Together Green
Participate in the launch of Pickering Creek Audubon Center’s Together Green volunteer initiative in June. The Center is the recipient of a Together Green grant to support and grow our volunteer program. Together Green is a unique partnership between the National Audubon Society and Toyota to promote citizen involvement in conservation. The Together Green program will support organized volunteer events throughout the year.

Get the scoop on future Pickering Creek Together Green projects and find out more about how you can help us meet our grant goals at the Pickering Volunteers Potluck Picnic. All volunteers and their guests are invited to the picnic on Wednesday, June 16 from 5:30pm-8pm. Cool beverages, hotdogs, and picnic supplies will be on-hand. Please RSVP by Friday, June 11. Let Pickering staff know if you plan to bring aside dish.  

Participate in the first Together Green event on Saturday, June 26. We will be planting native perennial plants to enhance habitat for wildlife and add visual appeal at Pickering Creek. See more information below.

Volunteer Highlights
Several Pickering Creek Volunteers and Easton Rotary Club members worked diligently restoring the interio of the Gilbert Byron House on May 22. The wall and ceiling of the small front bedroom has been covered with wallboard and the room accessed by the side entrance has the interior wallboards almost completely installed.

Volunteer Appreciation

• Pickering staff would like to thank all of you who have supported Pickering Creek through your volunteer time this year. Spaces are being reserved for volunteers on upcoming public programs offered at Pickering Creek Audubon Center. Visit www.pickeringcreek.orgfor more information on upcoming events. A Summer Family Canoe is scheduled for Sunday, June 27, 2010 from 1-3 PM at the main office. Fives spaces are offered without charge to volunteers on the canoe trip. Interested? Sign up early! Make sure you mention that you are a current volunteer. These spots are offered on a first come-first serve basis. If you would like to bring along a guest the charge is $10 per adult and $5 per child.
  
  
• As the school year winds down and we wrap up school programs, Pickering staff send out a special thanks to Herman and Nancy Espenhorst, Pat Groller, Bill Griffin and Bill Reybold for their volunteer support of these programs this spring. Herman, Nancy, and Pat have all assisted students on field trip activities like fishing and nest box construction. Bill and Bill have both diligently cut out sets of blue bird box pieces numerous times to make sure we had needed materials for nest box projects at schools.
  
  
• A special thanks also goes out to volunteers who have taken care of maintenance projects over the last few months. John Bayliss has assisted with emergency road clearing and various mechanical repairs throughout the winter and spring. Julien Larkin has been making housing repairs. Sal Simoncini has made repairs at our barn. Bob Mason has made several important electrical and phone repairs. Their efforts have kept important machinery in working order, buildings on site safe, and ensured that our lane is bus accessible for school groups.

Coming Up in July!

• Gilbert Byron House Work Day-- There will be a second Byron House Workday on Saturday, June 26 from 8am to 12pm in preparation for Gilbert Byron Day on July 10. Audubon volunteers are again invited to join members of the Easton Rotary Club in their restoration of the historic Byron House. The day’s activities will include finishing up wood siding inside one room and clearing out wood and other items stored in the house. Some tools will be available. Please wear appropriate work attire (gloves, shoes, etc). Please contact the volunteer coordinator if you plan to participate in the workday.
  
  
• Garden helpers needed in children’s garden. A couple of volunteers are needed as soon as possible to assist the children’s garden team at their regular gardening time. When? On Wednesday mornings or help out with watering on their own at other times during the week. Help out for a day or a season. You decide what contribution you can make. Then contact the Volunteer Coordinator for further details.
  
  
• Support Pickering Creek Audubon Center wetland projects at local middle schools! The education staff helped Talbot County sixth grade students create or enhance wetland habitat areas at each of the three local schools, as part of school-based programming offered by Pickering Creek Audubon Center. Would you be willing to help the Education Coordinator with maintenance and bio-blitz activities for students at middle school planting sites over the summer? The Education Coordinator will be visiting each school on a rotating basis throughout the summer during weekly scheduled wetland maintenance days starting with Easton Middle School on June 30. Each visit will typically be a couple of hours on a weekday morning. Consider helping out at one school or for a particular week in the summer. Contact the Volunteer Coordinator to participate on June 30 or begin making arrangements for other times this summer.
  
  
• A Native Wildflowers Planting Day will be held on Saturday June 26 from 9am-2pm. Pickering Creek is going native! Help us improve habitat for birds and other wildlife by planting native perennials on our first Together Green event of the year! Meet with Pickering Creek Staff at the Welcome Center and register on site. Invite a friend to join you or bring your whole family out for the day. Extra water, lunch and snacks will be provided as well as gloves and tools for the day. Current volunteers are encouraged to sign up in advance and indicate if they may have guests joining them so we can estimate food and supplies for the event.