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Dr. Holland is leading a group of fifteen UMBC students down to Costa Rica for a GES summer field course focusing on conservation and sustainable development in two biological (conservation) corridor regions.  The course will begin on June 1st and continue for two weeks.  The students will be conducting participatory mapping exercises and interviews with community organizations to better understand the challenges they face and priorities they have when implementing sustainable development initiatives.  We’ll also take part in an environmental service project within each region.  You can virtually travel along with us and read day-to-day reflections via this blog:

http://mbholland.wordpress.com/

UMBC hopes to build connections with Catonsville using Short Line Trail

Monday, May 10th UMBC held a forest dedication ceremony with Dr. Hrabowski, along with local political and community leaders.

Speakers included President Hrawbowski, Baltimore County Councilman Tom Quirk, Delegate Steve DeBoy, Delegate James Malone, student representative Jack Nuemeier (The Garden at UMBC). UMBC's architect Joe Rexing, grounds manager Donna Anderson, landscape architect Phil Cho, and sustainability coordinator Tanvi Gadhia along with students Julianna Brightman and Kelsey Donnellan also represented UMBC in receiving the Tree Campus USA award from the Arbor Day Foundation.

Photography by Marlayna Demond.

Below is some of the text from the coverage in the Baltimore Sun.

UMBC has designated 11 acres of forest as a conservation area through Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which protects it from development and requires that trees remain on the land.

Joe Rexing, campus architect, said the conservation area, which is located on the edge of the campus near Wilkens Avenue and Interstate 695, between Poplar Avenue and Center Road on the outer loop of Hilltop Road, is part of a university plan to make the campus more sustainable.

"It provides us with an opportunity to protect, observe and conserve our natural environment," Rexing said the designation will protect Herbert Run, a stream that flows past the campus through Arbutus and is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. Such forests are necessary to protect the habitat around the stream, Rexing said.

"It's very much a part of a more comprehensive statewide push to improve Chespeake Bay water quality, "

Donation Day:

Donation Day on Sunday, May 18th.

Donation Day is an event sponsored by the Residential Life Office and the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) where current UMBC students may drop off unwanted items that are in good condition at two drop off locations on campus. All items donated items will go to the Goodwill.
This year the two drop off locations are:
1. Terrace Circle in Terrace Apartments
2. Between Chesapeake and Erickson Halls by University Health Services.
All students who donate items will get free pizza and will be entered to win one of two larger prizes. 

Click here to learn more about what you can donate, times, and who to contact!

Bulk Furniture:

For things you cannot donate: bulk item/furniture dumpsters are set up, and the items listed above can be placed there and Facilities will donate them to the loading dock for reuse. There will be 12 dumpsters , one or two at each community/ res hall. Bulk drop off will be located next to dumpsters where there is room.

Electronics Recycling:

Also, each residence hall lobby and the community center has a blue plastic bin labelled "electronics recycling'.

Food Donations:

1. In what ways were you involved in Sustainability efforts on campus during your time as a student?

This year I was the Secretary of the Environmental Task Force, a new organization started with the focus on changing the environment through volunteering and acts of service. In this role I had the opportunity to be a part of a number of sustainability projects such as: UMBC Sustainability Leadership Retreat, EcoFest, Harvest Fest, and Fort McHenry’s Ivy Removal. As secretary I met a number of awesome UMBC students from different cultural backgrounds and majors, but what united us was our passion for changing the environment.

2. What compelled you be involved? What did you get out of the experiences?

Last Summer I interned at the Maryland League of Conservation Voters as a legislative intern. During my time there I discovered that our sustainability coordinator, Tanvi, previously worked with the same organization. I’ve always been interested in improving sustainability at UMBC, so I reached out to her and she quickly put me in contact with Jasmine Wands, ETF’s president, and from there its all history.

To be around like-minded people who share similar views and concerns about the environment as myself has been by far been the best experience. Also, to have the opportunity to experience first hand that regardless of cultural backgrounds, academic majors, or age, the topic of sustainability concerns EVERYBODY! To be a part of the initiatives to help students understand this was awesome and to witness how many UMBC students, who aren’t GES majors, take action to have a more sustainable campus gave me great hope for the school’s future.

3. What changes have you seen take place during your time at UMBC?

I’m a huge fan of The Community Garden being built. It shows that you if you want change to happen on campus, then you have to be willing to take action. Also, during my time at UMBC I have witnessed many of the environmental organizations become more diverse, which is a trend I would love to see continue for years to come.

4. What is your vision for the state of sustainability at UMBC 5 years from now?

For the next five years I am confident that more student led initiatives, similar to The Garden, will begin to take shape. I am also hopeful that as students become more educated on campus sustainability, events like EcoFest, Harvest Fest, or RecycleMania will draw much larger crowds. With that education, I hope even by next year when students see a bin labeled “Landfill” or “Compostables” in The Commons, they won’t spend a day and a half thinking about which bin to dump their trash.

5. What are the most important lessons you’ve learned through your work and efforts that you wish to share with UMBC students?

I know you’ve heard it a billion times before, but seriously, DON’T BE AFRAID TO STEP OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE! There are so many awesome students and professors at UMBC. If I could travel back in time, I would take the moment to get to know every single one of them. Take a break from studying every once in a while and have some fun. Wiz Khalifa said it best “WORK HARD, PLAY HARD!”

Michael is graduating with a B.S. in Environmental Science, and a minor in Political Science. He is the Secretary of the Environmental Task Force, and a Geography and Environmental Systems tutor for the LRC. Thank you, Michael!

Photo of Michael and Jasmine Wands, creating a collage from hand drawn visions for a sustainable future at Harvest Fest.

•     Faculty will share new concepts, detailed examples, and materials useful for developing engaging new course content
•     Collaboration and connection opportunities with colleagues and faculty
•     Innovative course components that inspire critical thinking in students and address pressing environmental issues

1. In what ways were you involved in Sustainability efforts on campus during your time as a student?

During my time as a student, I co-founded the Food Recovery Network (FRN) on campus. FRN takes leftover food from the dining facilities on campus and delivers it to homeless shelters in Baltimore.

2. What compelled you be involved? What did you get out of the experiences?

I found FRN’s website while I was looking to get involved in some sort of community service. It seemed like a fantastic idea that I assumed had been implemented at every university in the US. To my surprise, I found out that only 3 schools in Maryland did this, obviously not including UMBC. FRN has the ability to reduce food waste and use that food in a productive method by giving to the needy- having this program at every school seems obvious. UMBC disposes vast amounts of food every week, and there are many shelters that need more food to feed the less fortunate. I find it eye-opening going to Helping Up Mission every week to deliver food. The people there are very grateful for the food we throw away so easily.

3. What changes have you seen take place during your time at UMBC?

The biggest change I’ve seen during my time at UMBC has been with the people on this campus. I have seen people that did not express an interest in volunteering decide to help out with FRN. This made me realize that many of us do not lack the interest or motivation to help, but simply cannot seem to find opportunities.

4. What is your vision for the state of sustainability at UMBC 5 years from now?

As far as food waste, I hope that in 5 years, there is virtually none. Every single day, volunteers will recover the leftover food from every dining facility and give it to people in need.

5. What are the most important lessons you’ve learned through your work and efforts that you wish to share with UMBC students?

When trying to create, do not worry about failing. You should expect it to fail. In fact, it’s better if it fails, so now you know more of what not to do. Only from there can you create good things. For example, in our first semester of starting FRN, there were a few unforeseen administrative obstacles that we had to overcome. Another key thing to keep in mind is maintaining good communication with everyone involved. It is impossible for someone to know your thought process unless you tell them.

Jamison is graduating with a B.S. in Computer Science. Thank you, Jamison!

Photo of Jamison leading the first Food Recovery Network collection at UMBC.

When:

Fri May 16, 2014 6AM to 9AM

Where:

Santa's House (@ Catonsville Fire Station)754 Frederick Rd, Catonsville, 
MD 21228

What: 

Participants in Bike to Work Day who stop by the event location will receive a free t-shirt, commuting guide, and a chance to win prizes. Coffee & refreshments provided. Simply bike to work, and stop by 754 Frederick Rd. Register here.

Why: 

Bike to Work Day is a national event to encourage and celebrate bicycling to work and promote public awareness of bicycling and bicycle safety. Locally, it's a part of Maryland's Clean Commute Month in May. Register here.

Late Spring is the start of the ground-level ozone season, when we hear about Code Red and Orange Ozone Action Days. On these warm smoggy days, the air is dangerous to breathe – especially for the young and for the elderly. Emissions from single occupancy vehicles(driving alone) contribute approximately 20% of our region's dangerous ozone levels. Driving alone also results in increasingly congested roadways and parking issues. We can save money, protect the environment, stay in shape and have fun while biking.

Transportation accounts for 38% of UMBC's carbon footprint. In 2007, President Hrabowski committed to campus carbon neutrality.

How: 

Resources on UMBC's sustainable transportation alternatives are listed at:http://sustainability.umbc.edu/transportation/

• Ride Transit
• Carpool Together
• Bike to Campus    
• Borrow a Free Bicycle
• Charge an Electric Vehicle
• Borrow a Zip Car

Who: 

These sustainable transportation options have been developed and promoted by the following groups. If this topic is of interest to you, consider getting involved:

• UMBC Transportation Work Group (part of the Climate Change Task Force)
• UMBC Cycling Community
• UMBC Off Campus Student Services, Sustainable Transportation Outreach Intern
• UMBC Sustainability