May 2020 Newsletter
Speak Up For Land Preservation
Great News! Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski confirmed his commitment to Land Preservation in the Gunpowder watershed by asking for an increase in his 2022 - 2026 budget proposal. The cumulative increase through 2026 will be $13,260,000. The GVC sent him a personal thank you, but please, if you have a minute, drop him a line of thanks as well. Click here for his contact information .
We are not there yet though. The Baltimore County Council has a legislative budget adoption session scheduled for May 21 . It is important to let your County Council person know about the importance of land preservation to the Big Gunpowder Falls and to the County's well being.

Preserving the land protects the streams and rivers that flow through the land --we cannot protect the water without protecting the land.

When we make land preservation a priority we can :
  • save the places people need and love
  • connect people to the land
  • make our communities healthier
  • secure wildlife habitat
  • protect clean water and air
  • keep farmers farming
  • stabilize our climate
  • conserve places of natural beauty
Update on GVC Events
Please note, that all GVC in-person events and activities continue to be postponed until further notice. We will resume our volunteer events once the state and Baltimore County deem it safe and appropriate to relax social distancing requirements. Thank you for your understanding. We look forward to working together with you again in the near future.

We are currently assessing new methods of conducting our environmental stewardship activities. For example, we are looking into the feasibility of selling pre-assembled rain barrels in lieu of our hands-on workshops.

You'll be the first to know when our events start up again. Stay tuned for future emails from the GVC!
Welcome Our Newest Board Members
Kathleen Crostic is the Partnerships Manager at Towson University, where she also obtained her B.S. in Family Studies and Community Development. In her role, she matches needs and expertise of TU faculty, staff, students, and community partners and explores collaborative opportunities to further the mission of non-profits while providing experiential opportunities to students. Kathleen began her work with GVC as a volunteer Crew Chief and Stream Captain, but is excited to join the board to deepen her positive impact on the environment, our watershed, and on future generations. Read more.
Sarah Haines taught science at Pocomoke Middle School before moving across the bay to take a position at Towson University, where she has been teaching for 20 years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Bucknell University, an M.S. and PhD in Zoology from the University of Georgia, and an M.A. in Education from Salisbury University. Sarah’s involvement in science education and environmental education initiatives has led her to hold several positions of leadership at the national level, most notably with the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Environmental Education Advisory Council (NEEAC). Read more.
Luke Hancock is a Senior Corporate Social Responsibility Specialist at Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE). He is the Events Co-Chair with the Exelon EcoTeam. He holds a B.S. in Marketing and Business and Professional Writing from Salisbury University. A resident of Harford County, he spends most of his time outdoors hiking, running, traveling, and going to the beach with his friends and family. Read more.
Make a Difference
$4,000+ for Baltimore County Residents in Need
Earlier this month, GVC was one of many Baltimore County non-profits that participated in the "Let's A sk our D onors to A id P andemic-relief T oday (ADAPT)" campaign. We're proud to report that over $4,000 was raised on Giving Tuesday Now (May 5). Those funds will support non-profits at the front-lines of addressing food insecurity in Baltimore County. Learn more about Let's ADAPT.
Keep Up The Good Work In Your Neighborhoods!
Kudos to the GVC stream captains who have continued to clean their stream segments while social distancing. Safely picking up trash CAN be a family event! Preventing trash from reaching storm drains and streams is even more important now as we see increased littering of discarded masks and gloves.
Earth Day Everyday...and Covid-19
Fifty years later, Senator Gaylord Nelson's reflection on Earth Day still rings true. Let's remember the importance of mutual respect for all other human beings and living creatures as we navigate the Covid-19 pandemic.

We hope you are able to seek solace outdoors during these difficult times. If you enjoy hiking, we recommend the American Hiking Society's guide on how to hike responsibly in 2020.