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From Snow to Spring: EcoWorks’ Q1 Highlights

Here’s to the start of something new, our first quarterly review blog of 2025 at EcoWorks! In the past, we’ve done monthly updates, but we’re excited to move to quarterly reflections. This change allows us to better track the progress of ongoing projects, as many span across months from start to finish. 


We’re proud of the strides we’ve made in conservation and environmental restoration. While winter months can present challenges for finding projects, we successfully provided forest management throughout the region and planted trees.


March marked a major shift as we bid farewell to our Fall and Winter Uplift crew and welcomed a new team for the Spring and Summer season. It was a busy time ensuring our winter crew was celebrated and ready for their next steps, while preparing our new team for the challenges ahead. So, let’s dive in!


METRICS


Throughout January to March, our team accomplished:

  • Visiting 40 project sites

  • Installing 163 native trees and shrubs 

  • Completing 33 professional development activities 

  • Engaging with 16 volunteers

  • And hired 5 new staff and crew members!



PROJECTS

Our team completed a variety of projects, from stream restoration to tree plantings, all aimed at improving local ecosystems and supporting healthier waterways. A selection of these prefects includes: 


Wimbledon HOA | Elkridge: With funding from a Howard County PREP grant, we managed 0.33 acres of woodlands by removing invasive species to support a healthier ecosystem.


Highland Lake HOA | Highland: We managed 0.52 acres of woodlands, removing invasive species, and planted 62 trees and shrubs. This project was funded by the Howard County Community Stormwater Partnership Grant. 


Clocktower Crossing HOA | Columbia: We managed invasive species on 0.33 acres of woodlands with funding from a Howard County PREP grant.


First Evangelical Lutheran Church | Ellicott City: With funding from Howard County PREP and Chesapeake Bay Trust Urban Treed grants,  we cleared 0.33 acres of woodlands of invasive species and  planted 25 native trees.  


Alice B. McCullough Field | City of Laurel: We planted 33 trees and shrubs as part of a project funded by the CBT Urban Trees (II) grant.


Baltimore County Arts Guild Clubhouse: We planted 25 trees and shrubs as part of a project funded by the CBT Urban Trees (II) grant.



PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Our workforce development programs, UpLift and Maryland Climate Corps, offer opportunities for growth in career development through exposure, networking, and training. 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:


  • Green Career Fair & Employer Panel: Our crew attended a career fair and employer panel organized by the Climate Crew Network and hosted at the Institute for Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET) in Baltimore. They had the opportunity to conduct informational interviews and went on a tour of the aquaculture research labs at IMET. 




  • Invasive Species Lesson: Our crew participated in the International Invasive Species conference. Program coordinator Matt Hemler then led a follow-up discussion, reinforcing key takeaways and exploring ways to apply them in our work. 


  • Stream Assessment & Beaver Dam Analogue Training: Lori Lilly, Founder & Executive Director, and Matt Hemler led our crew at Freetown Farm, run by the Community Ecology Institute, where they assessed the stream's health and the beaver dam analogues. The crew was joined by Dave Sigrist, who conducted macro-invertebrate sampling, and Simone Savageau, who shared their knowledge about Freetown Farm.



  • Biochar Burn: With Lori Lilly.


  • Climate Corps Training: Our Maryland Service Year crew members had training on the topics of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice at the Robinson Nature Center and the College of Southern Maryland, PG County.


In-House Green Industry Training & Career Development: 

  • Professional Development #5 | Interview Skills & Mock Interviews: The Fall Uplift and Maryland Service Year crew learned essential interview skills and participated in mock interviews with EcoWorks staff.


  • Watershed Planning Training & Watershed Health Assessments: Matt Hemler trained our crew on sources of stormwater pollution and how to prevent them. Together, they assessed a commercial and residential area for pollution sources and restoration opportunities. 


  • Grant Writing Training: Lori Lilly provided training to our Fall UpLift and Maryland Service Year crew on writing grant proposals. Together, they drafted a mock application and received insightful feedback on it.


  • Winter Tree ID:  Natural Resource Specialist, Zsuzsanna Cooke, trained our Maryland Service Year and Senior crew on how to identify trees in the winter via bark and buds.


  • Outreach Training: Matt Hemler and Marketing & Communications Coordinator, Elura Morris, reviewed programs and services offered by EcoWorks to our crew. Together they practiced elevator pitches in preparation for upcoming outreach events. 


  • Fall & Winter UpLift Graduation: On February 7, 2025, we celebrated our participants with a graduation ceremony that included a nature walk, games, awards, and certificates. During the event, we took time to reflect on their contributions and the impact they’ve had on our organization. Awards were presented to the graduates by JP Osborne, Landscape Foreman, and Matt Hemler. Learn more about their accomplishments here.



Spring UpLift Onboarding

  • Tool and Safety Training with EcoWorks Staff, including ID training on invasive and native plants. 




  • Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional -A training on topics like stormwater pollution, best management practices for conservation landscapes, and rain gardens.


  • Watershed assessment training with Matt Hemler, exploring stormwater practices, pollution, and solutions within Columbia.


  • Winter Tree ID led by Zsuzsanna Cooke, which included a demonstration to prune trees and shrubs.


  • First Aid & CPR training for UpLift crew leader.



MERITS


Certification

Certification Pesticide Applicator: Lori Lilly became a certified pesticide applicator in September 2024. In February 2025, she passed the exam for Category 2, Forestry.


Operator Certification (FTC) for Writing Nutrient Management Plans for Nurseries, Greenhouses and Controlled Environments: Lori Lilly, JP Osborne, Zsuzsanna Cooke, and Senior Crew Member, Ben Hogan, attended this training with the University of Maryland Extension. They have completed the test and will soon be certified to plan and prepare nutrient management plans for their own operations.


Outreach

Open House Night: EcoWorks hosted its third annual Open House Night as an opportunity for the public to connect with our organization and learn about our resources. Special guest speaker was Sherry Russell, Sustainable Landscape Designer, who instructed participants  about the “Principles of Environmental Landscape Design.” 


Claymont Biochar Burn: Lori Lilly led a great community biochar burn at the Claymont Retreat Center located in Charles Town, WV, with Kelpie Wilson’s Ring Of Fire kiln. They explored the benefits of combining biochar production with sustainable land and invasive species management. 


Howard County Seed Share: attended by Elura Morris at Miller Branch Library.


Spring Service Fair: attended by Elura Morris and Marketing & Communications Intern Rhéa René, at Howard Community College. 


Climate Career Expo: Matt Hemler tabled at Bowie State University.


Horticultural Fair: attended by Matt Hemler, Marvin Gordon (Maryland Service Year member), and Brent Levin (AmeriCorps Program Leader), at the Community College of Baltimore County.


Autism Job Fair: Matt Hemler and Joshua Jimeta (Maryland Service Year member) tabled at Howard County NonProfit Collaborative.


Guilford Park High School Environmental Presentation with Matt Hemler


Centennial High School Career Day with Matt Hemler


Oakland Mills High School Career Day with Brent Levin


Howard High School Career Environmental Presentation with Matt Hemler



Volunteering

Native Seed Processing Workshop: Zsuzsanna Cooke led a workshop where we mobilized 16 volunteers to aid us with processing native seeds. This project is possible thanks to the Howard County PREP grant that supports collection, harvest, and distribution of native local ecotype seeds to increase environmental biodiversity. 

New Hires


Smiling man in a white shirt with blue patterns stands outside near a tree and building. Clear blue sky creates a cheerful mood.

Brent Levin: In January, we welcomed Brent as our new AmeriCorps Program Leader! With a Master’s in Education from the University of Pennsylvania and 10 years of teaching experience, Brent brings valuable expertise to help establish our AmeriCorps program.


In March, we began our 2025 Spring UpLift program, and we’ve hired the following: 


Kyle Mulloy | UpLift Crew Leader


Grace Quintilian | UpLift Crew Member


Gwen Robbins | UpLift Crew Member


Tom Pfeifer | UpLift Crew Member

Work Anniversaries



Nick Lovett: Celebrating 3 years with EcoWorks! Nick started as an UpLift crew member in 2020. After a seasonal break, he returned to EcoWorks as a crew leader for READY. He rose up to Foreman and eventually to our Field Technician.


Elura Morris: Celebrating 2 years with EcoWorks! She began as an Assistant Crew Lead for UpLift in 2023 and has since stepped into her role as our Marketing & Outreach Coordinator.


Matt Hemler: Celebrating 2 years with EcoWorks! Starting as an Assistant Crew Lead for UpLift in 2023, he later returned as a Senior Crew Leader and now plays a key role as our Program Coordinator.


Owen Jowanowitch: Celebrating 2 years with EcoWorks! Owen started in the UpLift program in 2023. After a short break from graduating from the UpLift program, he returned in the winter of 2024 as a Senior Crew Member. 


Jake Klien: Celebrating 1 year with EcoWorks!  Jake started in the UpLift program in 2024, and over the summer became a crew leader for READY. After graduating from the program, he was promoted to our Senior Crew team. 


Grants & Awards

Keep Maryland Beautiful Grant: We were awarded a Keep Maryland Beautiful grant, which is funded by a partnership between Maryland Environmental Trust, the Maryland Department of Transportation​, Maryland Department of Agriculture​​, and the Chesapeake Bay Trust​. Our goal is to plant 300 native trees with this grant!


Howard County’s Green Community Leadership award: EcoWorks recently won an award for excellence in protecting Howard County's environment and resources! Special thanks to those who nominated us. We will be accepting the award at Greenfest this year. 

Conclusion

 

Thank you for joining us for our 1st 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 spring and early summer have in store for us, as we’re looking forward to many more gardens and tree plantings!




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