College and Friends Celebrate 50th Birthday of Arctic Wildlife Refuge with Film Screening

CHESTERTOWN — About the size of South Carolina, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is home to caribou herds, polar bears, grizzly bears, muskox, doll sheep, wolves, wolverines, snow geese, peregrine falcons and other migratory birds. Discover this isolated and breathtaking preserve at a special screening of the documentary film America's Wildest Refuge on November 29th at Washington College.

In celebration of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s 50th Anniversary, the community is invited for cake and refreshments first, at 6:30 p.m. in the McLain Atrium, located in the Toll Science Building on Campus Avenue in Chestertown.

The film, which has a running time of 50 minutes, will be shown at 7 p.m. Colby Hawkinson, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service specialist at Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge, will be on hand that evening to answer questions and explore connections between the Arctic and Eastern Neck Refuges.

The event is sponsored by Washington College’s Center for Environment & Society, the Friends of Eastern Neck Inc., and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For information email to jfairchild2@washcoll.edu or call 410-778-7295.

College Co-sponsors Spring Clean-up at Eastern Neck Island Saturday, April 30th

CHESTERTOWN– The Friends of Eastern Neck, US Fish and Wildlife, and Washington College are sponsoring a shoreline clean-up at Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, April 30th, from 1 to 3 p.m. Trash bags, gloves, bug spray, sunscreen, bottled water and snacks will be provided for all volunteers who come out to E. Neck Island to pick up trash and debris. This activity is free and open to the public. Meet at the Refuge Office and Visitor Center, located at 1730 Eastern Neck Road in Rock Hall. Contact jfairchild2@washcoll.edu or call 410-778-7295.

The Friends of Eastern Neck, Inc. is a non-profit organization that supports the missions of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge through financial support, advocacy, and volunteering. To learn more about volunteer opportunities at Eastern Neck, visit www.fws.gov/northeast/easternneck/ or call (410) 639-7056.

Photo by Terry Willis.

Watch video from last years' cleanup:

Friends of Eastern Neck Join Forces with Washington College

Chestertown, MD — The Center for Environment & Society at Washington College has received a grant award of $8,400 from Friends of Eastern Neck, Inc., to assist with stewardship programs at Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge. The total program cost is $15,058, with the Center contributing $6,658.

Funding will support a small-scale oyster restoration project and allow the Center to make a significant leap forward in developing program offerings to engage students, Friends of Eastern Neck volunteers, and visitors to Eastern Neck Island in the interdisciplinary study of the Bay.

The six-month-long project unites the two groups as they collaborate with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wye Research & Education Center, Horn Point Lab, and others in conservation science, education, and outreach programs.

"We are very excited by the potential of this project," says CES Director John Seidel, "and we believe it is essential to engaging volunteers and stakeholders, promoting stewardship of the Refuge, and educating people about benthic habitat."

The Center for Environment & Society works to instill a conservation ethic by connecting people to the land and water. It supports interdisciplinary research and education, exemplary stewardship of natural and cultural resources, and the integration of ecological and social values. For more information, visit ces.washcoll.edu or call 410-778-7295.

The Friends of Eastern Neck, Inc. is a non-profit organization that supports the missions of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Eastern Neck NWR through financial, advocacy, and volunteer support. To learn more about volunteer opportunities through the Friends of Eastern Neck, Inc. visit www.fws.gov/northeast/easternneck/ or call (410) 639-7056.

July 23, 2008