3rd Quarter Review: Sustainable Growth from July to September
- Howard EcoWorks
- 3 days ago
- 11 min read
We’ve had a tremendous summer in terms of growth, impact, and sustainability for our organization this 3rd quarter. A quick recap: we hired our summer conservation crew, READY, to team up with our spring UpLift crew. Together, they were trained in green industry initiatives and completed several conservation projects.
Additionally, we began our summer internship program, EcoAmbassadors, where we guide local high school students to take on environmental stewardship initiatives and projects in their community. Together, we accomplished several community service projects.
Our summer programs concluded in August with successful graduations, followed by the launch of the updated fall Uplift program in September. UpLift now operates as a 10-month program in partnership with the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation Year of Service, in addition to our continued partnership with the MD Department of Labor, EARN program.
In this time, our team celebrated many accomplishments such as staff promotions, new hires, and meaningful engagement volunteer activities, discussions, workshops, and outreach events. Our conservation teams also installed several environmental projects and engaged in many educational career development opportunities. So let’s take a deep dive!
METRICS
Throughout July to September, our team accomplished:
90 project site visits
3,510 sq ft of conservation landscaping installed
2,425 native perennials planted
28 trees and shrubs and 700 live stakes installed
43 professional development activities completed
172 volunteers engaged with a combined 389 hours
12 new staff, crew members, and interns hired!
5,000+ lbs of invasive plant species removed from natural areas
PROJECTS
Our team completed a variety of projects from stream restoration to tree plantings, all aimed at improving local ecosystems and supporting healthier waterways. Some of our most notable work includes:
Murray Hill HOA Stormwater Swale Installation | Columbia, MD: Completed in June, this project spans over 2,387 sq ft and features 1,300 native plants and 11 native trees and shrubs. This project was funded by a Howard County Community Stormwater Partnership Grant to address stormwater issues.
Highland Lake HOA Landscape Garden | Columbia, MD: Last quarter we visited this community to install live stakes, and have returned for additional landscape gardens spanning 400 sq ft which features 341 native plants and 2 native shrubs. This project is being funded by the Howard County Community Stormwater Partnership Grant.
Shady Grove Village HOA Conservation Landscape | Montgomery County: We installed a 573 sq ft conservation landscape featuring 525 native perennials and 12 native shrubs. This project was funded by the Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT)
Bee City Pollinator Garden at Holly Hills | Glenwood, MD: We installed a 150 sq ft demonstration garden with our crews featuring 50 native plugs from the pollinator kits provided by Howard County Bee City. We’ve previously sold these kits at events in the spring and plan to continue this partnership, with the goal of showcasing the success of these pollinator kits through this new garden.
Trees of Life Project | Montgomery County: Our team installed 3 native trees, each with spacious gardening space surrounding the trees for future herbaceous plant installations totaling over 1,300 sq ft. Partnered with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) we partnered with the following congregations: IMAAM Center in Silver Spring, MD, Washington Sikh Center in Gaithersburg, MD, and Anjuman-e-Ezzi in Ashton, MD.
Forest Management with Neighborspace Baltimore: Crews removed invasive shrubs and vines from .41 acres of forests at Adelaide Bentley Park and Tollgate- Wyndham Preserve, which is managed by Neighborspace of Baltimore County. This type of conservation focuses on saving mature trees and promotes native biodiversity.
Forest Management at Maryland State Parks: Our team has partnered with Maryland Forest Services to manage young tree plantings and site assessments. This collaboration also represents our first official Host Site Partnership with our UpLift team.
Forest Management at Holly Hills | Glenwood, MD: Our team has been managing invasive species that threaten the wooded areas around Holly Hills. Funding is provided by the Keep Maryland Beautiful Grant from CBT.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Our workforce development programs, UpLift, READY, and EcoAmbassadors offer opportunities for growth in career development through exposure, networking, and training as a key feature. Additionally, we offer career development for our staff and senior crew. Here’s a look at what they accomplished:
Green Industry Field Trips, Training, & Networking:
Electrofishing with Montgomery County: Summer conservation crews met with Aquatic Biologist, Dave Sigrist, a Biological Monitoring Coordinator at Montgomery Parks in the Cabin John Watershed, South Germantown Recreational Park, and Booze Creek Stream Valley Park for electrofishing.
The crew learned from and assisted the researchers in collecting aquatic species caught during electrofishing. This data will help the researchers determine the health and conditions of the streams and the watershed. Special thanks to Montgomery Parks for providing photos of this excursion and hosting this activity!
Biological Monitoring with Patapsco Heritage Greenway (PHG): Summer conservation crews met with PHG’s Water Quality Monitoring team to discuss water quality in the Patapsco River. The team learned about the chemical and physical monitoring conducted by PHG staff and volunteers, as well as the biological surveys completed twice per year at each site. They also had the opportunity to use kick seines to collect, sort, and identify macroinvertebrates from the stream and to learn how these surveys can help assess the quality of the aquatic habitat.
Climate Crew Network Career Fair: In partnership with the Climate Crew Network (CCN), we hosted an Employer Fair at our Columbia office. Professionals from seven different employers joined us to share career opportunities with our program participants.
We extend our gratitude to the partners who contributed to the success, planning, and participation at this event. Employers: Baltimore Tree Trust, Davey Tree, DW Kozera, Empire Landscaping, Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation, the 6th Branch, and the National Aquarium. Participants: Greater Baltimore Wilderness Coalition, Grow Home Baltimore, and Civic Works. Special thanks to John Carver of Grow Home Baltimore for capturing photos.
Oyster Restoration Center: Summer conservation crews joined CNN and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation Oyster Restoration Center in Shady Side, MD. This was an opportunity for our crews to network and learn about oyster restoration and how to support these keystone species that are essential for the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Photos show our crew loading shell bags and cages with oysters that will be used in restoration efforts such as building sanctuary reefs.
Talk with Howard County Office of Community Sustainability: Bill Mahoney, Sustainability Project Manager at Howard County Government, shared insights into the Green Infrastructure Network and career opportunities with all program participants.
Financial Literacy Training: Summer conservation crews learned about financial tips and responsibility through a workshop hosted by Making Change Inc.
Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP) Certificate - A: Summer and Fall conservation crews worked on their CBLP-A certificate through learning exercises that explored native plants, invasive species, rain garden designs, stormwater solutions, and bioretention maintenance.
Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP) Level 1: Senior crew members have begun their training and prep for the CBLP Level 1 certification. Testing will be complete in the fall.
American Red Cross CPR and First Aid Training: Completed by our summer crew leaders and fall UpLift team.
Maryland Service Year Orientation: Our fall UpLift team attended their Service Year orientation, since this program is now part of the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation Year of Service. This event was graced by Governor Wes Moore, who thanked all participants for their dedication to their community.
Outward Bound Team Building: Our fall UpLift team joined CNN at the Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School in Leakin Park, Baltimore, for a day of team building, leadership development, and communication skills.
Masonville Cove Shoreline Cleanup: Our fall UpLift team participated in a shoreline cleanup at Masonville Cove in collaboration with CNN. Participants engaged in an informational interview with members from Maryland Environmental Service, Mattias Orrego, Christy Morrow, and John Oltman. Additionally, Ashley Traut, from Greater Baltimore Wilderness Coalition held a discussion on the importance of supporting our natural environments.
Conflict Resolution Training: Allison McFadden from the Medication and Conflict Resolution Center led a Conflict Resolution training for the fall Uplift team. Different strategies of conflict management were discussed as well as the appropriate time to use each strategy.
Horticultural Job Fair: Our fall UpLift team attended a career fair hosted by CCBC Dundalk Campus, where they were able to speak to different employers in the horticulture and landscaping fields. They were able to practice networking skills with various organizations and inquire about future employment opportunities.
In-House Green Industry Training & Career Development:
Professional Development Days: Matt Hemler, Programs Coordinator, led professional development days exploring career paths, LinkedIn, goal setting, time management, resumes, cover letters, job interview skills, and interviews for all our summer programs. Additionally, he has begun educational modules for the fall UpLift team.
Plant ID Training: Multiple EcoWorks staff members have trained our summer and fall crews on how to ID native plants and invasive plants, a crucial skill for conservation work.
Watershed Planning Lesson: Matt Hemler led a mock watershed planning exercise where UpLift and READY members placed legos on a watershed map to determine where development would go and then discussed the possible impacts.
Native Seed Conservation Training: Matt Hemler gave a presentation on proper seed collection techniques, and Genevieve Simard, Operations Director, led summer conservation crews in collecting and storing native perennial seeds.
Mock Interviews: Met Hemler led a training on interviewing skills using volunteers from the community to host mock interviews for READY participants.
Stormwater Skills Training: Nick Lovett, Project Manager, hosted a stormwater skills training, which involved site assessments and “Best Management Practices” for conservation landscapes.
Onboarding Fall UpLift Team: Several staff members were involved with onboarding the fall UpLift team, which includes safety and tool training, plant ID training, and CBLP-A learning modules. Additionally, they were introduced to stormwater management & sustainable landscaping.
We want to thank our partners who allow us to continue our professional development programs. Our partnership with the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation Year of Service and MD Department of Labor, EARN program funds the UpLift program. Grants and the proceeds from the plastic bag tax of Howard County fund READY & EcoAmbassadors.
MERITS
Program Graduation
In August, we graduated 29 program participants and celebrated the end of our summer seasonal workforce development programs with 18 EcoAmbassadors, 4 UpLift, and 7 READY participants. Here are some amazing metrics and impact that they made in our environment and local communities!
🐝UpLift team (from March - August) completed:
Installing 3,712 sq ft of conservation landscaping
Planting 401 native trees and shrubs
Installing 4,785 native perennial plants
And engaging in 36 Industry exposure and career training events
🦋READY team (from June - August) completed:
Maintaining 40,000 sq ft of conservation landscaping
Managing 84,000 sq ft of woodlands (invasive species removal)
Installing 1,825 native perennial plants
And engaging in 25 Industry exposure and career training events
🦫EcoAmbassadors team (from June - August) completed:
Organized and implemented 6 community projects
Delivered 18 presentations on environmental topics
Mobilized 75 volunteers and engaged 26 community members
Participated in 16 meetings, 10 professional development activities, and heard from 4 guest speakers
A huge thank you to our Programs Coordinator, Matt Hemler, Operations Director, Genevieve Simard, and to our entire staff at EcoWorks for creating impactful programs for our participants, the community, and our environment. We hope they walk away with a sense of empowerment, stewardship, and good memories.
Anniversaries
Lori Lilly: 8 year anniversary of Lori Lilly, Founder and Executive Director of Howard EcoWorks.
JP Osborne: Field Technician, 2 years.
May Allbritton-King: Senior Crew, 2 years.
Ben Hogan: Senior Crew Leader, 1 year.
Promotions
Nick Lovett: Was promoted from Field Technician to Project Manager.
JP Osborne: Was promoted from Foreman to Field Technician.
Rasa Davidson De Sa: Was promoted from Senior Crew Leader to Foreman.
New Hires / Additions
Nathan Morris: Board Member
Abby Lehman: Programs Assistant
Allie Capone: Community Engagement Intern
Fall UpLift Team: Anthony O'Dwyer, Brooke Lamplough, Chase Ackerman, Melanie Patrizi, Ottilie Wilcox, Peter Watson, Rex Beyer, Sharon Zhang, Sylvia Laciny, and Yexon Vasquez.
Team Transitions
In August, our team said farewell to Brent Levin, our AmeriCorps Programs Director. Changes in AmeriCorps funding meant Brent’s role came to a close. We sincerely thank him for his dedication and wish him the very best as he moves back into the education field.
Outreach
Community Workshops: Several workshops, led by Zsuzsanna Cooke, Natural Resource Specialist, were held. These sessions provided forest management and tool training to multiple communities across Howard County, equipping local environmental stewards with the skills to manage invasive species effectively.
Native Plant Landscaping Tour: Lori Lilly hosted a garden tour at her home on 7/26/25 where over 100 guests enjoyed native plant landscaping, educational material, and free giveaways. This tour was part of the Howard County Native Landscaping Tours that EcoWorks sponsored, and was hosted by several participants around the county each weekend for several months.
Leadership-U Outreach: Elura Morris, Marketing, Communications, and Outreach Coordinator, represented EcoWorks at a career event hosted at Howard Community College for local Leadership-U participants, which is a leadership program for high school students.
Savage Farmers Market: Valeria Tskhay, Community Engagement Specialist, represented EcoWorks at this event on 8/6/25 and sold native plants.
Good Kidizen: Valeria Tskhay, represented EcoWorks at this event held at Colorburst Park in Columbia on 8/23/25 to encourage environmental stewardship among children.
Chesapeake Stormwater Network Annual Stormwater Partners Conference: In August, Matt Hemler represented EcoWorks at this weekend long event. Along with Terryl Acker-Carter from Anne Arundel County Watershed Stewards Academy, he gave a presentation about outreach and community engagement strategies.
It was a great way to introduce the impact that EcoWorks has on our local communities and how we can inspire others to do the same. Additionally, we strengthened our connections with employers, non-profits, local governments, and grant funders in the stormwater sector so we can work together to address climate change and flooding.
Oakland Mills High School Resource Fair: Matt Hemler represented EcoWorks at this event held on 8/21/25 to present green industry career opportunities to high school students.
Biochar Discussion: Lori Lilly presented on biochar, discussing its benefits and methods for creation during an online presentation on 9/3/25.
Dragon Fair Connection: Elura Morris represented EcoWorks at this annual fair hosted by Howard Community College, to connect college students to career and volunteer opportunities on 9/9/25.
11th Annual Environmental Justice and Health Disparities Symposium: Lori Lilly represented EcoWorks on a discussion panel at this event hosted on 9/11/25 at the Sheraton in Baltimore.
Native Plant Palooza: Valeria Tskhay, Allie Capone, and Tabby Baier, Land Manager, sold native plants from our nursery, Seeds of Change, at this annual event hosted by Howard County at Robison Nature Center on 9/21/25.
Maryland-District of Columbia Utilities Association | Utilities Environmental Conference: Lori Lilly represented EcoWorks and presented on biochar at this event hosted on 9/24/25 in Cambridge, Maryland.
Clocktower BBQ: Elura Morris represented EcoWorks at the Annual Clocktower Community BBQ held at 9/27/25. The community also gathered at the future site of a bioswale that is planned in 2026, that will slow down and trap stormwater and address flooding issues for houses at the bottom of the hill. It was a great opportunity for EcoWorks to connect with this community on past and future projects that benefit their homes and the environment.
Volunteering
Our volunteer events were funded by the Maryland Forest Service Community Forestry Catalyst Fund. Our objective is to create volunteer and educational opportunities in underserved urban communities. Additional volunteer activities also took place at our native plant nursery, Seeds of Change, during open hours.
Catonsville Presbyterian Church | Invasive Removal: Valeria Tskhay led a group of 6 volunteers to remove invasive plants from an urban forest at Catonsville Presbyterian Church on 9/6/25.
Ellicott Mills Community | Invasive Removal: Valeria Tskhay led a group of 8 volunteers to remove invasive plants from an urban forest on 9/13/25.
Extras
We launched several new initiatives, now live on our website, reflecting both our organization’s growth and the seasonal changes.
Become a Host Partner: We are looking for conservation partnerships with our UpLift team. Partners receive reduced costs on conservation services in exchange for providing crucial networking and career development to our training crews. Learn more about this service and how to get involved here.
EcoTeams: We have launched a new service called EcoTeams. This is an opportunity for businesses, organizations, or communities to book time with us to learn and participate in hands-on conservation efforts. Learn more about this service and how to get involved here.
Biochar Kilns for sale: We have partnered with local artist Bill Knapp, to create biochar kilns. These kilns are accessible to the average user with a backyard, who wishes to turn woody waste into viable biochar material, great for soil conditioning. Learn more about this product here.
Conclusion
Thank you for joining us for our 3rd quarterly blog review. Our goal is to promote environmental awareness and optimism. We are tremendously proud of our team and the progress we’ve made in conservation, community building, and educating so many through programs and outreach. We’re excited to see what this fall and winter has in store for us, as we’re looking forward to tree planting season!
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