In the Community
Our vision is a Chesapeake Bay and watershed that is healthy and thriving; one in which natural systems and human communities are in balance. Interdisciplinary academic programs promote the integration of environmental issues, social values, and good old river mud.
President’s Climate Action Committee
The President’s Climate Action Committee at Washington College is composed of staff from the Center for Environment & Society (CES), as well as other college staff, faculty, students, and also residents of Chestertown. The Committee’s mission is to help the College meet its obligation to the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment. (ACUPCC).
Friends of Eastern Neck
In 2010 the Friends of Eastern Neck (FOEN) awarded $15,800 to the Center for Environment & Society at Washington College. The grant was used to develop seasonal education and outreach programs, including a popular “Open House” in December, at Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge (ENNWR).
Community Greening
The Community Greening Tool Kit is a “box” of resources designed to assist municipal governments and other organizations in setting up their own community greening programs.
Waterfront Festival
The Annual Waterfront Festival and Cardboard Boat Regatta is a community favorite.
Oyster Restoration
The Center for Environment & Society at Washington College began its oyster stewardship efforts in 2008 with community volunteers on the Chester River and 25 Taylor floats at Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge. Funded by a grant from the Friends of Eastern Neck, these projects culminated in 20 bushels of oysters that were placed on a new oyster bar at Hail Cove in September 2009. Hail Cove— an important waterfowl site— was restored by constructing headland breakwaters, laying an arc of stone to promote oyster habitat, and planting aquatic vegetation to protect the isthmus sandbar from erosion. Washington College and the Friends were among 17 partners who contributed to the Hail Cove Restoration project, and in April 2010 received a Coastal America Partnership Award for these efforts. Find out more about Hail Cove.
Eastern Shore Birds
The field component of the 5-year MD-DC Breeding Bird Atlas Project concluded at the end of 2006. A total of 203 species were identified Statewide; 187 of these were confirmed as breeders. Statewide Atlas Coordinator for the Maryland Ornithological Society (MOS) Walter Ellison is now combining the field data with individual species accounts, distribution maps, and population trends for publication in a book to be published by Johns Hopkins Press.
Originally founded under the name Chino Farms Banding Station, Foreman’s Branch Bird Observatory has been in operation at its current location since 1998. Our emphasis is on migratory banding, with a spring season that runs from March through May and a fall season spanning the months of August through November. Additionally, we band once a week during the winter months and despite not banding in the summer, we probably capture most of the locally breeding birds on either end of our migration banding.
We are the only major migratory bird banding station operating on the eastern shore of Maryland. Located on the upper eastern shore 3 miles NE of Chestertown, MD, we are in a rural area. The habitats at the station include fallow fields, hedgerows, early successional shrub/scrub, second-growth woodlands, mature wood lots and the open water and mud flats of Foreman’s Branch.
Sustainability at WC
