Volunteers Recognized and Rewarded at Pickering Creek’s Annual Volunteer Dinner

Rain gave way to a lovely evening where a group of people from diverse backgrounds gathered at Pickering Creek’s annual volunteer dinner on Saturday, May 16. Beneath a canopy of trees there was a feeling of merriment mixed with accomplishment where spirits could not be dampened by the occasional mosquito.

“This really is a special place,” said volunteer Jacques Baker. It is a sentiment shared by all those in attendance, and it is why so many feel compelled to volunteer their time.

Center Director, Mark Scallion, expressed his gratitude to the gathering stating that without volunteers, Pickering Creek would not be able to offer such wide-ranging programs to the community. “We’re teaching elementary students all the way up to high school students about nature,” he said.

Feeling full and jovial after a delightful dinner provided by Garden and Garnish Catering, it was time to recognize those who in no small way impact Pickering Creek. The Volunteer of the Year award went to Bill Reybold. It can easily be said that things would not run as smoothly without the help of Mr. Reybold. “Bill is one of our go-to guys,” said Volunteer Coordinator Beth Wasden, “he is knowledgeable, pleasant, and incredibly generous with his time.” He received a “Pickering Power Pack,” which included gift cards to Out of the Fire and Railway Market as well as four tickets to a Delmarva Shorebirds game.

A Special Service Award was given to LIFE Coordinator, Patty Campbell. LIFE, the Legacy Institute for the Environment, provides excellent classroom instruction coupled with hands-on experience to those 50 and over in the community. Ms. Campbell has coordinated the annual program for the past three years. LIFE is a partnership between the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, Adkins Arboretum, and Pickering Creek Audubon Center. Ms. Campbell, herself a graduate, has seen a number of well-trained and energetic volunteers graduate and go on to serve at one of the three centers. “Patty has been instrumental in making each of the past three classes happen, and we are grateful for her service,” said Wasden.

Time was then taken to also honor those who have logged the most hours volunteering at Pickering, with the Lifetime Hours Awards. Bill Reybold logged an inspiring 1,500 hours with Gwen Seigman following suit, logging an impressive 1,000 hours. John Bayliss has thus far spent 750 hours volunteering, while Jacques Baker and Tom Lane have lent their valuable time spending 500 and 100 hours respectively. Without the help of people like these, Pickering Creek would not be able to impact the community as it does.

The evening ended on a bittersweet note, as it was the last volunteer dinner at which Beth Wasden, the volunteer coordinator, would attend. She has been a vital partner to those who want make a difference in their community while benefiting nature. She moves on to pursue one of her passions, and she is wished the best of luck.

Many thanks to Out of the Fire, Railway Market, and The Delmarva Shore Birds for their generous donations of volunteer appreciation gifts.

Making a difference is easy and does not always involve getting dirty.

Pickering Volunteers visit Farm Creek Audubon Sanctuary for Project Clean Stream
One rusted bedspring, a car alternator, a shoe, a tin table and a sign for a pool and spa expo. These items are among the list of interesting items found on last Saturdays Project Clean Stream day at Farm Creek Audubon Sanctuary in Dorchester County.

Pickering Creek Audubon Center organized the clean up of this 600 acre wildlifesanctuaryas part ofProject Clean Stream, a collaborative effort between The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and local and regional watershed associations.

Volunteers from Pickering Creek Audubon Center joined forces with volunteers from members of the Chesapeake Audubon Society from Baltimore and Howard counties. A total of 15 volunteers removed 14 tires, more than 30 bags of trash and recyclables, and at least 20 pounds of assorted metal boat and car parts.

On April 19th, as part of Earth Day Volunteer Day, Pickering Creek hosted a roadside cleanup along the Pickering property line as well

Bringing Back Buffers II

Funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Pickering Creek Audubon Center began preparing the buffer strip site during the autumn of 2005.  The Maryland Department of Agriculture sprayed Rodeo herbicide on the plot; in August 2006, we utilized our tractor and bush hog to clear the plots, thus eliminating some very difficult physical labor on the part of staff and volunteers.  Environmental Concern in St. Michaels provided technical assistance by offering a species planting list.  We ordered over 4,700 native herbaceous plants and shrubs and woodies.  By early autumn, we were prepared to begin planting.

Why a riparian buffer strip?

By removing mile-a-minute and Japanese honeysuckle and re-establishing the strips with native herbaceous plants and woodies, we have improved the filtration of water entering Pickering Creek and the Bay.  Native grasses, plants, and trees greatly reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphorous, two of the major pollutants in the Bay.  Strips trap sediment and reduce erosion and provide valuable habitat for birds and wildlife, as well as cover.

On Sunday, September 24, during our Autumn Workday, we began repopulating the first plot with native species.  Planting continued throughout the months of October and November.  We removed small amounts of mile-a-minute and Japanese honeysuckle by hand during this time.  With the help of a number of community groups and individual volunteers, we completed the planting phase of the project in early December 2006.

This completed our two-part Bringing Back Buffers project, although maintenance (link to volunteer opps) of the strips continues due to the re-emergence of Japanese honeysuckle and mile-a-minute.

Thanks to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for funding Bringing Back Buffers II; to Environmental Concern for their technical expertise with plant and woody selection and assistance with pulling so many plants and seedlings and helping staff load trucks; to all of the volunteers who made the completion of this project possible, including Boy Scouts of America Troop 8, Phi Theta Kappa of Chesapeake College, Student Environmental Alliance of Washington College, SCOPE of Talbot County Public Schools, Easton High School students, students from Saints Peter and Paul, and Pickering Creek volunteers.

Easton High and Salisbury University Get Planting

Americorps Volunteers visit Pickering on one of the coldest days of February '07 to deconstruct an aged bird viewing blind by the pond.

Just one hour into planting, Easton High School ’sEnvironmental Club and Salisbury University ’s Environmental Health Club had planted nearly 750 plants. They were working together at Pickering Creek Audubon Center to restore a riparian stream buffer, an essential piece of habitat that filters agricultural runoff. The “Bringing Back Buffers” project is being funded by a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Chesapeake Bay Trust. The area had become overgrown with Mile-a-minute, Japanese Honeysuckle, and Sweet Briar that were cleared in the Spring. Students and teachers planted a wide variety of plants such as American Holly, Switchgrass, Arrowwood, and New York Ironwood that were all grown at Environmental Concern in St. Michaels. These are plants that are both great food sources for birds and insects, as well as great plants for filtering water. After two hours it was clear that they accomplished much more than any of them had thought possible!

Many other community groups and schools have been involved in the “Bringing Back Buffers” project including Talbot Mentors, Christ Church ’s youth group, the Key School of Annapolis, Queen Anne’s County Master Gardeners, and Maryland Conservation Corps. Progress will continue this year as Pickering Creek volunteers and community organizations plant the second phase of the “Bringing Back Buffers” project. Have invasive plants taken over your yard? Come look at the progress of the project! The restoration area lies along the stream leading into the farm pond behind the Welcome Center . The trail around the farm pond will carry you past last year’s phase of “Bringing Back Buffers” as well as next year’s. This Fall we’ll be planting again, bringing back land ravaged by the growth of invasive plant species, improving our water quality and habitat! Thank you to all past and future “Bringing Back Buffers” volunteers!