Howard EcoWorks is an environmental nonprofit that’s dedicated to natural restoration and providing industry training to combat climate change. Through our workforce development programs, we witness transformations in both our participants and ecosystems.
This August, we wrapped up our 2024 Spring and Summer workforce development programs designed to empower future green industry leaders. Join us as we follow the journey of our three programs: UpLift, READY, and EcoAmbassadors, and dive into their impactful accomplishments, projects, and exciting professional development!
UpLift
Uplift is a 5-month program that runs twice a year, beginning in March for the Spring season. This crew works on conservation projects such as building gardens with native plants, installing native trees, and removing invasive plants from stream restoration sites. In addition, they focus on career development, earning certificates, and networking within the green industry.
METRICS
From March to August 2024, the UpLift crew completed the following:
6,812 sq. ft. of conservation landscapes installed
3,000 native perennial plants installed
635 native trees and shrubs planted
30 industry exposure and career training events including:
6 professional development days
8 industry exposure activities & field trips
8 informational interviews with industry professionals
4 crew members completed the program, receiving the following certificates:
OSHA-10
Adult and Pediatric First Aid, CPR & AED, American Red Cross
MEET THE CREW
Alex Andrews: Began as an UpLift Crew Member and advanced to a READY Crew Leader. Alex, a recent graduate from the University of Baltimore with a degree in Media & Communications, is now working as a Plant Health Care Technician at the Davey Tree Company.
Aramah Johnson: Joined as an UpLift Crew Member showing dedication to environmental restoration. With a B.S. in physical education from Morgan State University, and extensive experience in education, Aramah continues to pursue her passion to teach.
Jake Klein: Became a member of UpLift as a Crew Member and advanced to READY Crew Leader. Jake is continuing his academic career, working toward an undergraduate degree in geology, while balancing his role as a Senior Crew Member with EcoWorks.
Calvin Lynn: Joined as an UpLift Crew Member with a background in Environmental Science and Technology from the University of Maryland. He is now working as an Environmental Resource Specialist at Coastal Resources Inc.
READY
READY (Restoring the Environment and Developing Youth) is a 10-week summer program available for Howard County residents ages 16 - 25. Like UpLift, this program focuses on landscape conservation projects and career development activities through hands-on crew work.
Please meet Arabella, Axel, Bryon, Christopher, Ellen, Gillian, Hunter, Rae, and Sofia!
METRICS
From June to August 2024, our team completed the following:
3,000 sq. ft. of conservation landscapes installed
906 native perennial plants installed
87 native trees and shrubs planted
12 industry exposure and career training events including:
3 professional development days
4 industry exposure activities and field trips
2 informational interviews with industry professionals
8 crew members and 1 READY Assistant Foreman completed the program, receiving the following certificates:
KEY PROJECTS
Between March and August 2024, the UpLift crew, READY crew, Senior crew, and staff completed a variety of projects. Please note that this list highlights selected projects; many private residential projects, maintenance tasks, and county stream restorations are not included.
Conservation Landscapes:
Mt. Saint Joseph High School: Installed 1,748 sq. ft. of native landscaping featuring 543 native perennials, and 37 native trees and shrubs. Collaborated with student volunteers and the Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake (IPC). Funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)
Church of the Apostles: Installed 750 sq. ft. of native landscaping featuring 221 native perennials and 40 native shrubs. Collaborated with IPC and funded by Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT).
Beaver Dam Analog Project: Installed Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs) at Jim Duke's Green Farmacy in collaboration with Ecosystem Services. Learn more about this project here.
Stonebrook HOA Conservation Landscape: Installed 750 sq. ft. of native landscaping featuring 576 native perennials. Funded by Howard County through a Community Stormwater Partnership grant.
Resurrection of St. Paul Church: Installed a 625 sq. ft. garden featuring native plants, funded by NFWF.
Private Residence | Ellicott City: Installed 500 sq. ft. of native landscaping featuring 216 native perennials and 7 native shrubs. Funded by NFWF.
Ridgely Manor Park | Towson: Removed invasive species in an area spanning 29,000 sq. ft.
Bellows Spring Elementary School: Installed 450 sq. ft. of native gardens and 1 tree planting with student and teacher volunteers. Funded by NFWF.
St. Paul’s Cemetery: Installed 187 sq. ft. of landscaping featuring 132 native perennials, and 6 native shrubs.
Waterbury Bioretention Planting: Installed 21 native perennial plants. Funded by Howard County through a Community Stormwater Partnership grant.
Tree Planting:
Serenity Ridge Natural Burial and Arboretum: Planted 113 trees, funded by NFWF in partnership with the Greater Baltimore Wilderness Coalition.
Ellicott Mills: Planted 100 native trees in the Ellicott Mills neighborhood of Catonsville, funded by CBT.
Biochar Project: Our team planted 100 bare-root trees and shrubs at Howard Community College, as part of the Biochar project detailed here. This was made possible thanks to the Howard County Innovation Grant.
Housing Commission: Planted 73 trees in collaboration with the Howard County Office of Community Sustainability.
Catonsville Elementary School: Planted 21 native trees, funded by CBT.
First Evangelical Lutheran Church: Planted 10 trees, funded by CBT.
Riverchase Condos: Planted 35 trees, funded by CBT.
University of Maryland, Baltimore: Planted 14 trees, funded by CBT.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Field Trips:
Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary Visit: Joining the Climate Crew Network (CCN), Grow Home, Greater Baltimore Wilderness Coalition, and Maryland Department of Natural Resources to learn about wildlife monitoring and environmental restoration with naturalist Liana Vitali.
Outward Bound Baltimore: Engaging with the CCN for a day of outdoor team building exercises.
Jim Duke’s Green Farmacy: Installed native plants while also learning about medicinal plants.
Poplar Island Tour: Joining CCN on an active conservation restoration project in the Chesapeake Bay while networking with Maryland Environmental Service.
Little Patuxent Water Reclamation Plant Tour: Overview of career opportunities in the sewage and water treatment industry, highlighting the plant’s commitment to sustainability.
Electrofishing: Four teams were led by Aquatic Biologist, Dave Sigrist, in rivers within Montgomery Park. Electrofishing is the process of using electric currents to temporarily stun aquatic species swimming downstream, and collect them for data. This data will inform scientists on the health of the watershed.