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Calvert Environmental Trust for Youth

Success Stories

The annual County Envirothon competition is sponsored, in part, by the Calvert Environmental Trust for Youth.

Huntingtown High School Environmental Science Class received a grant to purchase ten pairs of muck boots. There are seven ponds on the campus that were installed as sediment control structures during the construction of the school. These ponds are now populated by a large variety of organisms and are perfect places for environmental science classes to perform field studies of many topics, including aquatic food chains, erosion control, and water quality. The purchase of the boots enable the students to wade into the ponds to collect samples of sediment, water, and organisms for analysis. The students were very anxious to wear the boots and were excited to be able to explore the open water as well as the edges of the ponds. As part of the ongoing environmental science program, the boots will enhance the learning experience of students for years to come.

On the morning of April 25, 2007, over 90 eager third graders from Sunderland Elementary School filed out of school buses and made their way to the far side of Northern High School's athletic fields. Awaiting them were 18 high school students who were prepared with lessons that would inspire the third graders to be better guardians of their environment. The students were divided into five groups, each group beginning their day at a different outdoor station. For 35 minutes at a time, each station allowed the third graders to explore topics related to the local ecology through activities like walking through the woods, seining for insects in the nearby stream, playing the recycle game, and pouring water over wetland models to watch the runoff. The students enjoyed learning through the hands-on projects prepared by the club members.

This was the second year for the Maryland Summer Center for Paleontology, a program that engaged 24 students in an investigation into the lives of ancient sharks that existed during the Miocene Epoch in Maryland. The students worked closely with professional paleontologists to learn the field and laboratory methods that are used to uncover information about events that occurred millions of years ago. Students used what they learned to write an article detailing their finds for the Calvert Marine Museum's Fossil Club newsletter, designed an exhibit now on display in the museum lobby, and designed a website outlining their research. Planning for the 2008 Center for Paleontology is underway and it is expected that another exciting project will occur next summer.

Second graders at Mt. Harmony Elementary School planted trees and plants for the school's forest and rain gardens. These hands-on activities taught the students about natural resources, the water cycle, conservation, and soil erosion. The big tree planting celebration was held in April so the trees would have more chances of getting rained upon before the summer months. Students kept an environmental journal throughout the year and wrote a concluding summary to help them evaluate the importance of what they accomplished. One day when they become adults, they will have the knowledge first hand on how to help the environment.

The 4-H Club at Huntingtown High School participated in planning a flower garden, planting flowers, and spreading mulch to beautify the entrance to the high school. The students learned how to properly take care of the plants and soil through the use of 4-H project learning books and youth life skills. The 4-H Club will maintain the plantings. The members enjoyed a day of fun and education.

Thirty students from grades two through five were involved in creating a Bluebird Trail at Mt. Harmony Elementary School. The children learned about the Eastern Bluebird, as well as their habitats. They were able to engage in hands-on learning. They enjoyed building the houses and giving tours of the trails. They were thrilled to provide some winter food for these animals and enjoyed checking houses over the summer. Twelve bluebirds fledged from our boxes, plus four tree swallows.