Baltimore Green Week

Interactive Design Workshop with Parks & People!

2008-07-09T06:57:00.001-07:00

Parks & People’s Monthly Greening Series:

Design Your Space

Saturday, July 12, 2008
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Location: Brooklyn Church of God Resource Center
(3800 9th St., Brooklyn, MD 21225)

This interactive workshop will cover, step by step, how to plan your own neighborhood green space. Elements of the process such as site analysis, goals, and programming will be discussed. This will help participants develop and refine their design ideas. We will begin with a brief presentation of the design process indoors, and then move outdoors to practice the process on an actual lot. Each participant will be provided with a workbook to take home which can be used to aid in their community projects.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Molly Gallant:
410-448-5663 ext. 128 or molly.gallant@parksandpeople.org

Download a flyer here!

Festival Recycling Volunteers Needed!

2008-07-09T06:48:00.000-07:00

From Cleaner Greener Baltimore:
We are in need of Volunteers! Mayor Dixon is truly committed to implementing key initiatives to build our city into a Cleaner Greener Baltimore and we need your assistance to accomplish this goal.

Festival Recycling is being launched for the first time ever throughout ArtScape’s Green Expansion area which will serve as our controlled environment.

Volunteers are needed specifically for monitoring the Trash/Recycle Stations to ensure proper education on recycling and trash disposal. You will have nice booths and snacks, and a free T-shirt. Trash/Recycling Station volunteer scope of work includes:

Pass out recycling literature, triage questions, guide visitors when disposing of their recycling/trash, and sustainable practices.
Pull full bags from the recycling bins and replace with a new and empty bag.
All bags will be stored in/behind the recycling station until Solid Waste crews can come by to collect.
Volunteers will not remove the bags from the trash containers - Solid Waste crews will do this collected debris removal.

The following time slots are needed: (can be done in or 4 hour intervals)

Friday July 18th: 6pm-10pm
Saturday July 19th: 6pm-10pm
Sunday July 20th: Noon -8pm

Volunteers will receive a free T-shirt, drinks, and snacks during the hours that they volunteer.
Please contact Hope Williams, hope.williams@baltimorecity.gov or Quayshawn.Simmons@baltimorecity.gov, to sign up or for more information.

Become an Urban Weed Warrior!

2008-07-09T06:43:00.000-07:00

Become an Urban Weed Warrior for Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks.

This classroom training session will cover how to identify and control invasive plant species. Discover examples of invasives with a short walk through the park.

When? July 19, 2008, 9am-noon

Where? Herring Run Watershed Center, 3545 Belair Road, Baltimore, MD 21213

An optional, field-training session will be held on Saturday, August 2 at Chinquapin Run Park.

For more information or to sign up for the Urban Weed Warriors training sessions, please contact Elizabeth Concra at elizabeth.concra@baltimorecity.gov or 410-396-0339.

Download a flyer for this event here.

Scavanger Hunt along the Canton Waterfront!

2008-07-07T07:36:00.000-07:00

A Search & Discover Family Adventure: You're not searching for objects, but following cludes in search of answers to tricky questions! In small teams you will meander along the waterfront to "locate" items of interest related to the community, history and waterfront.

When? Saturday, July 19 (rain date: July 20), 10am

Where? Meet at Harris Creek Park, across Boston St. from the Safeway

Cost? $10 per person (children under 12 free)

Monies to benefit improvements to Harris Creek Park

Prizes for winning team

Reservations required... limited to 50 people

For information contact: 410-522-4991 or c.boitnott@verizon.net

This is the first of three scavenger hunts along the Waterfront Promenade

(Fells Point and Key Highway)
Sponsored by the Promenade Committee of the Waterfront Partnership.

See flyer here.

Green Gatherings in the Park!

2008-07-07T07:13:00.000-07:00

Come join the new Acting Director, Ms. Wanda S. Durden for an evening in the park! Share your ideas or concerns about Baltimore's open green spaces. Together, we can grow greener, cleaner, safer, and ultimately, healthier parks!

Wednesdays at 6:30pm.

July 16 (Patterson Park Pagoda)
July 30 (Clifton Park Mansion House)
August 6 (Hall Springs, Herring Run)
August 20 (Carroll Park Mansion House)
September 3 (Druid Hill Park, Chinese Pavilion)
September 17 (Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park - Cardin Pavilion)

For more information, please call us at (410) 396-7900 or visit us on the web at www.baltimorecity.gov/recnparks. See the flyer here.

Films on the Pier in Fells Point! More outdoor movie fun.

2008-07-02T08:00:00.001-07:00

Thank you NCCC*Americorps!

2008-06-24T08:37:00.000-07:00

Over the past 8 weeks, Recreation and Parks has been fortunate in co-hosting a fabulous team from NCCC*Americorps. They worked all throughout the city on park improvement projects, at the Carrie Murray Nature Center, the Washington Monument and more! They also were co-hosted by the Parks & People Foundation, the Herring Run Watershed Association, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and the Gunpowder Valley Conservancy.

Thanks to the team members of Badger 4 - Jenn, Wesley, Zachary, Jordan, Kolb, Shelly, Tony, Shawn, Tonya and Travis - Baltimore is a bit more green. We wish them well as they head to Biloxi, MS for their next tour. Come back and visit!

Check out some pictures of the team transforming the Warwick Ave. Tot Lot:

BLOOM! Urban Forest Project Closing Exhibit

2008-06-17T11:10:00.000-07:00

Herring Run Watershed Association - Native Berry Festival!

2008-06-17T11:02:00.000-07:00

When? Saturday, June 21st, 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.Rain date, Sunday, June 22, 12:00-4:00

Where? Herring Run Park at Belair Rd. (by the movie shed).
Cost? Free admission! Brewers Art beer, Andy Nelsons BBQ, berries, native trees/shrubs, and crafts will be on sale.
Bring? A dessert to enter into the contest! Native berries include cherry, blackberry, blueberry, elderberry, mulberry, strawberry, serviceberry, and raspberry

Join us for a merry berry day in the park! Eat finger-lickin BBQ, enjoy live bluegrass/folk music and cheer on competitors in a native berry dessert contest at the Native Berry Festival. Celebrity judges: Rob Kasper, the Baltimore Sun; Ann Kostlow, Sofia's Crepes; and Jeff Smith, Chameleon Cafe, will decide winners of the dessert contest.

Plenty of games and crafts for the kids

Local vendors selling their wears

Urban Forest Project exhibit: Spawning in Herring Run

Brewer's Art beer

Andy Nelson's BBQ

Native berries and plants for sale

Come socialize with fellow residents from our watershed's 50 neighborhoods.
The event is free and open to the public. Proceeds from BBQ, beer, and dessert sales will go towards the Herring Run Watershed Center. Bring your appetite!

Thames St. Park - Jazz in the Park!

2008-06-11T12:03:00.000-07:00

An Evening of Jazz at Thames Street Park

Thursday, June 19, 20086pm - 9pm

Presented by:

Greenspace Action Partnership

John Steven, LTD.

Music By The Gary Thomas Trio

Bikers beat the heat during Tour Dem Parks!

2008-06-10T09:33:00.001-07:00

Over 500 individuals participated in the 8th Annual Tour Dem parks this past Sunday, June 8. Despite the soaring temperatures, brave bikers chose routes that toured them through Baltimore's beautiful parks.

Check out the Baltimore Sun's coverage and photos from Abby Cocke!

The Urban Forest Project and Fastspot added to the festivities at Carroll Park, bringing in Chipotle, Charm City Craft Mafia and other vendors and an area to create community leaves!

Keep an eye on the Tour Dem Park's website for more information for next year's ride.

Parks & People Grants!

2008-06-06T08:38:00.001-07:00

Funding available!

Community Grants Application Training Workshops

These workshops will provide up-to-date information on Parks & People grant programs. Find out what we do and do not fund and get information, resources and suggestions. Staff contacts will be assigned at this time and will help you with your project ideas. Please bring your calendar with you to schedule a site visit with your staff contact.

Refreshments will be provided.

Dates and locations: Tuesday, June 10th, 6:00-8:00p.m. Location: HEBCAC headquarters, 901 N. Milton St.Baltimore, MD 21205 (use the entrance at Milton and Eager)

Thursday, June 12th, 6:00-8:00p.m. Location: Bon Secours Community Support Center, 26 N. Fulton Ave. Baltimore, MD 21223

We ask that all applicants send a representative to one workshop. Returning applicants are encouraged to send a representative who has not attended in the past. Space is limited!

RSVP by June 6th, 2008. Phone: 410-448-5663 ext. 111 Email: grants@parksandpeople.org

Baltimore's Sustainability's Commission wants to hear from you!

2008-06-06T08:26:00.000-07:00

Do you care about…clean air and water? bringing new jobs to the city? our children’s future?

Now is the time to make your voice heard!

Baltimore City’s Sustainability Commission, chaired by BCF Director of Community Investment Cheryl Casciani, invites you to participate in a series of community conversations to discuss specific ideas in the following areas:
· Energy & Air
· Water
· Waste
· Green Infrastructure
· Built Environment
· Transportation
For meeting dates and times, or for more information on the Commission, go here.
Join the movement for a cleaner, greener, safer, healthier Baltimore and help develop the city’s Sustainability Plan! Tell all your friends and neighbors!

Baltimore City’s Sustainability Commission, chaired by BCF Director of Community Investment Cheryl Casciani, recently held its first public meeting. The Sun published an opinion piece by Kevin Zeese and Linda Schade on June 2nd about the meeting, which drew a standing-room-only crowd. You can read it here.

Summer Weed Camp in Herring Run Park!

2008-06-06T08:05:00.000-07:00

Looking for a fun activity and to earn community service hours this summer? Then join the Herring Run Watershed Association for Summer Weed Camp! Help remove invasive species and help improve the ecology of the Herring Run.

· Great for ages 13+
· Get involved in the community
· Earn community service hours
· Volunteer 20 hours and become a certified Weed Warrior

Dates:
Wednesday, 6/11, 5:30pm-8:00pm
Saturday, 6/14 , 9:00am-1:00pm
Tuesday, 6/17, 5:30pm-8:00pm
Sunday, 6/29, 9:00am-1:00pm
Wednesday, 7/2 , 5:30pm-8:00pm
Tuesday, 7/8, 5:30pm-8:oopm
Saturday, 7/12, 9:00am-1:00pm
Wednesday, 7/16, 5:30pm-8:00pm
Tuesday, 7/22, 5:30pm-8:00pm
Saturday, 7/26, 9:00am-1:00pm
Thursday, 7/31, 5:30pm-8:00pm
Tuesday, 8/5, 5:30pm- 8:00pm
Saturday, 8/9, 9:00am-1:00pm
Thursday, 8/14, 5:300pm-8:00pm

Notes:
· Times and dates are subject to change
· Please RSVP no later than two days prior to desired event
· E-mail Mscherr@umd.edu or call Ashley Traut at 410-254-1577 with your name, number of volunteers, e-mail address and phone number

Call for submissions - Art on the Gwynns Falls Trail!

2008-06-06T07:11:00.000-07:00

The organizers of the 7th Art on the Gwynns Falls Trail and the 2nd annual Media Sprout Festival invite artists, teachers, and performers from all backgrounds to submit proposals for sculptural, performative, and multimedia artworks.

For more information and application guidelines regarding the two events please see the documents attached to this email.

Timeline: Art on the Trail applications due 7/11, Media Sprout application due 8/1, Exhibit Opening & Media Sprout Festival 9/6.

Contact Ryan Patterson at the Parks & People Foundation at 410-448-5663 ext. 120 for more information.

7th Annual Baltimore City Golf Tournament - Success!

2008-06-04T18:02:00.000-07:00

Over 120 golfers show their support for greenerbaltimore
Friday, May 30, 2008 provided beautiful weather for the golf teams and area businesses who came out in a wonderful show of support for Baltimore City parks and the greenerbaltimore program.

The gorgeous weather surely helped along the teams who competed for top placements, longest drives, shots closest to the pin and hole-in-ones!

This tournament helped to raise funds that will be used over the next year in projects to help improve our park system.

Thank you to all who played and donated - we truly value your support.

Pictures!

Find Your Leaf! This Weekend in Carroll Park!

2008-06-03T18:31:00.000-07:00

Sunday, June 8, 12-4pm right after Tour Dem Parks

Food from Chipotle and a special arts and crafts sale featuring the Charm City Craft Mafia.
Participate and draw on one of the 8 commmunity leaves that will be up for auction.
154’ of leafs on the hillside to walk through. First chance to purchase a signature bag. First come, first serve

Fastspot presents, Find your leaf:

The local Baltimore interactive agency, Fastspot created an intuitive and interactive tool for drawing a leaf as their submission for Baltimore: The Urban Forest Project. The program enabled the ability to reach out and receive designs from all over the city and be able to experience Baltimore through the eyes of the community. Walk through our banner installation, put your mark on one of our leaves, or journey throughout the park to explore the rest of the designs. Enjoy the designs that the community created in Carroll Park!

» View Fastspot’s Drawing Tool

Like leaves, we are all unique and individual as people. What are your values and personality like? Are you family oriented? Perhaps you are eco-friendly? Find the leaf that best represents you and make your mark on it!

Join us in our venture to design one of 8 community leafs. Come to Carroll Park on June 8th and find that leaf that best suits your personality traits. Put your mark on it and meet someone new in the community who is similar to you!

Live Music by KB Drive
Scott Wilburn – Vocals
Sean Wilburn – Bass
Mike Trail – Guitar
Pete Ilenda – Guitar
Brent Wiedal – Drums

Tour Dem Parks, Hon!

2008-06-03T18:27:00.000-07:00

We are proud to announce that Tour dem Parks, Hon! was recognized by One Less Car at the 11th Annual Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Symposium. The yearly bike ride won an award for being one of Baltimore City's most innovative projects which supports bike awareness and the city's adoption of the Bicycle Master Plan. Anne Draddy, from Baltimore City Recreation and Parks, graciously accepted the award on behalf of an enthusiastic volunteer committee.

About TDP, Hon

Tour dem Parks, Hon! is an annual bike ride held on the second Sunday of June. The ride serves to acquaint both locals and visitors with Baltimore's many lovely green spaces and neighborhoods. Riders get an up-close view of large parks like Carroll, Clifton, Druid Hill, and Patterson as well as some quietly tucked away gems.

Participants can choose from 14 miles (a family ride on the Gwynn's Falls Trail), 20 miles, 40 miles, or a metric century (62.5 miles). The Tour is followed by a laid-back barbecue featuring live music.

Proceeds from the ride are donated to "friends of parks" groups and non-profit organizations affiliated with parks, greening, and bicycling. The 2007 ride netted $10,000, which was distributed among half a dozen organizations. Funds were used to paint the Jones Falls Trail mural, print literature for the Gwynn's Falls Trail, and more.

Comments from the 2007 ride

"…our first time on this ride and almost didn't to it because of the threat of rain but decided to forge ahead and wow! We will always do this ride. We had no idea the city had so many wonderful parks and neighborhoods. Can't wait till next year!"

"This was my fourth Tour. Rest and support stops are great. I will be back next year."

"Perfect family ride. My 6-year old and I did it on a tandem and loved it."

"Great ride. Excellent! Whoever mapped out the course did an excellent job."

Kick-off Meeting for Baltimore's Sustainability Plan!

2008-05-19T15:48:00.000-07:00

Another cool Urban Forest Project Event!

2008-05-02T14:06:00.000-07:00

You can volunteer for this event! Click here for more information!

Baltimore Green Map!

2008-04-29T19:53:00.000-07:00

Baltimore Green Map is now online! Help to build this online mapping tool for connecting with nature, culture and sustainable living resources in the Baltimore region. Learn more about Baltimore's participation in the international Green Map System. Visit www.baltogreenmap.org

Saturday, May 3 from 2 - 4 p.m.
Green Map Exhibit and Mapmaking Workshop
See maps from 5 continents. Create and collaborate.
The Cork Gallery
4 North (Buzzer #9)
302 E. Federal St
Baltimore, MD 21202
RSVP to info@greenmap.org with "workshop" in subject line

This program is part of the Baltimore Festival of Maps, a citywide celebration of all-things mapping from March 15 through June 8.

Hazardous Household Waste Day!

2008-04-20T17:12:00.000-07:00

Don't dump out your hazardous household waste and potentially harm the waterways that run through Baltimore's parks - instead, let Baltimore City's Department of Public Works properly dispose of them for you!

Where? Patterson High School, 100 S. Kane St.
When? Saturday, April 26, 9am to 3pm and Sunday, April 27, 11am to 4pm

Where? Polytechnic Institute, Cold Spring Lane and Falls Road
When? Sunday, May 4, 9am to 3pm

Download a flyer here.

May GROWshop - Baltimore's Historic Parks!

2008-04-20T16:37:00.000-07:00

Join Baltimore City Recreation and Parks and the Parks & People Foundation on Monday, May 5, 2008 for an inside look at Baltimore’s historic parks. Judith R. Smith, Friends of Maryland’s Olmsted Parks and Landscapes and Myra Brosius, Baltimore City Recreation and Parks will look at the Olmsted legacy and his influence on our park system today.

Location: Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory, 3100 Swan Dr. in Druid Hill Park Baltimore, MD 21217 (in Druid Hill Park)

FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED: HIS LEGEND AND HIS LEGACY
Although Central Park is the first and most famous of Frederick Law Olmsted’s works, it is by no means his defining achievement. The work of Olmsted and his sons, John Charles and Frederick Law Jr., spans nearly one hundred years, with projects ranging from urban parks to town planning to ecological protection of streams. In an illustrated lecture, Judith Smith surveys Olmsted’s influence on the history of landscape design, reviews Olmsted’s extraordinary life, and considers the design principles he used to translate his philosophy to built form.

You can download a flyer for this event.

RSVP to green@baltimorecity.gov!

Baltimore Green Week and Ecofest!

2008-04-14T09:56:00.000-07:00

Baltimore City Recreation and Parks and Baltimore Green Week are teaming up again for the fifth annual Baltimore Green Week and EcoFestival!

Baltimore Green Week kicks off on Saturday, April 26 from 11am-5pm with the Ecofestival. Ecofestival is a fun event for families and residents of Baltimore and will include over 100 vendors and exhibitors, an EcoArt gallery, a rain barrel workshop, guided nature walks, toxic tours, music, healthy food for sale, and more! Rain date: April 27.

The fun doesn't stop there. During the week of April 28th, join local leaders, nonprofits and eco-friendly companies in a series of day and evening events that promote a sustainable way of living. Click here for more information and a schedule of events.

Want to get involved? We still need volunteers for Ecofestival! Email green@baltimorecity.gov to find out how you can help.

2008 Arbor Day Free Tree Giveaway!

2008-04-14T09:09:00.000-07:00

FREE Tree Giveaway in Historic Druid Hill Park
Saturday, April 26, 2008

Mansion House Drive: 9 - 11 a.m.
Ecofest: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Drop by the Mansion House in the morning or the TreeBaltimore Display at EcoFest and pick up a FREE tree to plant in your front or backyard for Baltimore City residents only.
This event is FREE and open to the public.

FREE Trees are first-come, first-served; while supplies last.
Enter the park at Swann Drive to Mansion House Drive for morning tree pickup.

For more information, check out the flyer, or call (410) 396-7900 or visit www.baltimorecity.gov/recnparks.

May 3 - Volunteer with greener Baltimore and Volunteer Central!

2008-04-13T13:08:00.000-07:00

Friends of Baltimore Parks Day - Celebrate National Volunteer Week and Earth Day! Roll up your sleeves and join over 300 volunteers as we work to beautify and enhance three Baltimore City parks. Activities will include: gardening, watering, and general clean up. Learn about the environment and best practices for "green" living and support the "friends" groups that are responsible for the preservation of Baltimore's parks.

When:
Saturday, May 3rd
8:00 – 8:45 a.m. Registration and kick-off
9:00 – 12 noon, Volunteer work
Noon – 1:00 p.m. Lunch and green-at-home educational program

Where:
Kick-off location is Middle Branch Park. Volunteers will also work at Carroll and Latrobe Parks. All three parks are located in South and Southwest Baltimore. Directions will be provided upon registration.

Click here for directions and here for a flyer!

Business and other groups are welcome! Bring your co-workers and friends together for a great day of giving back.

Families are welcome! Children should be 5 years and older and accompanied by an adult. This event counts towards students’ community service hours for school.

Click Here to Register!

Reusable tote bags for every participant!

Urban Forest Project Opening Exhibit!

2008-04-09T07:34:00.000-07:00

Shape Up Parks Spring 2008!

2008-04-07T07:46:00.000-07:00

Despite a forecast of rain, Saturday, April 5 turned out to be a beautiful day for over 400 volunteers to participate in Shape Up Parks throughout Baltimore City Parks. Volunteers worked from 9am to 12pm in Druid Hill Park, Middle Branch Park, Hanlon Park, Gwynns Falls, Canton Dog Park, Thames St. Park, Riverside, St. Mary's Park on various projects including mulching, trash removal, invasive pulls and more! Thanks to all who participated!

See WBAL's report on the efforts in Druid Hill Park, featuring Anne Draddy, Jones Falls Trail Manager.

Herring Run park's participation in Project Clean Stream was highlighted in the Baltimore Sun and Middle Branch's project was photographed by the Baltimore Guide!

Pictures!

Find volunteer opportunities with greener Baltimore!

2008-04-06T07:25:00.000-07:00

Visit greener Baltimore's pages at Business Volunteer Unlimited's Volunteer Central and Volunteer Match to find out how you can help greener Baltimore.

Whether you want to help with park service projects, fun park events, or tree plantings, there are opportunities for everyone to help.

Baltimore's Urban Forest Project begins!

2008-03-21T12:25:00.000-07:00

The Urban Forest Project is coming to Baltimore April 11th-June 28th!

On Wednesday, March 19 the first of 300+ banners was hung at the corner of Patterson Park Ave and Eastern Ave near Patterson Park.

This project by Tilt Studio Inc., brings together 200 artists, designers and College students, 75+ K-12 students, and another 100+ businesses to produce a visual story based on the image of a tree and the idea of sustainability. Each participant was asked to design a banner, to be hung throughout Baltimore City. The banners will lead visitors to Druid Hill Park, Wyman Park Dell, Herring Run Park, Patterson Park and Carroll Park. Each park will have installations and day long events that help to promote and drive traffic to the park.

Keep an eye out for the banners as they are installed in the next few weeks. Check out a map of where the banners will be hung and find out about upcoming events by visiting the Urban Forest Project.

Photo courtesy of Zoe Gensheimer.

Shape Up Parks! April 5, 2008

2008-03-17T08:44:00.001-07:00

Plan or volunteer for a park service project in a park near you!

Join Baltimore City Recreation and Parks for Shape Up Parks, our bi-annual volunteer service day, and help get a jump start on spring cleaning.

On Saturday, April 5, 2008 from 9am to 12pm come out to mulch, weed, clean, and paint our parks and playgrounds!

If you are an individual volunteer or a school, church or business group, contact us so we can help connect you with a park project that fits your needs.

If you are a park stewardship group, get in touch with us and we can assist your group in registering your project, planning your activities, and finding additional supplies and volunteers.

This year Shape Up Parks and Project Clean Stream are working together to clean our parks and streams. Visit the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay to learn more about how you can get involved with a stream clean up in your area (including the surrounding counties!)

Student Volunteer Day - March 8, 2008

2008-03-10T07:51:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, March 8, 2008, over 600 youth volunteers from the Uncharted Student Evangelism Conference spent their Saturday afternoon in the rain helping to mulch, weed, clean, sweep and edge in nine Baltimore City parks. Despite the rainy weather, they helped out the Department of Recreation and Parks and many park stewardship groups get a jump on spring cleaning in the parks!

Monday, April 7 GROWshop - Sustaining Community Involvement

2008-03-06T06:15:00.001-08:00

Thanks to all who attended Monday night's GROWshop on Developing a Board of Directors. Over 20 participants enjoyed a great presentation by Amy Coates Madsen, Maryland Association of Nonprofits, and acquired lots of useful information to take back to their groups.

Join Baltimore City Recreation and Parks and Parks & People Foundation on Monday, April 7 for the next GROWshop on "Sustaining Community Involvement", presented by Lane Victorson of the University of Maryland School of Social Work. Learn how to use community organizing techniques to keep the momentum going for your park!

Location: Baltimore City Recreation and Parks, Peach Room, 3001 East Drive, Baltimore, MD 21217 (in Druid Hill Park).

RSVP to green@baltimorecity.gov.

You can download a flyer for this event or click on the link on the sidebar.

The Growing Home Campaign

2008-03-04T06:58:00.000-08:00

Greening begins in your own backyard. Increasing tree canopy one tree at a time.

The Growing Home program is an innovative way homeowners can help increase the tree canopy in our region. As part of Baltimore County's Green Renaissance and Baltimore City's Tree Baltimore Initiative, the Growing Home Campaign is a partnership between Baltimore County, Baltimore City, local retail nurseries and garden centers, and homeowners to encourge planting new trees on private residential land. The Growing Home Campaign provides homeowners with education about the multiple benefits of planting trees and a $10 savings on the purchase of qualifying trees.

Plant a tree today and visit the Growing Home website to learn more about this great program!

Mayor Dixon and County Executive Smith announced the campaign at the regional watershed conference on Saturday, March 1 - see the article in the Baltimore Sun.

Funding Opportunity for Youth-Led Groups

2008-02-28T13:45:00.000-08:00

Grants available for youth-led community organizing projects

Youth As Resources, Baltimore’s youth-led grant making organization has funds available!

Youth (up to age 21) in Baltimore City and County who want to put their community building ideas into action are invited to apply for funding.

Grants range from $500 - $3,500 and are available for community organizing projects that are created and carried out by young people.

Youth As Resources is offering grant seeker workshops on: Saturday, March 15 at 10:30 a.m. and Wednesday, March 19 at 5:00 p.m.

Applicants are required to attend one of the two workshops and must be represented by one or two youth and no more than one optional adult. Application deadline is on Friday, April 18.

To sign up for a workshop and/or for more information, please call (410) 576-9551.

GROWshop - Presenter Announced!

2008-02-27T11:59:00.000-08:00

Join us for our second workshop this spring hosted by Baltimore City Recreation and Parks and the Parks & People Foundation on Monday, March 3, 2008.

Join us at Alonso's Restaurant on the second floor (415 W Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21210) at 5:30pm for a fun evening of learning and socializing.

RSVP to green@baltimorecity.gov. Download a flyer here.

Presenter: Amy Coates Madsen, Director of Standards for Excellence Institute

Amy Coates Madsen is the Director of the Standards for Excellence Institute, a national initiative to promote the highest standards of ethics and accountability in nonprofit governance, management, and operations, and to facilitate adherence to standards by all organizations. The Standards for Excellence Institute is a program of the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations where Amy has served for more than nine years. Amy is responsible for coordinating all aspects of the association's comprehensive ethics and accountability program and efforts to replicate the program nationally. She serves as a trainer in the areas of board conduct, program evaluation, program replication, fundraising ethics, and nonprofit management. Amy also works with nonprofit sector measurement research initiatives. She teaches a course on nonprofit ethics and accountability at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies Certificate Program on Nonprofit Management.

According to the Maryland Nonprofits Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector, nonprofits are governed by an elected, volunteer board of directors that should consist of individuals who are committed to the mission of the organization. An effective nonprofit board should determine the mission of the organization, establish management policies and procedures, assure that adequate human resources (volunteer and/or paid staff) and financial resources (earned income, government contracts and grants, and charitable contributions) are available, and actively monitor the organization's financial and programmatic performance.

Understanding the role of the board is the first key to successfully building one for your organization. The actual process will vary from organization to organization, but is always based on the premise of finding people dedicated to your cause that have the time, energy, and passion to grow and sustain the organization. This workshop will discuss the basic roles and responsibilities of a nonprofit board and touch on some ways to go about building that board.

Building a Board - GROWshop!

2008-02-15T13:33:00.000-08:00

Capacity building workshops for park stewards!

Join us for our second workshop this spring hosted by Baltimore City Recreation and Parks and the Parks & People Foundation. The Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations will present "Building a Board of Directors" focusing on the basic roles and responsibilities of nonprofit board members and tips for recruitment!

Join us at Alonso's Restaurant on the second floor (415 W Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21210) at 5:30pm for a fun evening of learning and socializing.

RSVP to green@baltimorecity.gov.

Download a flyer here.

Change of Location for February 4 GROWshop

2008-01-31T14:16:00.000-08:00

Please note - due to space constraints, the February 4, 2008 GROWshop will now be held at the Virginia S. Baker Recreation Center, located at 2601 E. Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD 21224.

Spring GROW workshop series

2008-01-08T07:09:00.000-08:00

Capacity building workshops for park stewards!

Baltimore City Recreation and Parks and the Parks & People Foundation partnered in Fall 2007 on a workshop series for Baltimore City's park steward groups. Topics included event planning, marketing, volunteer and business recruitment. Over 50 participants joined us over the series, which featured hour-long workshops followed by a social hour, where park friends could mingle, socialize and network with each other.

The spring series will kick off on Monday, February 4, 2008, with Tim Almaguer, Executive Director of Friends of Patterson Park presenting on the process of forming a 501(c)(3) organization. Join us at the White House (27 S. Patterson Park Ave., Baltimore, MD 21231) at 5:30pm for a fun evening of learning and socializing. RSVP to green@baltimorecity.gov.

Welcome to greenerbaltimore.blogspot.com

2008-01-07T09:00:00.000-08:00

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Visit this page to find out about upcoming park service projects and park events sponsored by Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks and our partner park stewardship groups.

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