2024 MPEA Conservation Stewardship Project: Tree and Shrub Planting | Middle Patuxent Environmental Area | Mar 26, 2024 | 9:00am - 11:30amRemoving invasive exotic plants, while a crucial step, is only one component of habitat restoration. As such, on this day we will visit a site already cleared of invasive plants and install native trees & shrubs that will benefit the local ecosystem. We will also shelter installed plants with deer exclusion shelters.Job Duties: - Prepare for (clearing, digging, etc.), plant, and shelter native trees and shrubs for wildlife habitatNotes:- Training, tools, and supplies will be provided- Precautions for the ticks, poison ivy, & stinging insects that may be encountered should also be taken- This event may be cancelled in the case of adverse weather conditions (such as moderate to heavy precipitation, high winds, or lightning)Please Bring/Wear:- Drinking water- Snacks, if desired- Work gloves- Long pants- Sturdy, closed-toe shoes- Eye protection (recommended)- Appropriate clothing for the weather, including sun protection
- Minimum age 18 (or 13-17 with a guardian present) - Weather may cause us to cancel BUT we may reschedule.
Minimum age: 13
Dates: 03/26/2024 - 03/26/2024
22 Positions available!
Trotter Parking Area: 5795 Trotter Road, Clarksville, MD 21029From Route 29 at Route 32: Take 32 west to the Great Star Drive exit. Turn right onto Great Star Drive. Then make a right onto Summer Sunrise. Continue to Trotter Road and make a left. Proceed about 1 mile to the parking area on the right just beyond the small traffic circle.From Route 29 at Route 108: Take Route 108 west and continue past Centennial Lane. Proceed past Harpers Farm Road to Trotter Road and make a left. Continue to the parking area on the left. If you reach the small traffic circle, you''ve gone too far.
Allen Dupre
adupre@howardcountymd.gov
(410) 313-4035
Opp Available Positions: 22
2024 MPEA Conservation Stewardship Project: Invasive Plant Removal & Spring Flower Watching I | Middle Patuxent Environmental Area | Apr 9, 2024 | 9:00am - 11:30amGarlic Mustard is a tenacious herbaceous plant that may chemically alter the soil, rendering it less suitable for many native plants and fungi. Volunteers help pull this invader each March and April with the goal of maintaining previously cleared patches, as well as finding and removing any new satellite invasions.In addition, a significant amount of Wineberry is present in the area. Wineberry is a spiny, rapidly growing shrub which can form vast thickets and has required the implementation of a variety of control methods over several years: volunteers'' control methods will involve digging or hand-pulling these invasive shrubs.While a significant amount of time will be spent dealing with these two invaders, we will also search for and identify many species of spring ephemeral flowers. With luck, our trip will coincide with the annual blooms of gorgeous Virginia Bluebells near the river. Plan on spending the first half of the morning removing invasive species and the latter half finding native wildflowers.Job Duties:- Hand-pull and bag (to prevent seeding) invasive Garlic Mustard plants- Dig and hand-pull Wineberry shrubs- Observe and learn about native spring ephemeral wildflowers, while removing any incidental invasive speciesNotes:- Training, plant removal tools, and supplies will be provided- Precautions for the thorns, ticks, poison ivy, & stinging insects that may be encountered should also be taken- This event may be cancelled in the case of adverse weather conditions (such as moderate to heavy precipitation, high winds, or lightning)Please Bring/Wear:- Drinking water- Snacks, if desired- Work gloves- Long pants- Sturdy, closed-toe shoes- Appropriate clothing for the weather
Dates: 04/09/2024 - 04/09/2024
24 Positions available!
South Wind Circle Trailhead to MPEA: 6495 South Wind Circle, Columbia, MD 21044Route 29 to Route 108 west towards Clarksville or Route 32 to Route 108 east. Turn onto Trotter Road to South Wind Circle (about 1 mile).Enter the circle and proceed to trailhead on left (opposite Misty Top Pass).
Opp Available Positions: 24
2024 MPEA Conservation Stewardship Project: Invasive Plant Removal & Spring Flower Watching II | Middle Patuxent Environmental Area | Apr 23, 2024 | 9:00am - 11:30amGarlic Mustard is a tenacious herbaceous plant that may chemically alter the soil, rendering it less suitable for many native plants and fungi. Volunteers help pull this invader each March and April with the goal of maintaining previously cleared patches, as well as finding and removing any new satellite invasions.In addition, a significant amount of Wineberry is present in the area. Wineberry is a spiny, rapidly growing shrub which can form vast thickets and has required the implementation of a variety of control methods over several years: volunteers' control methods will involve digging or hand-pulling these invasive shrubs.While a significant amount of time will be spent dealing with these two invaders, we will also search for and identify many species of spring ephemeral flowers. With luck, our trip will coincide with the annual blooms of gorgeous Virginia Bluebells near the river. Plan on spending the first half of the morning removing invasive species and the latter half finding native wildflowers.Job Duties:- Hand-pull and bag (to prevent seeding) invasive Garlic Mustard plants- Dig and hand-pull Wineberry shrubs- Observe and learn about native spring ephemeral wildflowers, while removing any incidental invasive speciesNotes:- Training, plant removal tools, and supplies will be provided- Precautions for the thorns, ticks, poison ivy, & stinging insects that may be encountered should also be taken- This event may be cancelled in the case of adverse weather conditions (such as moderate to heavy precipitation, high winds, or lightning)Please Bring/Wear:- Drinking water- Snacks, if desired- Work gloves- Long pants- Sturdy, closed-toe shoes- Appropriate clothing for the weather
Dates: 04/23/2024 - 04/23/2024
23 Positions available!
Opp Available Positions: 23
2024 MPEA Conservation Stewardship Project: Shelter Clearing | Middle Patuxent Environmental Area | May 11, 2024 | 9:00am - 11:30amNon-native, invasive plants pose a continuing threat to our habitat restoration efforts, particularly within areas hosting trees & shrubs planted and sheltered by staff and volunteers. On this day, we''ll remove vines and vinelike plants from some of these areas, freeing our young trees & shrubs from the threat of smothering.Job Duties: - Hand-pull, dig, and (if necessary) bag Mile-a-Minute, Japanese Honeysuckle, and any other non-native invasive species foundNotes:- Training, tools, and supplies will be provided- Precautions for the ticks, poison ivy, & stinging insects that may be encountered should also be taken- This event may be cancelled in the case of adverse weather conditions (such as moderate to heavy precipitation, high winds, or lightning)Please Bring/Wear:- Drinking water- Snacks, if desired- Work gloves- Long pants- Sturdy, closed-toe shoes- Eye protection (recommended)- Appropriate clothing for the weather, including sun protection
- Minimum age 18 (or 13-17 with a guardian present) - Weather may cause us to cancel. There is no makeup date.
Dates: 05/11/2024 - 05/11/2024
2024 MPEA Conservation Stewardship Project: Shelter Clearing & Breeding Bird Atlas | Middle Patuxent Environmental Area | May 21, 2024 | 9:00am - 11:30amNon-native, invasive plants pose a continuing threat to our habitat restoration efforts, particularly within areas hosting trees & shrubs planted and sheltered by staff and volunteers. On this day, we''ll remove vines and vinelike plants from some of these areas, freeing our young trees & shrubs from the threat of smothering. Additionally, participants will receive an introduction to the Breeding Bird Atlas community scientist survey.Job Duties:- Hand-pull, dig, and (if necessary) bag Mile-a-Minute, Japanese Honeysuckle, and any other non-native invasive species found- Learn about the Maryland & DC Breeding Bird Atlas 3 project, and any birds observed or heard during the eventNotes:- Training, plant removal tools, and supplies will be provided- Precautions for the thorns, ticks, poison ivy, & stinging insects that may be encountered should also be taken- This event may be cancelled in the case of adverse weather conditions (such as moderate to heavy precipitation, high winds, or lightning)Please Bring/Wear:- Drinking water- Snacks, if desired- Work gloves- Long pants- Sturdy, closed-toe shoes- Appropriate clothing for the weather, including sun protection
Dates: 05/21/2024 - 05/21/2024
2024 MPEA Conservation Stewardship Project: Japanese Barberry Removal | Middle Patuxent Environmental Area | Jun 18, 2024 | 9:00am - 11:30amJapanese Barberry is an abundant foe of the environmental area, and controlling this species requires continued efforts every year. Luckily, this invader is relatively easily uprooted; as such, on this day we will revisit an ever-expanding restoration site to continue digging and hand-pulling these spiny shrubs.Job Duties:- Dig or hand-pull invasive Japanese Barberry shrubsNotes:- Training, plant removal tools, and supplies will be provided- Precautions for the thorns, ticks, poison ivy, & stinging insects that may be encountered should also be taken- This event may be cancelled in the case of adverse weather conditions (such as moderate to heavy precipitation, high winds, or lightning)Please Bring/Wear:- Drinking water- Snacks, if desired- Work gloves- Long pants- Sturdy, closed-toe shoes- Eye protection (recommended)- Appropriate clothing for the weather, including sun protection
- Minimum age 18 (or 13-17 with a guardian present) - Weather may cause us to cancel BUT may be scheduled.
Dates: 06/18/2024 - 06/18/2024
