FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School has been awarded $35,000 in grant funds through the Five-Star and Urban Waters Restoration Program, a partnership of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the National Association of Counties, the Wildlife Habitat Council and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The grant and related initiatives make Baltimore one of only 26 urban bird treaty cities in the country (www.fws.gov/urban).
Urban Bird Treaty cities bring together citizens, federal, state, municipal agencies, and non-governmental organizations to conserve migratory birds. Citizens learn about bird conservation through their participation in education programs habitat improvement and citizen science activities, such as reducing hazards to birds in urban/suburban areas. Outward Bound will concentrate conservation efforts in West Baltimore’s Leakin Park where the school’s challenge course and offices are located.
“The Urban Bird Treaty has proven its success in engaging Americans in urban conservation planning,” said Jerome Ford, the Service’s Assistant Director for Migratory Birds. “When we conserve bird habitat, we enrich communities – and people – in measurable and lasting ways. There are 30 densely populated neighborhoods within walking distance of Baltimore’s Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park. We have a great opportunity here to connect people with nature while improving habitat for local and migratory birds.”
“We see this as a great opportunity to engage our students in service-related conservation activity, and also to expose the local community to the beauty of Leakin Park in the process. It’s a huge win for Baltimore and we’re proud to be a part of the nationwide effort to reach the next generation of conservation leaders,” said Ben Worden, Marketing Director at Baltimore Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School.
Outward Bound is also a partner in the Greater Baltimore Wilderness Coalition. This Coalition includes many federal, state and local government agencies, non-profit organizations, and businesses. The focal points of the Greater Baltimore Wilderness Coalition are resiliency, biodiversity, equity and discovery. This grant will support on the ground conservation and outreach activities that the coalition advocates. Grant funds were also awarded to another Baltimore non-profit, Living Classrooms.
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At Baltimore Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School we value compassion, integrity, excellence, and diversity. We use experiential education techniques in a supportive yet challenging environment to teach our students that they are capable of more than they ever thought possible. Our courses have served the Baltimore community and it’s schools since 1986.
CONTACT:
Ginger Mihalik, Executive Director / gmihalik@outwardboundchesapeake.org or 410-448-1721 x2455
Ben Worden, Marketing Director / bworden@outwardboundchesapeake.org or 410-448-1721 x2431