Jug Bay Wetlands sanctuary neWs Volume 30, numBer 1 spring 2016

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The Art of Communicating Sciencehile the process of collect-ing and analyzing scientific

data is of immense impor-tance, translating these findings into understandable and inspiring products is equally important. It could be said that communication is an art form and revolves around telling stories to teach people. How you tell a story can take many forms depending on the information you would like to share and whom you would like to share it with.

With the creative and talented help of Laura Balliett, information we have learned about Jug Bay marshes and the stresses they experience in the face of climate change was represented in a “comic book” format for middle school students. This is an initial attempt our Sanctuary staff has taken to increase science communication to our many different audiences.

If you are interested in or passionate about the need for and importance of science communication, we welcome your creative ideas to help us spread all the knowledge we have gained from Jug Bay through our citizen science program and the work of visiting scientists, research interns, and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) students. We would like to believe that with our efforts to better communicate science we can spark changes in awareness, behavior, and/or appre-ciation for the Patuxent River, its natural resources, and its rich human and cultural history!

Laura Balliett is a middle school STEM teacher in Lakewood, Ohio and the creator of The Cool School Rap Comic. The Cool School Rap Comic is an educational comic series that breaks down complicated science and math curriculum into a highly visual and easy-to-read format.

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“Never stop asking questions about the world we live in.”Glen Burnie students’ personal definition of science inquiry after this program

Open science inquiry can be best described as science by the students, for the students. Each student chooses a question or challenge of personal interest, creates the research methods, determines the equipment needed, creates the data collection schedule, and then straps on his or her hiking boots and heads out to the field. Students are at the helm of the learning process and, while thinking through the design and execution of their study, are often challenged to adopt a heightened sense of self-reliance, self-confidence, and self-directed learning. In short, gone are the days of passing out a lab guide with terms to memorize and predetermined methods to follow. This is as close to practicing real field science as it gets, dirt under the nails and all!

From October through December 2015, Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary welcomed 11 students from the Anne Arundel County STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Community Challenge Program. The program pairs high school juniors from South River, Glen Burnie, and North County High Schools with a professional mentor who guides them through solving a real-world STEM challenge in our county. Instead of receiving a preconceived challenge, our students were introduced to the practice of open science inquiry and were invited to pursue a local environmental or sociological issue that spoke to them. For many of the students, this marked one of the first occasions in their educational journey where they sat in the driver’s seat.

“It’s like walking an underwater dog!”Response from a South River student towing for plankton for the first time

Leaving four student groups from Glen Burnie, North County, and South River High School to their own devices to create their research projects resulted in four

unique and equally fascinating projects, from investigating the presence of Vibrio bacteria in Jug Bay waterways to estimating Southern Flying Squirrel populations in the Sanctuary. One student group interested in exploring algal grazing rates of Patuxent River zooplankton went a step further and formed a partnership with an expert at Morgan State University’s Patuxent Environmental & Aquatic Research Laboratory who shared knowledge and equipment to enhance their study.

“For the first time, I felt I was part of the science community.”South River student after completing the Community Action Project

The final project component for the students who worked with Jug Bay was the development of a Community Action Project (CAP). Each student group had to develop a CAP that was a meaningful translation of their study findings for the local community. The CAP was an opportunity for students to take their project one step further by engaging their peers, families, neighbors, or even the local scientific community with their findings. Most importantly, the students were challenged to design a CAP that pushed them outside their comfort zone, to the place where real learning happens.

Taking this advice to heart, the student groups each chose a project that pushed them towards developing skills that challenged

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Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary 1361 Wrighton Road Lothian, MD 20711 410-741-9330 e-mail: info@jugbay.org

www.jugbay.org

Jug Bay Wetlands sanctuary is operated by the anne arundel county department of recreation and parks. it was established in 1985 with the goals of wetlands research and environmental education. the sanctuary is a limited-use park. groups are requested to make a reservation by calling the office before plan-ning a visit.

Jug Bay Wetlands sanctuary is a member of the chesapeake Bay - national estuarine research reserve maryland system, which promotes sci-entific research, public education, resource management and stewardship in estuarine reserves across the nation.

SANCTUARY STAFFpatricia delgado, superintendentliana Vitali, education coordinatordebra gage, office managermelinda Fegler, Volunteer & stewardship coordinatorheather Baden, naturalistrichard chaney, maintenancedonald smith, maintenance

FRieNDS oF JUg BAY oFFiCeRS:al tucker, presidentVice president, vacant Jim harle, treasurer John norris, secretary

BoARD oF DiReCToRS: Blythe alexanderdarcy hermansean mcguinn anne muecke dotty mumford

Marsh Notes is produced quarterly by Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary.

Comments and suggestions are welcome.

editor: darcy hermangraphic design: liz Fisher, ec Fisher design contact: liz@ecfisherdesign.comthis newsletter is printed on recycled paper.

siobhan percey colin reesJeff shenotnora terres

Exploring Open Science Inquiry at JBWSby Liana Vitali, Education Coordinator and Naturalist

Students learn how to successfully tow for plankton in the Patuxent River.

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Dear Friends,On April 9th we celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Friends of Jug Bay, Inc. (FOJB) as a nonprofit research and education corporation. It is wonderful that our original principles have endured and flourished for three decades. The ethos of our founding members firmly established the idea that wetlands form a keystone environmental link to the overall quality of life. They believed that research and education are necessary to engage the public and to inform them about the important services wetlands provide. As a component of the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks, the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary’s primary purpose is actually recreation and not necessarily

research and education. Therefore, if the concepts of education and research were to be achieved, a private, supporting organization was necessary to raise funds to provide instruments, lab equipment, staff development, research internships, and education internships. With this support the Sanctuary staff and numerous volunteers have been able to develop and nurture these efforts and to scale them for broader public participation.

None of this, however, could occur without the support of the members of FOJB. That support, however, is not necessarily financial. It is the personal time that each of you devotes to these research and education programs that makes them successful. Our members have brought a spectrum of skills that span the infrastructure support for research from laying out the geographic grid to mapmaking to data analysis. Some of you have undertaken your own research studies and published them, while some of you have continued the long-term, decades-long studies on water quality, vernal pools and waterbird surveys.

Today these efforts are more collectively referred to as citizen science. There is no succinct definition of the term, and it probably means different things to different people. Although the term seems new, one must remember that amateurs discovered the fundamentals of many sciences. People like Franklin, Jefferson, and Thoreau are well recognized citizen scientists, but there are many less-noted individuals who observed weather patterns and maintained almanacs for farmers and fishermen. Perhaps the most famous citizen science project is one you may have participated in, the Audubon Christmas Bird Count. It demonstrates the power and scope of citizen science on the longevity and geographic scale that would be impossible without the participation of hundreds of volunteers, particularly a century ago.

Broadly speaking, citizen science is the participation of the public in a scientific project. Most often today one finds citizens involved in ecological and environmental studies that

· Provide data collection for large-scale, long-term research and monitoring · Promote environmental stewardship · Foster public involvement in environmental decision making · Spread knowledge and scientific literacy · Encourage collaboration · Address questions of local concern · Engage the public · Provide a form of recreation with a civic purpose

I think the future of citizen science at Jug Bay bodes well. The membership of FOJB and their commitment have remained steadfast over the past few years in spite of the economic setbacks experienced in general. At the same time, the opportunities and needs are growing. Wetlands and intertidal zones are the most active life zones on the planet. They are the bellwether of changes we may expect to see in our broader environment. Climate change and the implementation of nutrient and pollution limits present challenges for understanding how our environment will respond.

I am particularly enthusiastic about the Adopt-a-Plot program Mel Fegler is creating. It will offer a plethora of opportunities to participate in the establishment of a program during a time of rapid change. The northeast states are among the areas with fastest rising temperatures in the country, and within this region, upper and lower southern Maryland are the sub-regions with the fastest changes. By 2050 these regions are expected to experience more than 60 additional days per year above 90°F compared to the end of the last century, while there will be a significant decrease in the days below 32°F. In addition, the northeast coast is expected to undergo the fastest sea level rise, and the Chesapeake Bay is expected to lose the major wetlands on the Eastern Shore. The observations at Jug Bay will make a major contribution on how riverine estuaries respond to the double threat of temperature and sea level rise.

Please come and join Mel as we undertake what promises to be an exciting contribution of citizen science during the next three decades.

Al Tucker, President

We welcome new and returning FOJB members:

Jeannine AllenJane BerolCraig BeylesLila ColaianniAl ConnerJeffrey DavisKaren and Glenn

EdgecombeAmy FernandesJudith HartmanHoward HoganNathan Miller

Robert MitchellBary PoindexterLisa RaileyJake ReillyGary ReisnerSteve RichardsonMary K. SistikJohn TimmSusan WaddingtonJerome A. WhitePamela Wright

Sunday, April 10, 2:30 – 5:30 pmplease join us for our annual meeting. activities include a keynote speaker and the presentation of the Jug Bay award to a leader in patuxent river conservation. preceding the business meeting, there will be a variety of sweet and savory finger foods to enjoy with fellow Friends and sanctuary supporters.

please rsVp with acceptances only at www.friendsofjugbay.org/events.html.

Friends of Jug Bay Annual Meeting

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a 20-30% increase in students’ self-directed learning and self-confidence values.

By the time this article publishes, we’ll be introducing our next batch of students to

open science inquiry at Jug Bay. Keep an eye on Jug Bay’s Facebook page for photos and updates on students’ projects!

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Students take water quality samples from the Patuxent River.

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them. Six of the students took a few chest-puffing breaths and presented their work to the Friends of Jug Bay board. Another group adopted the role of “Naturalist for a Day” to design and independently lead a water quality field trip to Jug Bay for their peers. Finally, recognizing that some schools face limited field trip capabilities, our last student group designed and led an in-class “field trip” to Jug Bay by hosting six hands-on water quality learning workshops for their peers.

“I’ve learned that [public speaking] isn’t going to kill me!”North County student after completing the open science inquiry program at Jug Bay

While student response to this first open science inquiry opportunity at Jug Bay was positive, we were especially interested to learn if the experience affected them on a deeper, personal and professional level. To attempt to measure this, each student voluntarily participated in a pre and post program survey modeled after the Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale published by Dr. Lucy M. Guglielmino. Keeping in mind that our initial sample size was fairly low, we were excited to see that the findings suggest a statistically significant increase in the students’ “ability to use background experience and knowledge to suggest alternate ideas/perspective on a research study and to use background experience and knowledge to suggest improvements for future research studies.” Additionally, select measurements indicated

Jug Bay naturalist Mike Quinlan mentors students on Southern Flying Squirrels.

She began creating these comics over three years ago as part of her effort to reach the reluctant readers in her classroom. These students were missing valuable content and struggling to reach their grade level standards. In response to this, she drew some of the concepts in comic form hoping to ignite an interest in reading the infor-mation. To her surprise, it worked. Her students loved the comics, and since then, the series has been evolving.

Now, the series has expanded beyond simple one-page comics and is now available as full lesson plans and activities. These lesson plans and activities provide content and activity procedures all in comic form. This

makes it easy for students of all learning levels to grasp concepts and understand instructions. All of the comics she creates align with standards and promote taking an active role in the learning process. In the future, she would love to expand the comic series to tackle even more subject matter, including health, environmental issues and life skills.

The Cool School Rap Comic is available for download in PDF form on TeachersPayTeachers and The Cool School Rap website (www.coolschoolrap.com). Please share this amazing learning tool with young readers and your educator friends.

Cool School Rap comic artist Laura Balliett.

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Open Hours:

Sanctuary Wetlands Center: Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Glendening Nature Preserve: Wrighton Road entrance daily, gate open 9:00 am – 5:00 pm; Plummer House entrance, gate open 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (trails, butterfly garden, dogs on leash)

Patuxent Wetland Park: daily, dawn to dusk (fishing, hand-carried boat launch)

Wootons Landing Wetland Park: daily, dawn to dusk (fishing, loop trail, hand-carried boat launch)

Sanctuary Wetlands Center admission fee: $6.00 per vehicle

Free for current Friends of Jug Bay members, active volunteers, and active military.

There are no fees to visit our other sites.

Visit www.jugbay.org for directions, information and updates to our schedule.

Registration is required for all programs. Please call 410-741-9330 or email programs@jugbay.org to register. All programs meet at the Wetlands Center at 1361 Wrighton Road unless otherwise noted. Program fees are in addition to vehicle admittance fees. An adult must accompany children under 13.

SPRING 2016 PUBLIC PROGRAMS AT JUG BAy

Awesome Ospreys!Saturday, March 19, 10:30 am - 12:00 pmAges: All, familiesFee: Free for FoJB members, $2 per person or $10 per family for non-members.march is the time when ospreys return to their nests at Jug Bay. come learn about these majes-tic creatures and then join us on the observation deck to view them with our new spotting scope. Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail programs@jugbay.org.

Spring Equinox HikeSunday, March 20, 5:00 - 7:30 pmAges: 8 and olderFee: Free with $6 per vehicle admission feeJoin master naturalist mike Quinlan for a leisure-ly hike through the sanctuary to see and hear the signs of spring. Wear shoes that can get wet and muddy, just in case. Binoculars and cameras are always a good idea. We’ll end by watching the sunset from the observation deck. Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail programs@jugbay.org.

Osprey by Nick Iascone

Guided BirdwalkFirst Saturday each month, 8:00 - 11:00 amAges: 12 and olderFee: $6 per vehicle entrance feelearn the skills of identifying birds by sight and sound on a guided hike with an experi-enced birder. Binoculars and field guides are avail-able to borrow. Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail programs@jugbay.org.

Preschool Nature SeriesFirst Friday of each month (generally), 10:00 - 11:00 amAges: 3-5Fee: $2 per childchildren enjoy sensory activities and learn about nature through an interactive story, craft and hike. explore a new topic the first Friday of each month. extend your visit with free play at our nature play space. Registration required through Active Net:March 3 (#7212), April 1 ( #7225), May 6 (#7227)

Soup and Science Lecture SeriesSunday, March 13, 12:00 - 3:00 pmAges: AdultsFee: Freeenjoy hearty homemade soup and fresh bread with fellow nature lovers at the Jug Bay Wetlands sanctuary. then sit back with a cup of coffee or tea and dessert and enjoy listening to our guest speakers rick Borchelt and tom stock present md100 Butterfly Big year - the Quest to Find 100 species of Butterflies in maryland and dc in a single year. Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or register online at www.friendsofjugbay.org.

Spring Cleaning River Clean-Up [Patuxent Wetland Park]Tuesday, March 15, 10:00 am - 2:00 pmAges: 10 and olderFee: Freehelp us have a clean spot for the Big Bad Fishing tourney. patuxent Wetland park is a popular fish-ing spot in our community and we want every-one to enjoy a clean and safe space. participants will receive a voucher for 1/2 off entry into the spring fishing tournament to be held march 22-26. Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail rpfegl00@aacounty.org.

Spring Break in the ParkTuesday, March 22, 9:30 am - 3:30 pmAges: 8-12Fee: $30 per child (Active Net Activity #7215)spend a day exploring Jug Bay Wetlands sanctuary with naturalist heather Baden. participants will hike the woods, dip net in a vernal pool, search for wildlife, pull invasive plants, and make a nature craft. Bring a bag lunch and a pair of waterproof boots or footwear that can get wet. dress for out-door exploration! Registration required through Active Net.

Big Bad Fishing Tourney [Patuxent Wetland Park]Tuesday, March 22 through Saturday, March 26Ages: AllFee: $10 for regular registration, $5 with par-ticipant voucher (cash only) from December 30, 2015 or March 15, 2016 River Clean Upcome out to tell your “Big Fish” stories and make new ones! compete for prizes and help us manage the invasive fish populations in the patuxent river. cash payment, license confirmation, fish weigh-in, and fish turn in from 8:00 to 10:00 am and 2:00 to 4:00 pm each tourney day. last weigh-in at 4:00 pm saturday, march 26; prizes to follow at 5:00 pm. all fish turned in for weigh-in will be retained by Jug Bay Wetlands sanctuary. target fish are blue catfish, flathead catfish, and snakehead. prizes determined by weight of invasives removed collec-tively from patuxent river. species prizes tBa. Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail programs@jugbay.org.

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teers about the rewarding citizen science experi-ence. after a few refreshments, visitors are invit-ed to join staff naturalists and volunteers in the field to try some of our citizen science projects on for size. Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail programs@jugbay.org.

Eat the Weeds: Gourmet Cooking with Invasive Plants [Plummer House]Saturday, April 23, 9:30 am - 1:30 pmAges: 21 and olderFee: $8 per personseeking enthusiastic (and hungry) participants to help our forest and butterflies. We’ll learn about the impacts caused by the non-native invasive garlic mustard plant, then go remove it from our forest. after our removal, chef anne will walk us through the preparation of several recipes that use the mustard greens for, as we prepare our gourmet lunch! Wear shoes and clothes that can get dirty, and bring work gloves. Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail pro-grams@jugbay.org to check availability. Your res-ervation will be secured when payment is received. Checks should be made payable to Friends of Jug Bay. Registration Form is required and can be downloaded at www.jugbay.org.

Tremendous ToadsSunday, April 30, 1:00 - 2:30 pmAges: FamiliesFee: $10 per abode, vehicle entrance fee includedJoin a sanctuary naturalist to learn all about toads. We’ll share some amazing facts, learn about lifecycles, and visit with live animals. Bring amphibians into your yard by making and taking a toad abode of your own! all materials provid-ed. Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail programs@jugbay.org to check availability. Your reservation will be secured when payment is received. Checks should be made payable to Friends of Jug Bay.

Invasive Plant Removal [Glendening Nature Preserve]Friday, May 6, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pmAges: 15 and upFee: Freecome and help us maintain invasive plant spe-cies while enjoying our beautiful trails. Wear closed-toe shoes and clothing that can get dirty. gloves and hand tools are available to borrow.Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail rpfegl00@aacounty.org.

P U B L I C P RO G R A M S AT J U G BAy C O N T.

Spring Break Science Art StudioWednesday, March 23 - Friday, March 25, 1:00 - 4:00 pmAges: 11-13 (grades 6-8)Fee: $90 per child (Active Net Activity #7217)Zen tangles, field sketching, and potato-stamp-ing are just some of the techniques children will learn during our spring Break science art studio. hosted by local artists and inspired by the natu-ral sanctuary surroundings, children learn about the different ways art can be used to express sci-ence and get to work creating! the fee covers all art supplies and the series will culminate with a mini exhibition of the children’s favorite cre-ations. everyone will have an opportunity to put their work on exhibit in the sanctuary visitor cen-ter for the month following the series. Registration required through Active Net.

Tails on the Trails [Glendening Nature Preserve]Saturday, March 26, and Saturday, May 28, 10:00 am - 12:00 pmAges: AllFee: Freeget some good exercise and fresh air for yourself and your furry best friend by joining a Jug Bay naturalist for a doggy hike in the glendening preserve! dogs must be well behaved and remain on a leash throughout the hike. one adult per dog required. Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail programs@jugbay.org.

Annual Patuxent River Cleanup [Patuxent Wetland Park]Saturday, April 2, 9:00 am - 12:00 pmAges: AllFee: Freehill’s Bridge at route 4 is a popular location for fishing and for paddlers to put in. help us send a positive message to users of the area by cleaning up the riverfront. Wear shoes that can get muddy. Bring thick work gloves if you have them. Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail programs@jugbay.org.

Educator Open HouseSaturday, April 2, 10:00 am - 2:00 pmAges: AdultsFee: Freethe educator open house is a field trip for teachers, parents, or any educator interested in experiencing a field trip to Jug Bay through the eyes of the student. We’ll spend the day explor-ing the boardwalks, forests, and lab space of the sanctuary along with the resources available to help you plan your visit to Jug Bay, such as les-son materials and school bus scholarships. Bring a bag lunch and comfortable outdoor shoes and clothing. space is limited to 30 participants.Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail programs@jugbay.org.

Butterfly Phenology Training [Plummer House]Sunday, April 3, 1:00 - 3:00 pmAges: 15 and olderFee: Freephenology is the study of the timing of natural events. come learn how you can contribute to a national citizen science phenology initiative by monitoring for caterpillars and butterflies at Jug Bay’s butterfly garden. participants will learn about the project and how you can help us col-lect data for our 10-year study. species identifi-cation and research protocol will be discussed. must be available for weekday field work during the 2016 season. Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail programs@jugbay.org.

Citizen Science Open HouseSaturday, April 16, 10:00 am - 2:00 pmAges: 15 and older (but citizen science opportunities are available for families)Fee: Freehappy national citizen science day! Join us in exploring all of the citizen sci-ence opportunities available at Jug Bay Wetlands sanctuary. the day begins with a two-hour open house where visi-tors can drop in and browse exhibits for each of our current programs and talk with active volun-

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that you can take home and put in your yard. some drilling and screwdriving involved. Bring battery powered drills and screwdrivers if you have them. We will have some available for use. Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail programs@jugbay.org.

Pollinator Series: Bumble BeesSunday, May 15, 9:30 am - 2:30 pmAges: 18 and olderFee: $15 per person (Active Net Activity #7237) pollinators are responsible for an enormous per-centage of fruit, vegetable and nut production on our planet. however, many don’t know about the other valuable roles pollinators play, their needs and challenges, and what we can do to keep their populations healthy. help us moni-tor our pollinator population as part of an effort to make vital meadow management decisions for our properties. in this series, participants will join us in our monthly collections, learn how to identify pollinators, and learn a different valu-able habitat lesson for a specific pollinator group each time. Registration required through Active Net.

Canoe Guide TrainingSaturday, May 21, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Ages: 18 and olderFee: Freepaddling enthusiasts wanted. do you love to get out on the water? here is your chance to share your love with others by leading canoe and kayak trips on the patuxent river. new and returning canoe and kayak volunteers are required to attend our canoe train-ing session before leading trips. dress accordingly to enter the water for wet exits and rescue demonstrations.

Women on the WaterSaturday, May 7, 9:30 am - 3:00 pmAges: 21 and olderFee: $35 per persontap into the serenity of our wetlands with a leisurely canoe trip on the patuxent river. We’ll look for wildlife and wetland plants along the patuxent and Western Branch and enjoy a gourmet lunch. the day will conclude with a guid-ed relaxation session. please bring a yoga mat or towel. Fee includes naturalist canoe guides, all canoe equipment, guid-ed relaxation session, gourmet lunch and park admission. a hike/walk in the woods will be substituted if weather conditions do not allow for canoeing. Bring water, sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses, shoes that can get wet and an extra set of dry clothes. no experience necessary. prompt program start time. Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail programs@jugbay.org to check availabil-ity. Required registration form can be downloaded at http://www.jugbay.org/education/canoegroup-trips/. Send reg-istration and check made payable to Friends of Jug Bay. Registration will be confirmed when payment and registration form are received.

Build a Bluebird Box with MomSunday, May 8, 1:00 - 3:00 pmAges: FamiliesFee: $20 per bluebird box kit, vehicle entrance fee included with purchase of kitJoin mom on her special day and help bluebird moms raise their young. learn about eastern Bluebirds and check nest boxes for young with master naturalist mike Quinlan. using precut kits, assemble nest boxes

paddling experience required. Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail programs@jugbay.org. Required registration form can be downloaded at www.jugbay.org.

Creek WalkSunday, May 22, 2:00 - 3:30 pmAges: FamiliesFee: Freegrab a net and wade in! Join master naturalist mike Quinlan in exploring a local stream. participants must wear closed-toe shoes and clothes that can get wet. nets and collection containers will be provided. Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail programs@jugbay.org.

Military Appreciation Paddle [Patuxent Wetland Park]Saturday, May 28, 10:00 am - 4:00 pmAges: 13 and olderFee: Free with military iDmilitary Veterans, active duty, reservist and family/friends—join us to celebrate your amaz-ing service to our country. this canoe paddle will tour the beautiful patuxent river, with grilled burgers served at our Wootons landing Wetlands park. prompt start time. Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail programs@jugbay.org.

Wild Mocktail Hour [Plummer House]Saturday, May 28, 6:00 - 8:00 pmAges: 18 and olderFee: $25Why buy artificial cocktail and soda mixers in the store when you can find all you need for wholesome, delicious sodas and syrups in the forest. Join a naturalist on a short hike around the sanctuary to gather fresh ingredients and then return to the kitchen to make a variety of tasty concoctions from root beers to lemon-ades and more. make payments payable to Friends of Jug Bay. spaces are confirmed when registration payment is received. Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail programs@jugbay.org.

Montana sheep ranch community. The young woman, with the best of intentions, tried to convince the ranchers that reintroducing wolves would be safe for their herds because the wolves would be on birth control. The ranchers, naturally confused, asked the young woman if she realized that the wolves’ intention was to eat the sheep.

As in the example of ranchers and natural resource groups above, there is often a conflict between stakeholder groups that share a geographical area without specific, non-overlapping resource allocations. How do we as messengers of science-informed policy relay our information to these diverse groups to get positive results? As in many questions about resource management, the answer is case specific—messengers of science-informed policy

Communicating ecology to non-ecolo-gist stakeholders can be complicated

by strange vocabulary, posturing on the part of the messengers, and the public’s varied perception of scientific knowledge. Furthermore, ecology itself is so broad a category that specialization among ecolo-gists, while necessary and inevitable, also creates barriers to communication within the community. How, then, can we hope to have a productive conversation with the reluctant, the uninspired, and the adamant general public?

A productive conversation is not just about getting stakeholders together but understanding who those stakeholders are. Politeness is not enough. There is an infamous and comical example about a young biologist excited that she was able to arrange a meeting with leaders of the

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Volunteer News

Speaking Their Languagemust make a deliberate effort to understand how ecological services are valued by different stakeholder groups.

It has always been a struggle to define ecological services quantitatively. Quantitative methods are often complicated, and when results come out as gibberish to a general audience, this creates an even larger disconnect between ecologists and public stakeholders. Understanding the social values people hold is key to understanding how to engage them. Ecological social values, more specifically defined as the qualities that people believe are carried by natural systems, lend insight into what stakeholders do and do not consider important (Brown 1984; Rolston 1988).

For example, C. J. van Riper and colleagues1 surveyed two user groups in conflict in a protected area to compare their scores on 12 social values. Key to starting the project was to give the user group participants the first voice. Allowing the stakeholders to name the ecological services they most valued and why created an instant line of communication between the

by Melinda Fegler, Volunteer and Stewardship Coordinator and Naturalist

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Previously reluctant landowners participating in a juvenile salmonid migration survey.

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Winter Waterbird SurveyThursday, March 3, 7:30 - 9:30 amAges: 12 and olderFee: Freecome and join the amazing volunteer birding team of Jug Bay Wetlands sanctuary! the orni-thological knowledge of this team makes for a phenomenal learning and collaborative experi-ence. all of this in the beautiful early morning light of the Jug Bay wetlands on the patuxent river. Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail rpfegl00@aacounty.org.

Volunteer Recruitment Training [Plummer House]Friday, March 4; Sunday, March 6; Sunday, May 1; and Friday, May 6; 10:00 - 11:30 amcome be part of the amazing volunteer team at Jug Bay Wetlands sanctuary! participants will learn about the volunteer, stewardship and citi-zen science opportunities that await them here at Jug Bay. training will be followed with a hike on our beautiful trails. Families are welcome at Jug Bay for many of our opportunities but the training will be for family members 15 and older. note that training is repeated on the dates above; it is not necessary for new volun-teers to attend more than one date. Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail rpfegl00@aacounty.org.

Vernal Pool MonitoringSaturday, March 5; Friday, March 11; Saturday, March 19; Friday, March 25; Saturday, April 2; Friday, April 8; Saturday, April 16, Friday, April 22; Saturday, April 30;Saturday, May 7; Friday, May 13; Saturday, May 21; and Friday, May 27, 10:00 am - 2:00 pmAges: 10 and olderFee: Free, vehicle entrance fee waivedJoin our vernal pool monitoring volunteer team. We will meet at 10:00 am and hike out to assess hydrology and salamander and frog activity at each of our pools. Volunteers experi-ence the variety of Jug Bay Wetlands sanctuary habitats as well as those of glendening preserve. Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail rpfegl00@aacounty.org.

• Most of our projects require no experience, come to learn!

• Vehicle admittance fee waived for volunteer events.

• To sign up or for more information, call 410-741-9330, or e-mail Volunteer & Stewardship Coordinator, Melinda Fegler, at rpfegl00@aacounty.org.

• Groups must call to arrange a separate event, unless otherwise noted.

Adopt-a-Plot Training [Plummer House]Saturday, March 12, 10:00 am - 2:00 pmAges: 15 and olderFee: Freecome learn the ropes of our adopt-a-plot monitoring program. Volunteers on this team will have an opportunity to immerse themselves in plots in a variety of habitats. monitoring data will be utilized to map out several diagnostic metrics to help the Jug Bay Wetlands sanctuary staff make informed management decisions. participants will learn to identify plants, signs of several animal species’ presence and other key factors that enable us to understand this beauti-ful place even more! Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail rpfegl00@aacounty.org.

Volunteer Opportunities

Winter 2016 VolunteersLawrence AshKatherine BaerSusan BlackstoneDick BlassCynthia BravoSusan BrockmanJeff CampbellKaren CarusoAlan ChristianRebecca ChristopherDavid DavisCathryn DippoBen DoodyKim ElliottLee FisherElaine FriebeleMadeline GardinerDiane GoebesChristine GramlichJim HarleRegina KregerDave LarrabeeEric LindDavid LinthicumAlec LoudermilkAndrea LoudermilkCliff LoudermilkRob McEachernPat MelvilleAustin MilliganDave Mozurkewich

Dotty MumfordJennifer MuroJohn NorrisJim OlandSiobhan PerceyTom PetskaSean PhillipsMichael QuinlanCom RainoColin ReesGordon ReynoldsDoris SchmitzGary SepulvadoMary Kay SistikBob SmithChris TaylorSandy TeliakPeter UimonenSue WilliamsBob Williams IIIKristine Wood

During the winter, volunteers logged 1083.5 hours.A contribution worth over $21,610!

Thank You!

participants and the surveyors. Consequently, management decisions that had previously been deadlocked finally moved forward when participant stakeholders were given a voice and shown a listening ear.

I had a personal opportunity to put this methodology to work in a fractious California community arguing over private land use rights. The organization I worked for had historically been denied access to numerous private properties within a survey corridor that was nonetheless vital to our contract with the state. In an attempt to overcome what had so far been an insurmountable obstacle, I walked door to door to 100 homes to speak to landowners and give them a chance to vent face to face. Because these personal encounters gave the landowners the chance to share what they most valued about the natural resources on their property, I was able to complete my weekly surveys much more efficiently and seamlessly, with only 1 landowner out of almost 200 denying access through his property. What’s more, after speaking with me, two previously adamantly defiant landowners even allowed smolt traps that required daily monitoring to be placed in the stream behind their house.

A listening ear is one of the elements essential to successful stakeholder buy-in and cooperation—another is follow through. The more we involve stakeholders and give them a voice in the decision-making process, the more successful we as resource managers will be. Being transparent and communicating the results at each phase of a study as opposed to just at the end enables all parties to participate in each phase of decision making. This effort goes a long way to achieving positive results and can quite possibly save decades of stalemates.

1 C. J. van Riper, et. al. Mapping outdoor recreationists’ perceived social values for ecosys-tem services at Hinchinbrook Island National Park, Australia. Applied Geography; Volume 35, Issues 1–2, November 2012, Pages 164–173.

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Did you know that Jug Bay is popular resting and refueling stop for many

migratory birds? Or that ships used to turn around in the “jug handle” before it become a marsh back in the 1600s? There are a million reasons why Jug Bay is a unique and treasured natural area on the Patuxent River, including its close partnership with the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve allowing for science communication to reach an even wider audience!

Just to refresh, Jug Bay is one of the

three sites of the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (aka the Reserve) that represents the Bay’s tributaries. Monie Bay on the Eastern Shore and Otter Point Creek in Harford County are the other two sites that comprise the Reserve, which represent the lower Bay and the upper Bay, respectively. The Reserve has teams (research, stewardship, training, and education) that work together with the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, the Friends of Jug Bay, the local community, and other partners to guide decision makers, protect estuaries

and natural areas, and communicate science to anyone and everyone.

End of refresher; now let’s get back to science communication. How does the Reserve communicate science? Let us count the ways…

Blogs. Two blogs often feature Jug Bay data to illustrate points about climate change, water quality changes, marsh health, and the like. One blog (SWMPrats.net) is highly technical and explains how to make graphs and run statistical analyses, so it isn’t for everyone, but it sure is fun to see Jug Bay’s data displayed! This blog’s main audience consists of researchers from the other 27 Reserves that are within the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, which means that Jug Bay data is discussed by researchers all over the United States!

The blog Science Pensieve (Science Pensieve.org) is “a place where you can watch a science project occur in real time.” Harry Potter fans can explain how a “pensieve” is used to store your thoughts: In Dumbledore’s words, “I use the Pensieve. One simply siphons the excess thoughts from one’s mind, pours them into the basin, and examines them at one’s leisure. It becomes easier to spot patterns and links, you understand, when they are in this form.” So if you were ever curious about what a scientist’s thoughts look like, then you are in luck!

The team of scientists writing Science Pensieve came together from many different fields of study to investigate climate impacts in the Chesapeake Bay region; therefore the research studies and data collected at Jug Bay are part of a larger network looking for trends on a regional, rather than local, scale.

Newsletter articles. The Reserve contributes an article to each issue of Marsh Notes, so keep an eye out for our articles so that you can hear more about estuarine science! We also write articles for Otter Point Creek’s newsletter, The Otter’s Tale; Maryland Department of Natural Resources magazine; and the Chesapeake and Coastal Service’s newsletter, In The Zone.

Science Collaborative grant projects. The Reserve is also partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which provides funding for

Jug Bay’s Science Reaches Regional and National Audiences By amanda Garzio-hadzick,

Stewardship and Research Assistant, CBNERR

In 2015, Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary celebrated its 30-year anniversary! The achievements of the Sanctuary’s first 30 years were the result of years of dedication from many staff and hundreds of volunteers, all of whom were guided by a love of Jug Bay, a commitment to its preservation as a natural area, and a passion for discovery through education, citizen science, and volunteering. The infogram of 2015 accomplishments above groups accomplishments under three of our four Jug Bay strategic goals: science, people, and protected habitats, (see http://jugbay.org/strategic_plan). We hope that it showcases the tremendous value of our volunteers and hints at what’s to come in our next 30 years!

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“science collaborative” projects that encourage different organizations and scientists to work together to answer research questions that address a management issue that influences estuaries. Last year CBNERR wrapped up the Deal Island Peninsula Marsh and Community Project, a science collaborative project conducted by the Reserve and various scientists at the University of Maryland. This social science and natural science project focused on ways to increase the resilience of coastal marshes and communities in the face of coastal flooding, erosion, and other changes on the Deal Island peninsula.

A website (http://www.dealisland marshandcommunityproject.org/) features all the basic info about this collaborative project, but, more importantly, community meetings are held in Deal Island where local residents and other interested partners gather for some good old face-to-face communication. Discussions and presentations of various topics result in a very strong community network. Many scientific journal articles are also currently underway that will discuss the findings of this research.

Teen Leadership Paddle presentations. The annual Teen Leadership Paddle on the Patuxent that encourages leadership and stewardship in our high schoolers and concludes with a presentation of the teens’ scientific findings and observations gathered during their week-long sojourn. (The public is always welcome to attend!) We encourage a culture of science understanding and communication

through the process of having teens gather data, look for trends, think of solutions, and communicate it to the public.

Professional training. Remember how I mentioned that the Reserve has several teams? The training team is formally called The Maryland Coastal Training Program (CTP), and it is at the forefront of science communication. This Reserve team coordinates various events and workshops that help decision makers and professionals become equipped with the knowledge and understanding of coastal issues needed to perform their jobs. Some examples of CTP workshops and meetings include Wetland Plant Identification (held at Jug Bay), The Patuxent River Conference, Green Infrastructure for Coastal Resilience, and many more.

Jenny Allen, the Reserve’s Research Coordinator, taking marsh surface elevation measurements in Deal Island in order to understand if plugging ditches on the Eastern Shore is an effective restoration technique.

Check out the NEW CBNERR-MD web page at

http://dnr2.maryland.gov/ waters/cbnerr

Jug Bay is one of the three components in the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Maryland. The purpose of CB-NERR is to manage protected estua-rine areas as natural field laboratories and to develop a coordinated program of research and education as part of a nation-al program administered by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

STAFF

Jennifer Raulin, Reserve Manager 410-260-8745

jennifer.raulin@maryland.gov

Sasha Land, Coastal Training Program Coordinator

410-260-8718 sasha.land@maryland.gov

Chris Snow, Stewardship Coordinator 410-260-8731

chris.snow@maryland.gov

Jenny Allen, Research Coordinator 410-260-8724

jenny.allen@maryland.gov

Amanda Garzio-Hadzick, Stewardship & Research Assistant

410-260-8762 amanda.garzio-hadzick@maryland.gov

Coreen Weilminster, Education Coordinator

410-260-8744

coreen.weilminster@maryland.gov

Trystan Sill, Education Assistant 410-260-8827

trystan.sill@maryland.gov

http://dnr2.maryland.gov/ waters/cbnerr

Teen Leadership Paddle participants presenting their scientific observations of the Patuxent River.

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sPrING2016

department oF recreation and parks

Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary1361 Wrighton RoadLothian, MD 20711410-741-9330

June 23, 2016

2016 Patuxent River Conference

exploring environmental education & science Communication along the Patuxent river”The Patuxent River Conference is the premier forum uniting scientists and researchers with formal and informal educators passionate about the health and future of the Patuxent River.

The Conference brings together those who are using the power of science to tell the story of the River with local educators who are dedicated to sharing the story with students, the future stewards of the River.

Learn more at www.paxcon.com (site launches March 15, 2016).

Registration and Call for Proposals Opens March 15, 2016!

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SAVE THE DATE