Win a FREE registration for the Explore the Gunpowder Watershed Challenge
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Last year, we hosted our inaugural Explore the Gunpowder Watershed Challenge and raised over $10,000 to support clean water and land preservation. We are excited to announce that the Challenge will return this year from September 1 - September 30!
We need YOUR help to make this year's Challenge exciting! We want to highlight some of the best trails within the Gunpowder Watershed so participants can get an authentic Gunpowder experience. Fill out our Google Form describing your favorite trail by Sunday, August 1 and you'll be entered into a raffle for a FREE individual registration for the 2021 Explore the Gunpowder Watershed Challenge! (valued at $45 and includes an event t-shirt).
Stay tuned for the official launch of the 2021 Explore the Gunpowder Watershed Challenge in early August. We will be sending a special stand-alone message!
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Last Chance for Rain Barrels |
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Save water, save money, and save our local waterways all at the same time! Summer is the perfect time to reap the benefits of having rain barrel(s) installed on your property. The rain water you harvest in each 55 gallon barrel will provide ample water to keep your lawn and gardens happy!
GVC is offering two more workshops this summer. Advance registration is required.
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You're Invited to a GVC Celebration |
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Show your support for healthy lands, healthy waters, and healthy communities in the Gunpowder watershed! You’re invited to our GVC Celebration at Pine Ridge Golf Course on Sunday, October 3rd from 3 pm – 6 pm. Join us as we celebrate our volunteers and showcase our environmental stewardship projects. Join us for a native plant garden tour and stay for live music, food trucks, golf games, and good conversation!
The GVC Celebration at Pine Ridge Golf Course will include drinks, snacks, and raffles. It is open to the general public as well as GVC volunteers, members, and supporters. Admission is FREE but we are asking guests to RSVP to help us plan accordingly.
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Welcome GVC's New Board Members |
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This spring, GVC welcomed several new board members. We're excited to share their credentials with you:
Ron Brown (top left) has a strong affinity for the Chesapeake Bay. He grew up in Baltimore and now lives on the water (Sue Creek) in eastern Baltimore County. Ron graduated from Towson University with a degree in Marketing/Business Management and earned his MBA at the University of Baltimore. He spent most of his career in sales and marketing with the Quaker Oats Co./Gatorade Division, as well as additional work with the Baltimore Orioles and Towson University.
Joseph Clark, III (top right) is a Finance Controller at McCormick and joined the GVC board in 2021. He holds a B.S. in Business from University of Baltimore, and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. Born and raised in Jamaica (Queens), New York he now resides in Baltimore County. He loves spending time with his family, swimming, playing golf, and finding DIY projects to complete.
Michael Zema (bottom left) is a Staff Accountant at Exelon Generation and Co-Chair of the Workplace Greening Subcommitee on the Exelon EcoTeam Board. Originally from Pennsylvania, Mike has spent much of his life outdoors hiking, running and biking or on the water fishing along the East Coast. Having spent time volunteering in clean ups throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed he understands how important it is to protect the resources around us.
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TREEmendous Accomplishments |
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Hot summer days are the perfect time to appreciate trees! Here's to all the GVC volunteers who planted 750 trees on 16 acres this spring. Their hard work has helped us make great strides towards our Planting the Future project.
Special thanks to our growing cohort of Tree Planting crew chiefs: Andrew Ames, Bob Batchelor, Bill Vondrasek*, Carrie Nicholson, Charlie Conklin, Erica Cress, Essence Moseley, Jennifer Hruza, Jeremy Monn, Joe Davis*, John Hobner, Kathleen Crostic, Mark McDonald, Mike Galvin, Olivia Veno, Riley Auer*, Sarah Bunk, and Tim Somers.
*Joined in 2021!
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Get Involved - GVC Calendar of Events |
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The GVC highly values the safety of our staff and volunteers. All participants are encouraged to wear a face mask and maintain social distancing. Should you feel ill, please do not attend the event and let the event leader know as soon as possible so we can recruit additional volunteers.
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Partnership for Clean Trails |
Clean trails lead to a clean watershed! GVC was honored to be part of a recent NCR Trail Work Day where volunteers spent a Sunday morning improving the Paper Mill Road section of the Torrey C. Brown/NCR Trail. Their hard work included pruning vegetation along the trail, leveling out low spots on the trail, and maintaining the park's garden at the front entrance.
GVC Vice President, Don Callihan (pictured in bright green GVC shirt) shared his thoughts on the partnership:
GVC is fortunate to have District 42B Delegate Michele Guyton and her Chief of Staff Corey Johns organizing actions that directly support GVC’s Mission “to preserve and restore the lands and waterways of the Gunpowder watershed." Working alongside partners like Gunpowder Falls State Park and the volunteers that helped on this work day on the Torrey C. Brown (NCR) Rail Trail demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in achieving our common purpose to protect the Chesapeake Bay.
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GVC Connections: McCormick Inc. |
Jim Martin, GVC's former Board President, was recently selected for a McCormick Employee Spotlight. We were thrilled to see how Jim's experience with GVC has influenced his work at McCormick!
"Jim was delighted to discover that the plastic containers he re-purposed into rain barrels at his first workshop, were donated by McCormick, and have been since 2008. The GVC and McCormick are both committed to the use of plastics that can be recycled, reused, or repurposed. In fact, McCormick is a signatory to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, where we have pledged to eliminate single-use plastics in our supply chain."
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