American Chestnut Land Trust

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Home / Archives for Uncategorized

2018 Earth Day at ACLT

April 23, 2018 By crm

This past weekend, the community came out to the American Chestnut Land Trust’s North Side this weekend to celebrate Earth Day by enjoying a 5k Trail Run & Hike and participating in the annual Earth Day clean up. …

Read full article here…

 

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Spring!

April 12, 2018 By dave

It is spring! (Finally!!!) Time to hit the ACLT trails to enjoy the spring flowers. Last Sunday was a beautiful day – crisp and sunny.  The trails were awash with a scintillating display of early spring wildflowers – especially the Horse Swamp trail.

Nothing out of the ordinary but how invigorating to be out in a restful setting with the freshness of a new year. The liriodendrons were turning green, the maple trees with their red buds were clearly discernable, and the frogs were singing. Beautiful.

Cutleaf toothwort
Cardamine concatenata
Cutleaf toothwort
Cardamine concatenata
Cutleaf toothwort
Cardamine concatenata
Dutchman's breeches
Dicentra cucullaria
Dutchman's breeches
Dicentra cucullaria
Dutchman's breeches
Dicentra cucullaria
Dutchman's breeches
Dicentra cucullaria
May apple
Podophyllum peltatum
May apple
Podophyllum peltatum
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Wild cherry
Bloodroot
Sanguinaria canadensis
Bloodroot
Sanguinaria canadensis
Spring beauty
Claytonia virginica
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Internship Opportunity: Events

March 19, 2018 By crm

ACLT Events Intern – 

ACLT is seeking an Event Intern to work with Development and Communications approximately 10 – 15 hrs. per week. This unpaid position is a great opportunity to join an established organization and gain valuable non-profit event, marketing, communications, and social media skills training and experience.

The American Chestnut Land Trust (ACLT) is a non-profit organization with a mission to promote land conservation throughout Calvert County. ACLT manages a 3,200 acre nature preserve between Prince Frederick and Port Republic featuring 22 miles of hiking trails. Programs include land management, wildlife habitat restoration, a regenerative farm, a food forest, plus regular events including guided hikes & canoe trips, summer Sunday public events, athletic events and a variety of fundraising events.

Primary Tasks, which will be taught and monitored:
• Work with the Community Relations Coordinator to plan and produce a variety of events
• Assist in promoting events through existing website and online calendars
• Manage registration and participant communications
• Assist with lead-in event planning duties as well as set-up and break-down “day of” responsibilities
• Monitor and push social media engagement before, during and after the event
• Assist with photography during events
• Assist with other marketing, PR and development projects as assigned/available

Contact Pam Shilling, ACLT Community Relations Manager, at volunteer@acltweb.org for more information and to apply.

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MD Master Naturalist Perspectives

January 10, 2018 By crm

Article by ACLT Habitat Improvement Specialist, Mike Molina.

 

Have you ever found yourself staring at some extravagant plant in your backyard and wondering, “what in the world could this be?”

You go to look it up, but you have no idea how to navigate a dichotomous key or field guide that could potentially help you figure it out.

 

Well, you are in luck!

Through the University of Maryland’s Extension in conjunction with the American Chestnut Land Trust, you have an invaluable opportunity to gain experience in identifying, learning, and educating others about the vast natural world of plants, trees and wildlife that surrounds and captivates you.

 

The Master Naturalist program had its genesis in Colorado dating back to the early 1970s. Their mission: to engage citizens as stewards of natural ecosystems and resources through science-based education and volunteer service in their communities. Since its conception, 34 states have adopted the program with Maryland piloting its first trainings back in early 2010. While it started in the piedmont region, the program has expanded across the entire state due to the dedication of various host organizations. The ACLT began training naturalists in 2013 and since that time has graduated roughly 90 trainees. These naturalist graduates have gone on to contribute to the state of Maryland through educating other community members, engaging in projects dedicated towards localized environmental improvement, and obtaining an in-depth awareness of their natural surroundings and the problems that these ecosystems currently face.

 

I was lucky enough to participate in this program during my time working with the ACLT. After the introductory course and receiving a binder that resembles a cinder block, I’ll admit I felt slightly unprepared. Course topics range from meteorology to technology resources and cover in depth information that is related to the geographic province you are taking the course in. On top of this, there are weekly readings and group projects that must be completed with the coursework in as little as 3 months.

 

While at first the course did seem like an overload, it amazed me how efficient the lecturers were at conveying intricate information and their passion in doing so. I quickly realized how engaging this course would be due to their love for teaching and my love for learning about the abundant taxa and ecosystem features throughout my home state. Furthermore, these lectures address serious questions and issues that we face as a state in managing our footprint and natural systems. For example, I learned the importance of planting a variety of native flowers to control food crop pests. A simple piece of information such as this can reduce pesticide costs for small-hold farmers tremendously. Wherever your interests lie, this course grants the possibility to connect these bits of information that embellish the way you view the natural world.

 

Other great experiences that come with this course are the various field trips you embark on. These trips provide first hand opportunities to witness experts in their dojo. I will never forget hunting herps in the vernal pools near ACLT’s trails, birding in the early morning with my classmates, the canoe trip up Parkers Creek, and identifying various fish species. Each class provides a lecture and a “hands-on” lab portion where trainees can visually work with organisms that they had just studied during the lecture. It is a two-step learning system that helps to reinforce the vast amount of information that is transferred from the lecturer.

 

 

The class culminates in a group project and the completion of a final exam. My project included working with classmates to catalog storm water management systems throughout the Parkers Creek watershed and observe their efficacy. Other projects included vernal pool mapping and designing/restructuring a natural play space at one of ACLT’s trailheads. After the conclusion of the class, participants are expected to complete 40 volunteer hours within the next year to obtain official Master Naturalist certification. With the group project and volunteer opportunities, you gain the potential to reinvest what you have just learned into your local and/or statewide community. This is not only a privilege, but also a responsibility to continually educate yourself and others who are willing to learn. This passing of knowledge is vital in raising awareness towards environmental issues and developing practical solutions to these problems.

 

Each year ACLT facilitates this course and registration is currently open for the 2018 program. Registration is now openIf you are interested, please reach out to the ACLT’s land manager, Autumn Phillips-Lewis, via email or phone at landmanager@acltweb.org or 410-414-3400.

REGISTER FOR THE 2020 CLASS.

Visit the Maryland Extension Website:  https://extension.umd.edu/master-naturalist/history-master-naturalist-program-maryland

This article can also be found in the Winter 2018 edition of The Watershed, ACLT’s quarterly newsletter. 

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A great time to check out the RAFT!

August 25, 2017 By crm

Hike down to the creek and pull yourself across on ACLT’s New Raft

For years ACLT had tried to find a way to connect its two trail systems. We wanted to bring the North and the South together! At one time a bridge crossed over the creek. But it was destroyed in the 20s and never replaced. Today the option of a bridge is expensive, complex and well…maybe one day. But for now, we’ve solved the problem with our Parkers Creek Crossing Raft! And what a moment to check it out. The area at the end of the Old Parkers Creek Road Trail and the beginning of the North South Trail is so green and teeming with life! This surprisingly cool weather is a great chance to enjoy the lush summer scenery without the sticky, hot humidity.

This crossing – a raft that can carry 4 people at a time across Parkers Creek – connects ACLT’s North and South Trail Systems. The easy way to the raft? Take the Old Parkers Creek Road Trail to the Creek, enjoy the views, then either continue around Parkers Creek Loop to Double Oak Rd Trail or all the way to Turkey Trail. (total distance round trip 3-4.2 miles depending on return route). The hard way to the raft? Start at ACLT’s South Side Trailhead and take the Stream Loop to Cemetery Lane which connects with our newest and HARDEST Trail – the North South Trail! Traverse 5 steep hills along this beautiful and challenging path to arrive at the raft. But be aware! You’ll need to plan to return along that same path back to the South Side Trailhead OR plan to park a second car at the North Side Trailhead. However you get there, the raft is great fun!

 

We hope you have a great experience and enjoy the wonderful temperatures. 

Happy Trails!

(PS: Keep in mind – even with the cool temps, look out for snakes and poison ivy. And be sure to use bug spray – especially on your shoes- to fight off the nibblers like mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers)

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