Objective 3: Community Partnerships, Awards, and Recognition
Community Partnerships
- CCPS: NCEEC provides programming and assistance at community events held at CCPS schools. We have helped with a variety of Earth Day and Wetlands Day programs. We have also presented at local school career days.
- Duke University: In a partnership with CCPS and Duke University, NCEEC held a week long summer camp, called STARS camp, for middle school students focused on environmental STEM challenges.
- Scout Groups: Boy and Girl Scouts stay on site for free in exchange for service projects. Over the years, many Eagle Scout and Girl Scout Gold award projects have been completed at NCEEC.
- Southern Maryland Audubon Society: SMAS is a valued partner that has many of the same objectives as NCEEC. They frequently use our site to conduct bird counts, provide scholarships to teachers in CCPS to attend training in Maine, and they have helped us with staff development. Additionally, we have provided bird mounts and study skins for their use in their educational programs. NCEEC allows SMAS to place an osprey platform in the area. NCEEC Staff has provided support by being guest speakers and being actively involved in SMAS board of directors.
- Cobb Island Citizens Association: Like NCEEC, CICA has a strong interest in preserving habitat for migrating monarch butterflies and educating the public on how to foster monarch habitats at home. CICA has loaned NCEEC different butterfly props to use in a variety of programs on several occasions.
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources: DNR has provided NCEEC with extensive expertise. They have provided NCEEC and CCPS with staff development. DNR issues our Scientific Collection Permit. As a condition of the permit, NCEEC sends DNR all data from our fish sampling in Nanjemoy Creek we do with fish graders.
- Southern Maryland Astronomical Society: This group of volunteers provides support for staff when night sky viewing is possible. CCPS provides SMAS with electricity, communication, and maintenance of the astronomy dome and control building which is located on site.
- Local Environmental Education Community Members: We enjoy partnerships with many local colleagues at centers such as Port Tobacco River Conservency, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Chapman State Park, Friends of Chapman State Park, CHESPAX, USFWS, and Chesapeake Bay Trust. We share resources, expertise, and inspiration to benefit our mission and communities.
- University of Maryland Extension Service: NCEEC depends on this organization for professional development and expertise in natural resources. Master Gardeners have provided volunteer hours and expertise working with staff planning and planting native gardens and assisting with garden maintenance at NCEEC.
- Charles County Department of Public Facilities: This government department has generously provided mulch for our site free of charge. The mulch is used on trails and in our native gardens.
- Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative: SMECO has assisted NCEEC with putting bird houses up on site using their cherry-picker truck.
- Community Volunteers: NCEEC relies on our community neighbors to help us achieve our mission. A dedicated group of volunteers help feed our raptors during weekends, holidays, and summer break. Some volunteers donate their time assisting us on our outreach programs. Others assist us on site with ongoing maintenance and projects. As a fun thank you, NCEEC hosts a volunteer appreciation event that coincides with the hatch-day of our resident bald eagle, Tayac.
- MAEOE: Our state environmental education organization provides NCEEC with many resources we need to accomplish our mission of creating environmentally literate citizens. MAEOE provides us with professional development during their annual conference and other opportunities throughout the year. They also provide a network of fellow educators with whom we can share expertise and provide support to our Green School program.
Awards
NCEEC, in the summer of 2012, was awarded with the Bay-Wise Certification. This certified that NCEEC has an environmentally sound landscape. The award was given by the Master Gardeners in partnership with the University of Maryland Extension.
Recognition
In 2010, NCEEC received Green Center status for the first time. The Maryland governor, the Maryland delegate, and the State Superintendent of Schools all sent letters of congratulations. Our center was also featured in the CCPS School News newsletter for receiving the certification.