Bay Invaders is an award-winning program that supports Anne Arundel County 9th grade students in learning about and actively removing invasive plant species from our community and regional parks. Created in 2017, the program has engaged 2500 students who have removed nearly 4,000lbs of invasive plants creating a strong and more resilient local, native ecosystem. Program partners include Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center, Anne Arundel County Recreation & Parks, Anne Arundel County Weed Resistance, Maryland Master Gardeners, and more.
Volunteers will be assigned to school as well as a team of rangers and teachers to support the program. Volunteers commit to providing 15 hours to the project between the months of February and April. Duties can include classroom presentations, reviewing student-created invasive species management plans, and guiding student removal efforts in the field. Volunteers do not need any previous teaching experience. You must be able to pass an AACPS background check and provide your own transportation.
All participating teachers, rangers, and volunteers will attend an in-person kick-off event and training on Wednesday, February 15, 4:30pm-7:30pm at Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center. Visit the Bay Invaders Program Website to learn more and sign up today!
No additional volunteer opportunities at this time.
975 Indian Landing Rd, Millersville, MD 21108, US
To empower students of all ages through environmental and outdoor experiences that connect them with the natural world and equip them with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to make and act upon responsible environmental decisions. Our goals are to: 1. Develop and implement environmental literacy curriculum at all grade levels that aligns with the Maryland Environmental Literacy standards and the Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards. 2. Provide outdoor and environmental programming in which students investigate and take action on environmental issues and learn to enjoy aquatic environments safely. 3. Empower teachers to use the environment and the outdoors as a context for learning. 4. Serve as a community resource for building environmental stewardship and educating the residents of Anne Arundel County.
The Environmental Literacy and Outdoor Education Office of Anne Arundel County Public Schools provides interdisciplinary outdoor education for AACPS students and teachers. We integrate environmental literacy and outdoor learning into the AACPS school-based curricula at all grade levels for all students. We are part of the division of Curriculum and Instruction of Anne Arundel County Public Schools. For over 50 years we have provided interdisciplinary environmental and outdoor education. Through outreach and our site-based programs, we provide face-to-face instruction to more than 25,000 students and 8,000 adults each school year. In addition, our school-based curricula reach students at all grade levels every year.
Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center is the headquarters of the Environmental Literacy and Outdoor Education Office. AACPS purchased Arlington Echo in 1971 from the Arlington Presbyterian Church of Baltimore. The 24-acre youth camp was named Arlington Echo because a call from the bluff would echo back from across the Severn River. AACPS had previously rented the property to be used as the "Arlington Echo Outdoor School." In 1974, the site became known as the "Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center." Arlington Echo now serves as the outdoor education site for the fourth grade environmental literacy program and the "home base" for the many other programs overseen by ELOE Office.
Multiple locations Millersville, MD 21108
February 9, 2023
