Exciting ENST Opportunity: Algal Turf Scrubber Project with PG County Parks

Dear ENST Students,

I’m excited to share a new opportunity for students interested in water quality, stormwater management, environmental technology, algae, sustainability, and applied environmental research.

ENST's Dr. Peter May is beginning a collaborative project with Prince George’s County Parks focused on the use of algal turf scrubbers (ATS) for stormwater management and nutrient removal. There are opportunities to get involved through an ENST472 Capstone project, volunteer experience, or research credit (ENST489). There are also opportunities for a club or student led organization to get involved. 

What is the project?

The project has two exciting components:

1. Scale-up feasibility study at the Bladensburg Waterfront Park
Students will work with Prince George’s County Parks on a feasibility study and preliminary design for a 1-acre algal turf scrubber system at Bladensburg Waterfront Park. This will involve exploring how an ATS system could be designed and implemented at a much larger scale, including considerations related to site conditions, water flow, system design, operation, and environmental benefits.

2. Start-up of the new “Terp” Algal Turf Scrubber
We also have a newly completed algal turf scrubber at the stormwater pond near the Terrapin Trail Garage here at UMD. Students will have the opportunity to help get the system up and running, monitor its performance, collect field data, and learn about the operation and maintenance of an actual ATS system.

This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience with a real-world environmental technology project while working with university researchers and a local government partner.

If you are interested in getting involved, please reach out to me and Dr. May. I’d be happy to discuss the different options and what might be a good fit for you.

-Eni Baballari ebaballa@umd.edu

SIE Coordinator

Plant Natives at Reflection Park

A New and Ongoing Volunteer Series!

Happy Native Plant Month! Two weeks ago, the US Senate unanimously approved a bipartisan resolution designating April 2026 as National Native Plant Month! The timing is fortuitous, as Reflection Park is kicking off a new volunteer program series dedicated to land stewardship that we call Common Ground (which can also acknowledge the Senate’s bipartisan effort!) In May, we will offer two opportunities in this series, one devoted to removing invasive species and another to native plantings. Anyone interested in spending time in nature is welcome; no experience is necessary. Join us in this important mission to preserve our natural environment and care for a portion of Reflection Park’s precious land! Reflection Park is registered with the Montgomery County Volunteer Center, allowing us to approve Student Service Learning (SSL) hours.

We would love to have you join us at one or both of our upcoming "Common Ground" volunteer days in May. 

Quick links to register are here, and further information is below and on our website.

May 2 from 9am-12pm: Planting a native flower garden and a meadow

May 16 from 1-4pm: Tackling invasive species

Terps for Change program

Terps for Change connects UMD students with local organizations to engage in hands-on service, such as tutoring, sustainable farming, and food pantry assistance. Volunteers also participate in weekly dialogues to explore the root causes of social issues and identify opportunities for action. Through this eight-week, semesterly program, students deepen their understanding of systemic inequities and gain leadership experience while making meaningful connections with the local community.

This week, the program begins with the application process for next semester (This is the link to application).

Alternative Break Experiences

Alternative Breaks (AB) are week-long service-learning immersion experiences during the university's Winter, Spring, and Summer breaks that address social issues in local, national, and international communities. Students can lead or participate in the experiences, and there are mentoring opportunities for faculty & staff!

Alternative Break Experiences focus on exploring a range of issues including - but not limited to - environmental conservation, education, socioeconomic inequality, healthcare, and more! Alternative Break participants travel to communities all over the country and internationally.

Registration for Fall Weekend, Winter & Spring Break experiences is open!

• Alternative Weekend Registration & Scholarship Application Deadline: Sunday, September 15th
• Alternative Winter Break Registration & Scholarship Application Deadline: Sunday, October 6th
• Alternative Spring Break Registration & Scholarship Application Deadline: Sunday, November 10th

https://stamp.umd.edu/lcsl/alternative_breaks/how_participate

Join the UMD Golf Course 2024 BioBlitz

Everyone is invited to participate in this year's BioBlitz. A BioBlitz is a 24-hour period when each species is recorded and documented. Documentation gathered from ENST462 students, faculty, staff, and volunteers will be submitted by UMD's Golf Course again this year in the Audubon International BioBlitz. Last year was our first year to compete and we came in 1st and 3rd! This year we hope to recruit more volunteers and win another contest. Please help us spread the word that we need more volunteers to identify biodiversity during the morning of May 4th from 6:30-9:30am. 

If you are interested and available, please register on the registration link. Please share this information and encourage your students, friends and family to join us. Just for fun and inspiration here is a link to photos of insects documented last year.  Please send any questions to:

Laura L. Russell

lrussel5@umd.edu |  301.404.2240

UMD Golf Course | Special Projects

Opportunity for AGNR Students -- Alternative Breaks

 Join us for Alternative Breaks Experiences this Year!

Program Details:

• Alternative Breaks (AB) are week-long service-learning immersion experiences during the university's Winter, Spring, and Summer breaks that address social issues in local, national, and international communities.

• You can explore topics like Environmental Stewardship and Wildlife in Blue Spring, Florida, Food Security in the Urban Landscape of Atlanta, Public Health Infrastructures in Stuanton, Virginia, and more!

• Interested students must be willing to commit 1.5 hours/week for 5 weeks leading up to the experience and for the entire dates of the schedule trips (Winter Break- Jan. 10-20 / Spring Break- Mar. 16-23) 

• U.S. based experiences average in cost of $200, inclusive of all transportation and food; Opportunities for additional fundraising and scholarships are available.

Who should participate?:

• Any student that wants to explore community development, civic engagement, local issues, leadership, and service.

• Undergraduate and graduate students interested in exploring social issues that include environmental conservations, education, socioeconomic inequality, healthcare, and more. 

How will you benefit from participating?:

• Connect with a community of peers from across campus and create new friendships. 

• Develop and practice personal and group leadership skills such as active listening, reflection, critical thinking, and communication. 

• Learn how to best engage and serve communities.

What should I expect?

• Engage in short-term service-learning immersion experiences that address social issues in local, national, and international communities.

• Learning and discovering root causes about different social issues through service 

• Active engagement in personal reflection, listening, small group dialogue, and small group activities.

• Thought-provoking questions and dialogue around social issues.

• Making connections between social issues and your academic, personal, professional, or civic life.

• Identifying at least one action step to take towards a social issue you are passionate about.

Sign Up Information:

• Visit alternativebreaks.umd.edu to sign up TODAY- spots are first-come, first served!

• The priority deadline to sign up is Wednesday, October 11th, 2023. 

For more information or questions, visit alternativebreaks.umd.edu or contact us at alternativebreaks@umd.edu

Become an AGNR Ambassador - May 3rd

Student Ambassadors help the AGNR Academic Programs Office to recruit students and to secure admitted students. They are invaluable in providing "real student experience" to parents and prospective students about their majors, minors, student clubs and organizations, opportunities, support services, and general UMD life.  This is a volunteer position, so it's best suited to the students who really love what we do in AGNR and can afford to spare 5-10 hours per semester, unpaid. 

The link to apply is here: 

https://bit.ly/AGNRAmbassador23

Please remember, this is an opportunity for AGNR students only (with the exception of ENSP, from whom we accept all concentration applicants). 

UMD Pollinator Conservation Committee Invitation

Join us in our efforts for this University to become a Certified Bee Campus - help us improve and expand pollinator conservation efforts on campus!

If you or someone you know on campus might be interested in either 1) helping making this effort a success, or 2) interested in helping out with Pollinator Gardens on campus or 3) interested in receive future UMD PollinaTerps Bee Campus communications, please fill out our 

PollinaTerps 2023 UMD Bee Campus Interest Form

Feel free to forward this email to other sustainability or landscape leaders on campus who might be interested. 

We also have a new PollinaTerps UMD Bee Campus GroupMe chat room, where interested individuals can casually discuss and brainstorm together tasks, meetings, collaborations, share photos of pollinators on campus, or hear about Horticulturist-led work in pollinator gardens open to volunteers.

The GroupMe app is popular with University of Maryland Students and could be especially helpful in reaching potential volunteers to help in pollinator gardens, for example.

PollinaTerps UMD Bee Campus GroupMe

Administrators, student groups, faculty, staff, and many departments at The University of Maryland, including Facilities Management, have been working together for many years striving to be global leaders in sustainability. This also means learning from and building upon successful sustainability efforts of other large universities , including keeping up with efforts made by other 'B1G' Ten Universities in the field of sustainability and conservation.

Above: Good Neighbor Day Volunteers, helping plant native plants at the new Edward St. John Pollinator Garden in November, 2022. 

The University of Maryland's Arboretum and Botanical Gardens offers a convenient spot for UMD students and departments to volunteer with conservation landscapes, tree plantings, pollinator conservation, and other gardening projects.

Part-time (volunteer with stipend) teaching opportunity - Anacostia Watershed Society’s

A part-time volunteer (with stipend) position to join our teaching team for the spring program on Saturdays from March 25 - May 6 (no session April 8). There is some planning and communication work required prior to the start date and during the weeks (outside of Saturdays) of the program.

SEA Teaching Position (Volunteer with Stipend)

The Anacostia Watershed Society’s Saturday Environmental Academy (SEA) is looking for passionate volunteers to join its teaching team for the spring program, which will run on Saturdays tentatively from Mar. 25 – May 6 (no session Apr. 8). SEA offers a free outdoor education program to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, many of whom live in the Anacostia Watershed. Through this unique, fun, educational experience, students learn about their river and local environment while developing their skills in team building, critical thinking, and scientific investigation.

Our ideal volunteers are experienced environmental educators who enjoy working with students from underserved communities. On average, the time commitment is eight hours per week during the semester. Volunteer duties include:

• Develop or modify existing environmental lessons and team building activities as
• needed. Activities are to be interactive and experiential.
• Take “lead” in facilitating weekly activities on rotating basis with other members
• of teaching team. At least two other staff will be available to assist each session.
• When “lead,” create short assignments for Student Leaders and email schedule
• and relevant objectives to Director, Teachers, and Student Leaders by Thursday
• before Saturday when you are the lead.
• When not the “lead”, maintain proactive, high-energy involvement and facilitate
• activities as requested.
• Assist in logistical arrangements for sessions as needed.
• As teacher, manage student behavior with consistent, positive expectations.
• Participate in a team planning meeting before the program begins.
• Promptly show-up by 8:45 for a pre-meeting each Saturday and be able to stay until 1:30 for student dismissal and debrief meeting. Sessions run from 9:00-1:00, each semester.

A background check and drug test is required for this position (no cost to you). A stipend of $100 per Saturday session taught is provided. The expectation is that teachers will make every effort to participate in each of the Saturday sessions. Please discuss any conflicts in advance of accepting the position. We encourage diverse candidates to apply. Candidates must have unrestricted authorization to work in the

U.S. The meeting location for SEA is in S.E. D.C., near the Eastern Market Metro (not at the AWS office). For more information about SEA, go to anacostiaws.org. Also, find us on Facebook to see the students in action. If you are interested in this position, please send a note of interest and your resume to Catherine Estes, SEA Program Director, at cestes@anacostiaws.org.

Anacostia Watershed Society opportunities

Working with you for a cleaner river 

The Anacostia Watershed Society is here to share some winter career and volunteer opportunities that are guaranteed to chase away the colder-weather doldrums:

Join the AWS River Restoration team 
Do you have experience in landscape architecture and a passion for greenspace in your community?  Are you motivated to teach others in the community about river-friendly landscapes? Are you thrilled at the possibility of other job duties including, "lead a canoe tour" or "help this class of 2nd graders release baby shad into the Anacostia River?"  If this sounds like you (or someone you know!), we encourage you to apply as our full-time Green Infrastructure Specialist!

Apply for the Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps
Looking to break into the environmental field and launch your career? Looking to make a difference and create change? Or know a young person who is? Young professionals gain experience, crucial career skills, a support system, and key connections within the environmental field through the Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps. The Anacostia Watershed Society is thrilled to be a host organization for a selected candidate once again. Applications close on March 9. For more information and to apply please click here.

Help us restore habitat at Kingman Island
For those seeking a more arduous volunteer opportunity, you can be part of the restoration of riverside habitat at Kingman Island near Langston Golf Course.  As part of an on-going land management project with the National Links Trust, we've been working this site for a few years, removing invasive vines, replanting wetlands, performing vegetation surveys, and more.  The next event is Saturday, January 28 from 10am-2pm (click here to register), with more events weekly through March. Click here to see our full upcoming calendar.

Earth Day Cleanup 2023 - April 22

Winter will be over soon enough, and then it's time for the annual Anacostia Watershed Society Earth Day Cleanup on Saturday, April 22, 10am-noon.  Last year, we empowered more than 1,300 volunteers to remove nearly 25 tons of trash and recycling from 34 neighborhood spots along the river, and we can't wait to do it again.

Are you interested in becoming a site leader for this year's event?  Do you know of a neighborhood spot that could use our extra help?  Click here and fill out our brief form to let us know.

Request for Good Neighbor Day Volunteers for Sustainability Projects

 Good Neighbor Day is almost here!!! If you're available on November 12th, 8:30am-12pm, and want to help, please consider signing up for one of the 1,100 volunteer slots. Please also consider donating to their annual food drive benefiting the UMD Food Pantry and the College Park Community Food Bank. Here is the project registration link.  RESTORE officers and members will be there, too!

Howard Ecoworks - volunteer for the community

They are looking for volunteers as an alternative spring break which doesn't match UMD's spring break but that shouldn't stop someone from pursuing this! Here are more details: https://www.howardecoworks.org/alternative-spring-break Upon signing up volunteers will receive a conformation email. They will then receive more information about all the events with specific days days and times in which they can choose to attend. The events are flexible as they occur on various days within the event time period(April 11-18) and the volunteer can choose to go to one, two, some, or none of the events upon receiving the scheduled events date and time via email. My specific clean-up is set to be at 12:30-3 pm on Friday, April 18th. Though, your spring break has passed, I hope this event would still be a great opportunity for students to continue contributing to the environment and the community. What can you expect from Alternative Spring Break? ​ Moderate physical labor such as: ​​ ​ Trash cleanup ​ Weeding rain gardens ​ Making seed bombs at our native plant nursery ​ Planting trees ​ You'll also: ​ Be directed by an experienced Crew Leader ​ Receive safety training related to tools and work habits ​ Have fun and make friends!

USDA NRCS Garden volunteers needed

This is a great way to meet government employees and others in the community. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is looking for volunteers to assist with the People’s Garden on Friday, April 1st, 2022! The project site is located outside of the USDA headquarters in Washington, DC and is easily accessible – only a block from the Metro! This initiative was started by our Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, during the Obama administration. Secretary Vilsack and the USDA team are now working to revitalize the People’s Garden to showcase what we do at USDA, raise awareness about sustainable agriculture practices, connect people with where their food comes from, and educate on protecting our environment and conserving resources. This fun volunteer opportunity is offered through NRCS Maryland’s Earth Team Volunteer Program. Please feel free to share this opportunity within your networks! Please use this link to sign up for our April 1st session! https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ej1p07g613b02701&oseq=&c=&ch= We have plenty of other volunteer days to choose from, so please do not hesitate to reach out to me at Laura.Eddy@usda.gov if you are interested in learning more!

AGNR Ambassadors needed

Apply to be an AGNR Ambassador! Applications due February 18th Do you love being a Terp and studying in the College of AGNR? Do you remember what it was like applying for college and having questions you were happy to get answered? Do you want to be that person who answers those questions? Well you’re in luck, because AGNR is searching for some new Ambassadors to join our team! Ambassadors are current AGNR students who are selected to represent the College to the community and are selected on the basis of leadership, scholarship, and desire to promote AGNR to prospective students. This is a volunteer position. Minimum qualifications to become an Ambassador include: Full-time undergraduate student status at UMD College Park in an AGNR major Must be in good judicial and academic standing (at least a cumulative GPA of 2.75) Completion of at least 1 semester in an AGNR major by January 2022 Commitment of 5-10 hours each semester for at least 1 full academic year to the AGNR Ambassadors A general understanding of the college admissions and application process. If you are interested, complete the online application at the link below by 12pm on Friday, February 18th, 2022. View the attached information sheet for more details about the role! Apply now: https://go.umd.edu/agambassador

#MusselPower Volunteer Events

Spots open for #MusselPower Volunteer Events on Monday, October 18

We are seeking volunteers to help us with release mussels and help us with a mussel survey!  Both events involve walking in mud and water while wearing waders, and AWS can provide them to you if you don't have your own. Learn more and register below. Freshwater Mussel Tagging & Release at Langston, 9am-Noon Volunteers will help AWS to tag freshwater mussels and release them by wading into the Anacostia River by Langston Golf Course!  Freshwater Mussel Survey at Heritage Marsh, 1pm-4pm Volunteers will help AWS survey the freshwater mussels at Heritage Marsh. Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS)

SustainableUMD Events & Opportunities 🌎♻💡

UMD Sustainability Grants Deadline

If you have ideas on how to make our campus more sustainable apply for a grant anywhere between $2,000 - $330,000 to help you launch your vision into reality! Approximately $330,000 is available each fiscal year.

Apply by October 15, 2021

Recycling Internship

10-20 hours per week | Paid The Recycling and Solid Waste unit in Facilities Management is looking for a student employee to help track, coordinate and promote institutional recycling practices at UMD.

Apply Today

Green Terp Events

The Green Terp Program offers reusable utensil or straw sets to students who fulfill a commitment to adopt sustainable practices in their daily lives! Stop by one of our outreach events to meet the Outreach Team & Ambassadors, do fun DIYS or activities, and get some sustainable swag! Tue, Oct 5, 6 - 8pm | North Campus Diner Wed, Oct 6, 11am - 1pm | Farmer's Market at Tawes Plaza Fri, Oct 8, 11am - 2pm | Terps Take Care on McKeldin Mall Tue, Oct 12, 6pm - 8pm | South Campus Diner Wed, Oct 13, 11am - 1pm | Farmer's Market at Tawes Plaza Thu, Oct 14, 11am - 1pm | Stamp Student Union (Outside) Tue, Oct 19, 6pm - 8pm | 251 North Diner Wed, Oct 20, 11am - 1pm | Farmer's Market at Tawes Plaza Thu, Oct 21, 11am - 1pm | McKeldin Steps (Outside) Tue, Oct 26, 6pm - 8pm | North Campus Diner Wed, Oct 27, 11am - 1pm | Farmer's Market at Tawes Plaza Thu, Oct 28, 11am - 1pm | Location TBD

Green Terp Events

Pollinator Garden Volunteer Hours

Thursdays 2pm - 3pm

Adjacent to the Arboretum Outreach Center, 3931 Stadium Drive. Join staff from the UMD Bee Lab to help care for one of our many pollinator-friendly gardens on campus. Located next to "Dwelling: Paint Branch Creek," an art installation that is also a solitary bee wall, this garden supports those bees and other pollinators with native habitat. Regular care is needed in this garden, such as pruning and weeding.

Volunteer with the UMD Arboretum

Community Garden Volunteer Hours

Mondays at 3 PM and Saturdays at 10 AM Community Learning Garden at UMD Drop in to open volunteer hours and learn how to grow food! Assist with planting, pruning, weeding, planning, watering, or harvesting. Sample some of the produce, which is donated to the Campus Pantry to help ensure no Terp goes hungry!

Volunteer with the UMD Community Garden

Adopt-a-Garden at UMD

New this year, now your office, Greek chapter, student org or other group can adopt a garden on campus. By adopting a garden you can check off an action towards Green Office and Chapter certification and help us cultivate our living campus. Our entire UMD campus is a world-class arboretum and you can help cultivate native plants, pollinator gardens, rain gardens, edible landscaping, and more!

Arboretum horticulturists and staff will work with you to select a garden area that is meaningful to you and needs some extra TLC, then coordinate monthly volunteer events with your group.

Sign up to Adopt-a-Garden

summer field work opportunity - Ripple

Exciting summer opportunity! Be a part of an ENST alumni award-winning design competition installation ("Ripple) this summer! For students needing internship credit, you can submit your proposal on our website (enst.umd.edu). But do make sure to fill out the volunteer interest form below first. 

Volunteer Interest Form: https://forms.gle/suA8qXJpLE9TCwXv8

Learn about Ripple: https://lnkd.in/eysr7fV
Learn about the competition: https://lagi2020flyranch.org/

Cool News article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimdobson/2021/03/03/the-future-of-burning-man-emerges-at-fly-ranch-an-outrageous-new-world-in-the-black-rock-desert/?sh=6ac0adb11e45

Restoration Ecology field/lab volunteer positions with USGS - Hawaii

2 volunteer positions in Restoration Ecology with United States Geological Survey (USGS), one starting June 1 and one starting July 6 that both last 6 months; housing and per diem are provided. We are looking for motivated interns with field/lab experience to work on projects in various forest sites on Hawaii Island (e.g., Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park) relating to ecosystem restoration. Projects include work on post-fire restoration strategies, seed dispersal and natural forest regeneration, and forest restoration in the face of Rapid Ohia Death disease and invasive plant species. 

Field responsibilities(80-90%) include: collecting plant survey data, planting and monitoring experimental plants, collecting plant foliar and litter samples, soil coring, plant propagation and transplanting. Lab responsibilities(10-20%) include: data entry, fungal baiting, soil processing and nutrient extractions, grinding foliar material, gear bio-sanitation and decontamination. 

Field sites range from sea level to 8000 ft elevation and involve cold, wet as well as hot, humid conditions. Must be able to work outdoors in all weather conditions, hike over rough terrain long distances carrying field gear, navigate using GPS/compass, and drive a 4x4 automatic vehicle on unpaved roads. Compensation is $34/day per diem and housing is provided in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, or in field housing; a government vehicle may be used 1x/week for a personal trip to Hilo. Airfare is only provided from Oahu to Hilo (roundtrip). 

To apply, please send AS A SINGLE DOCUMENT 1. brief cover letter highlighting relevant experience and why you are interested in the position, 2. resume, and 3. name, address, phone number, and email address of at least 3 references to Dr. Jim Jacobi, USGS Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center, jjacobi@usgs.gov   

Applications are due March 8, 2021.