner staff are supported largely by local funds.
There are five core Reserve positions: Manager, Research Coordinator, Education Coordinator, Stewardship
Coordinator, and Coastal Training Program Coordinator. The Conservation Corps volunteer will be working under the
direct supervision of the Education Coordinator and the Stewardship Coordinator for specific projects.
Education Coordinator The Education Coordinator (EC) is responsible for coordinating system-wide education and
interpretation programs and activities for the Reserve. The EC works closely with the Reserve Manager, the other
Reserve staff, Site Managers, and other staff to develop or improve on-site education programs, curricula, and
outreach programs; to organize workshops and special events; and to work with scientists to make their research
results meaningful to decision-makers and the public.
Stewardship Coordinator The Stewardship Coordinator (SC) works to (1) protect and restore the Reserve
components for long-term research and education, and (2) foster a sense of stewardship in Marylanders through
volunteer programs. The SC will provide support, guidance and oversight to the Corps Volunteer for stewardship
activities, and will provide input to the comprehensive work plan.
The volunteer’s Core Mentor and direct supervisor, the Education Coordinator, will provide general support, guidance
and oversight. The mentor is responsible for communicating expectations to each Corps Volunteer, and monitoring
progress, as well as adjusting priorities accordingly. The comprehensive work plan will be drafted by the EC & SC for
each volunteer. The work plan will the cover the period of the grant, and will include weekly goals, objectives and
action items. Any administrative and financial responsibilities will be covered in tandem by the EC/SC and Reserve
Manager.
5) Work Skills Training:
This position provides the Corps Volunteer opportunities to develop and/or fine tune skills that are useful in all
professional settings, as well as those that are specific to working in the conservation field. Both Environmental
Education and Stewardship are professions which are founded in the experiential, thus the skills developed within the
capacity of this position will be very hands-on. Training will be largely informal, with formal training provided when
required. The following skills will be developed with support, guidance and oversight provided by the CBNERR-MD
staff (primarily the Education and Stewardship Coordinators) and the component sites’ staff, as appropriate.
Work skills include: Teaching, Gathering Information, Time Management, Leadership, Task Prioritization and
Coordination, Meeting Deadlines, Follow Through on Commitments and Appointments, Organization, Professional
Communication, Presentation, Delegation, Relationship/Partnership Building, Analyzing and Reporting, Budget
Management, Setting and Meeting Goals, Problem Solving, Providing Support to Others, Coordinating and Facilitating
Group Activities, Navigating through Governmental Procedural Protocol, Perseverance, Listening, Trust, Taking
Direction, Attending to Detail, GIS Mapping and use of Technology.
6) Budget:
Budget Item
Value
Type of Match (Cash or In-kind)
EC and SC staff time for training and oversight
$7500
In Kind
Parking ($5/day x 260 work days)
$1300
In Kind (intern would receive parking pass)
Mileage Reimbursement ($0.56/mile, est. 500 miles)
$280
Cash
Conference attendance costs (MAEOE, College Park,
MD) 1 CCC volunteers
$750
Cash
Multiyear mentor match
$1550
Cash
7
Telephone ($300)
$300
In Kind
PC Basic Package ($1200)
$1200
In Kind
Office Space (100 sq. ft. office) @ $21
$21
In Kind
Volunteer Office supplies per person @ $210
$210
In Kind
TOTAL
$14,056
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3) Organizational Chart (including position titles and names)
CBNERR DNR Core Staff
Manager
Jennifer Raulin
Program Manager I
Otter Point Creek CBNERR Partners
Education Coordinator
Coreen Weilminster
Administrator Izaak
III Walton
League of America
Education
Assistant
Bryon
Bodt
Tr ystan Sill Manager
Conservation
Administrative Officer III
Bosely Conservancy
CT P C oordinator
Sasha Land
Administrator II
Stewardship Coordinator
Chris Snow
Environmental
Specialist
III
Locally
funded
Resear ch Coordinator
Vacant
Harford County
Parks and Recreation
RAS Contract
SWMPT echs John Z immerelli
etc
Natural R esources Biologist IV
Anita C.Leight Estuary
& staff SWMP Weather
Center & Water Quality
Director, Kriste Garman
State
funded
Federally funded
Stewardship Int ern
Lindsay Hollister
10-mo Seasonal Part-Time
CTP Aide
Siobhan Percey
Administrative Officer III
Research Assistant
Vacant
Education Coordinator
Lauren Groetski
Maintenance
James Simmons
5 Weekend
Naturalists
Admin
Dawn Armstrong
Locally funded
State
funded
Federally funded
Jug Bay Natural Area/Patuxent River Park Partner
Maryland-National Capital
Park and Planning Commission
Locally
funded
State
funded
Patuxent River Park
Acting Director,
Stephanie Jacobs
Senior Naturalist
Greg Kearns
Naturalist
Stephanie Jacobs
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Maintenance,
Administration,
and
part-time Naturalists
Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary Partner
Locally funded
Anne Arundel County
Recreation and Parks
State
funded
Park Superintendent
Dr. Patricia Delgado
Naturalist
Heather Baden
Education Coordinator
& Naturalist
Elaine Friebele
Volunteer Coordinator
& Naturalist
Lindsay Hollister
Maintenance
Richard Chaney
Donald Smith
Office Manager
Deborah Gage
Monie Bay Partners
Somerset County
(evolving partnership)
DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service
John Moulis
School Superintendent
Karen Lee Brofee
Planning and Zoning
Gary Pusey
Parks & Recreation
Paige Hurley
Wellington Office
Locally funded
Somerset
Intermediate School
Lisa Hopkins, principal
Pat Benner, teacher
State
funded
10
Bob Cadwallader
Tom Lawton
Otter Point Creek CBNERR Partners
Izaak Walton
League of America
Bryon Bodt
Conservation Manager
Bosely Conservancy
Education Coordinator
Lauren Groetski
Harford County
Parks and Recreation
Locally funded
State
funded
Federally funded
Anita C.Leight Estuary
Center
Director, Kriste Garman
Maintenance
James Simmons
5 Weekend
Naturalists
Admin
Dawn Armstrong
4) Budget (your current fiscal year operating budget, to include revenue
and expenditures)
#Chesapeake Bay MD NERR: AwardCBM2014 10/1/2013 to 3/31/2015
Original Application Revised 4/20/2013
Budget by Section and Category
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5) Financial Statement (your agency’s most recent audit report, 990 form,
Profit and Loss Statement, OR other statement of financial position.)
DNR does not have distinct financial statements – we are in effect included in the State of Maryland
Consolidated Annual Financial Report.
Here is a hyper link to that document:
http://www.comp.state.md.us/finances/revenue/cafr.asp
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