Stillmeadow Community Projects Inc

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“OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 4: USDA Forest Service CSA: Title: Stillmeadow PeacePark & Forest: A Community Forest for Long Term Monitoring, Education, Demonstration, & Training USDA, Forest Service Peace Park Coop 22-CS -Research demonstrates the importance of green spaces such as these for public health and well-being as well as for community health and resilience. These urban woodlands were ecologically degraded, with dead ash trees that had succumbed to emerald ash borer and invasive vines that choked the native trees. After cleaning up the site and removing invasive species, Northern Research Station scientists worked with area residents and church members to plant native trees like oaks, elms, willows, and poplars. Our objectives are to continue the restoration of individuals, our Southwest Baltimore community, the city of Baltimore, and our forest. This summer and fall, we will continue the education of local youth and adults in environmental stewardship by providing community outreach and nature-based educational programming for youth and adults and performing routine forest maintenance on the Stillmeadow campus and tending to the beautification of the land, in order for it to become an urban oasis where people experience spiritual, mental, and physical restoration. The research plots and trails have been maintained. In 2023, Stillmeadow hosted 367 volunteers, who logged 3,402.3 volunteer hours. In addition to the volunteers, maintenance of the forest was performed by 2 interns as part of our Canopy Crew internship program, as well as a Forest Technician. Our childrens programs include Stillmeadow PeacePark Learning Center, our nature-based after school program, the Baltimore Forest School, our Saturday youth nature program, and Beyond the Natural Foundation, our music and nature therapy summer camp program. Students also participated in forest stewardship by removing trash from the trails and stream and mulching trails. In 2023, 94 students, ranging from ages 2-21 representing 17 Baltimore City and Baltimore County schools participated in these stewardship activities. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 5: UDel SF-42A To promote workforce development. To hire forest technicians, who will plant and care for trees involved in the Forest Service research project. Also, Stillmeadow conducted forest management training for five trainees. The job training program included vegetation identification, soil sampling, field inventories and analysis, GPS sampling and mapping, tree care, removal of invasive plants, and chainsaw use. The 5 trainees graduated from the 8-week program. 3 of them have, now, obtained full-time employment with benefits with Baltimore Tree Trust, 1 in college at Frostburg University, and the other has obtained full-time employment at Ascension St. Agnes. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 6: Blue Water To cover Stillmeadows staff salary and its participation in hosting outreach events that promote environmental stewardship, education, and partnership. Distributed approximately 1,300 trees to Baltimore City and County residents to plant and work toward a greener Baltimore; hosted outreach events such as a Bug Hunt, City Nature Challenge, Bird Banding, Clergy Roundtable, and inspiring Home Action Kits; hosted 15-person focus group in partnership with NOAA about flooding in our community; coordinated volunteer PeacePark maintenance days; participated in monthly Baltimore Environmental Equity Partnership (BEEP) meetings; hosted and participated in quarterly DPW Flood Mitigation meetings. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 7: BGreen To compensate Stillmeadow for participation and time invested in Baltimore Greater Regional Environmental Equity Network (BGREEN). Stillmeadow became the fiscal sponsor for the network, participating in leadership and core group meetings; building capacity by being trained to manage collaborative grants; hosted 2nd annual Nature in Your Neighborhood community engagement event with 5 community nonprofit partner organizations”