The Friends of Quiet Waters Park is a nonprofit organization that supports
Quiet Waters Park through volunteering, fundraising, and advocacy.

Donations to the Friends are tax deductible.

Quiet Waters Park
is a facility of the
Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks.

All articles and images on this web site are the property of
The Friends of Quiet Waters Park.














The Friends of Quiet Waters Park
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Educate, Experience, Excite!
Training Tomorrow’s Environmental Leaders
Our Mission

In addition to conserving beautiful spaces for people to experience nature, Quiet Waters Park is committed to enriching the Annapolis community by stimulating interest in, developing knowledge about, and inspiring stewardship of the environment through unique, environmental programming. Quiet Waters Park has an active volunteer base that supports a wide range of activities including environmental educational outreach and nature conservation projects.

The Perfect Place to Explore Nature
Quiet Waters offers beautiful views of both the South River and Harness Creek and is an ideal place to come and experience the changing seasons. Our rangers take special care of the wildlife and plants that are unique to the Park and offer guides and programs about their habitat, behavior, and importance in the local ecosystem. Learn about the park’s natural resources by participating in one our interpretive nature programs or through individual exploration out on the trails.

Clilck HERE to learn more about the upcoming Reading and Butterfly Garden.

Educational Opportunities
Environmental education is a top priority here at Quiet Waters Park. Rangers and volunteers work together to provide outdoor, educational opportunities so that community members have a place to learn about Maryland’s biodiversity and the importance of protecting the Park’s natural environment. The Park needs volunteers to assist in all aspects of outdoor programming to facilitate bridging the gap between people and nature. The following is a list of educational programs that need volunteer assistance:
•Interpretive Nature Programs
This spring and summer, come explore the biodiversity in Quiet Waters Park by participating in one of our interpretive, nature programs. The programs are lead by park rangers and volunteers, and will utilize the park’s natural resources to provide environmental, outdoor learning experiences for children and adults.
•Composting Demonstrations
Interested in the benefits of composting and planting native plants? Come visit the composting demonstration site and native gardens area located along the Wildwood Trail. For 10 years, the Anne Arundel County Master Gardeners and Quiet Waters Park have offered composting demonstration workshops to the public. Starting in May, composting demonstrations will be offered twice a month on Wednesdays and Saturdays through October.

For more information, visit:
http://friendsofquietwaterspark.org/composting.html

•Oyster Nurseries

Volunteers are needed to help monitor the 22 oyster baskets hanging off the dock on Harness Creek! Oysters are one of the bays most valued filter feeders and are essential to maintaining a healthy, coastal ecosystem. The Park is committed to doing its part to restore oysters for replenishment areas in the Chesapeake Bay by providing these “safe havens” for oyster seeds to grow and mature. For more information, visit http://www.southriverfederation.net/ or contact Chesapeake Conservation Corps member, Jennifer Carr at jennifer@southriverfederation.net

•Eastern Box Turtle Study & Herpetology Survey

The Eastern Box Turtle Study is a continuation of a long term program where staff and volunteers record the weight, size, sex, age, and condition of Eastern Box Turtles found at QWP.

There are several non lethal "traps" around the park that serve to help identify and catalog the different “herps” that can be found within the Park. The Herpetology program is led by two student interns from Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary and monitored by park staff and volunteers.

Contact Ranger, David Burman at: RPBURM01@aacounty.org to see how you can help

COMING SOON….

•Rain Reading Garden:
Reading and Butterfly Garden to offer a Watershed Education Experience (WEE)
This new park attraction scheduled to open by 2012 will create a place where the community can celebrate the joy of reading and being together in a natural, peaceful and healthy environment.  The garden will offer an outdoor classroom, reading grove, native landscaping garden beds to include butterfly gardens and sensory gardens and feature environmental best management practices such as rain gardens, step pools and bioswales. The nature programs and living classroom will provide hands-on information and experiences to teach children and adults about ways to preserve and protect the Earth and immediate areas such as the South River and Chesapeake Bay.  This Garden is inspired by Garrett’s Light with special thanks to the Anne Arundel Recreation and Parks, Chesapeake Bay Trust, State Farm Insurance, smart Center Annapolis, WRNR and countless corporate sponsors and private donations. Volunteers will be needed o help maintain the area and help out with the nature library.

•Stormwater  Education Project (stay tuned for details)
Stormwater is the largest contributor to pollution in Anne Arundel County’s water quality. In partnership with the Watershed Stewards Academy, The Rainscaping Campaign, Arlington Echo, and Chesapeake Conservation Corps, Quiet Waters Park will be implementing a stormwater prevention plaque and demonstration site project that will serve to educate about the different methods for slowing and/or STOPPING the flow of stormwater into the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. This project will slow the amount of stormwater runoff that flows into Harness Creek and act as an educational tool for the public.

ALL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING:

Educational outreach volunteers will be involved in the planning and development of programs. Responsibilities will depend on skills and interest, but in general will include the following:

*Completion of a two hour, formal training session
*Assistance with creating, piloting, and evaluating a single topic environmental
         education program
*Submitting planned lesson activities and/or discussion points a week prior to
         program event
*Developing hands-on activities for children
*Planning and leading nature hikes
*Open communication with Volunteer Coordinator

Skills Needed:
*Ability to interact effectively with a variety of different people
*Interest in direct contact with nature and enthusiasm for the outdoors is necessary
*Physical ability to lead nature hike and walks through park grounds
*Basic computer skills: Email, Microsoft Word

Time Commitment:
The time commitment will depend on how long and how often the program will be offered. All that is required is that a set schedule be determined at least one month prior to the start of the event.




Benefits of Volunteering with Environmental Education Program at Quiet Waters Park:

*Learn more about the environment and the Park by working with knowledgeable and experienced rangers and staff members
*It’s an opportunity to impact young minds and inspire a strong environmental conscience
*Spend quality time outdoors
*Have flexibility in your volunteer schedule
*Most of all, to have fun!


ENVIRONMENTAL LECTURE SERIES

The Friends of Quiet Waters Park is pleased to announce the Environmental Lecture Series, beginning its inaugural season in March 2011.  Twice per month, the Park will host panel discussions and keynote speakers exploring everything from where we will put our trash to how we should generate energy in the 21st century.

This year’s participants include representatives from Chesapeake Climate Action Network, NOAA, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, Environmental Protection Agency, South River Federation, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and Solar Decathlon Project.

Lectures will be held on the first and third Thursdays of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Blue Heron Center in Quiet Waters Park.

Please join us for a night of reflection and engagement around issues affecting our communities from the local to the global. For additional information, please contact Quiet Waters Park (410) 222-1777.

All lectures will be at 6:30pm in the Blue Heron Center.

LECTURES ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Click HERE to learn about volunteer opportunities. (Select Environment Committee)

Walk-ins are welcome!
The following list indicates the dates and topics for the 2011 lecture series events:
Thursday, March 3 - Better Buildings: The Benefits of Green Architecture.
 
Thursday, March 17 - Tomorrow's Energy: Comparing the Cost, Effectiveness, and
Environmental Impact of Wind and Nuclear Energy
 
Thursday, April 7 - Rising Tides: Climate Change and Maryland’s Shores
 
Thursday, April 21 - Solar Power in YOUR Home

Thursday, May 19 - What Needs to be Done to Restore the Bay?
The Inconvenient Truths

Thursday, June 2 - Where Does the Trash Go? Revisiting the Plastic Problem
Click here for more information

Thursday, June 16 - The Benefits to Eating Green!

Thursday, July 7 - Chesapeake Bay Series I

Thursday, July 21 - Chesapeake Bay Series II

Thursday, August 4 - Maryland’s Endangered Wildlife