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Reflection Summary

Hickory Environmental Education Center (HEEC) is located in the mountains of western Maryland. The 77-acre facility was established in 1965 through the efforts of science teacher Charlie Strauss, who envisioned a place that was an extension of the regular classroom and would teach students about the environment by putting them in it. The center has expanded through the years, and now includes a nature hall, planetarium, kitchen, cabins, pool, pavilions, hiking trails, and other structures for environmental and outdoor education. HEEC became a Green Center in 2007. The small staff strives to educate students about the local environment and threats facing it. They lead students to the realization that it is their responsibility to protect and preserve the environment and sustain natural resources for future generations.

HEEC serves all Garrett County Public School (GCPS) students, along with hosting outside groups, including boy scout troops, Maryland Fur Trappers, and the Natural Resources Careers Camp. Over the past 14 years, the number of visits by GCPS students and outside groups has greatly increased. All students in kindergarten through grade eight now visit HEEC twice yearly, pre-k students have one visit per year, and high school students completing any science course come to the center once during the course. HEEC visits are the main component of the Environmental Literacy requirement for GCPS students. Every student visit includes time in the nature hall, planetarium, and outdoors. Lessons are designed to be engaging and hands-on. HEEC staff collaborates with classroom teachers to ensure that the lessons are relevant to what is being taught in the classroom and align with the curriculum. Currently taught lessons are aligned with the NGSS and Maryland Environmental Literacy Standards and engage students in the process of science while teaching content. The staff also provides support to teachers who wish to implement environmental projects at their schools and to schools working to become or remain Maryland Green Schools. HEEC hosts residential summer camps for GCPS students having just completed the fifth grade annually. Efforts have been made to increase participation in these camps. Fifth grade teachers are encouraged to bring classes to stay at the center for one night during the school year to make students more comfortable with an overnight stay. HEEC staff visits each school to talk about the camp and hand out forms to every eligible student. Both camps held in the summer of 2019 were at full capacity! The cabins have also been updated to encourage overnight visits by students and outside groups. Hypoallergenic mattresses were purchased for all beds, walls were painted, and bathroom upgrades were made.

Various other facility upgrades have occurred at HEEC over the past 14 years. The nature hall has been redesigned to lower the displays and mounted animals to make them more accessible for children. The walls are covered in murals depicting natural habitats found in Garrett County. Murals were also painted on the planetarium walls. An American Chestnut grove was established in the arboretum, and a new trail leading to the arboretum was created. Maintenance was completed on another trail to make it usable by students. An enclosed outdoor classroom was constructed for hands-on activities related to the forested area surrounding it. A native meadow was established for educational purposes and to benefit pollinators and other wildlife. All upgrades are completed with the goal of improving the experience and learning of our visitors.

Green Center Goals

Four Year Goals

Convert the chlorinated swimming pool to a salt water pool

Actions for success: All changes necessary to convert the pool currently at HEEC to a salt water pool will be completed. The custodian at HEEC will be trained to maintain the pool.
Individuals involved: GCPS maintenance department
Expected outcome: Having a salt water pool will greatly reduce the amount of chlorine being added to the pool and stored on site, which will decrease the risk of the chemical entering the environment and benefit students who are sensitive to inhaling or coming in contact with chlorine.

Redesign the native meadow to increase diversity and usefulness as an outdoor learning structure

Actions for success: Inventory will be taken of the plants currently growing in the meadow. If any invasive species are found, they will be removed completely. Native species that are dominating may be reduced in number. A maintained path will be placed through the center of the meadow. Additional native species will be added and fenced as need to protect from deer browse. The location of all species will be mapped.
Individuals involved: Mountain Laurel Garden Club, students
Expected outcome: Students will have better access to see all of the species in the meadow close up, making the meadow a more useful learning tool. Having the map will allow the instructor to pick out specific species more easily during lessons. The increased biodiversity of native plant species will provide more of a benefit to insects and animals.

Support at least one additional Garrett County Public School in becoming a Maryland Green School

Actions for success: Reach out to principals of schools in the county that are not currently Green Schools but have expressed interest in the past. Offer support and try to convince principals to begin the process. Hold meetings with any interested principals and staff members to explain the application process. If the school agrees to apply, support them as needed.
Individuals involved: Principal and staff of participating school(s)
Expected outcome: At least one GCPS school will successfully become a Green School within the next four years.

Eight Year Goals

Remove several white pine trees from the arboretum and expand the arboretum in order to increase the number of different tree species

Actions for success: A logging company will be contracted to remove a stand of aging white pine trees. That area and another area adjacent to the arboretum will then be planted with various species of native trees.
Individuals involved: Logging company, GCPS maintenance department, student volunteers
Expected outcome: The arboretum will be a safer space for students without the risk of limbs falling from the old trees. Diversity of trees will be increased, improving habitat and making the arboretum a more useful educational tool.

Reduce the amount of waste generated at HEEC, especially office paper and lunch waste

Actions for success: Increase recycling and composting efforts. Place signs on paper towel dispensers reminding students to conserve. Attempt to reduce paper use when possible utilizing strategies such as printing only when necessary, printing on both sides of paper, and printing two pages per sheet.
Individuals involved: Garrett County Solid Waste Department
Expected outcome: HEEC will significantly decrease the amount of waste that is sent to the landfill. They will teach students the importance of solid waste reduction.

Partner with at least two Garrett County Public Schools to establish ongoing Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs)

Actions for success: Reach out to principals and teachers in all district schools to identify schools interested in partnering to develop a MWEE. Meet with teachers to develop plans of action and determine needs. Support schools as needed by providing expertise, materials, and lesson support.
Individuals involved: GCPS teachers, Maryland DNR or other resource individuals
Expected outcome: At least two schools in the district will develop on-going MWEE's that students can be involved in year after year. HEEC will continue to provide support, but the schools will become increasingly independent in carrying out the project over time.

Twelve Year Goals

Construct a new trail through the arboretum to ensure visitors can easily access all tree species

Actions for success: Following the removal of a stand of white pine trees and the addition of various native tree species (see eight year goals), a trail will be constructed through to arboretum. The trail will connect with the existing trail system at HEEC and will be constructed to provide access to as many tree species as possible.
Individuals involved: GCPS maintenance department
Expected outcome: Visitors will have better access to the arboretum. If students are completing an activity in the arboretum, the trail can be utilized to help the students locate necessary tree species or move through an activity in a particular order.

Install new heating and cooling units in the cabins

Actions for success: Working in cooperation with the maintenance department, the heating and cooling units in the cabins will be replaced. The new units will be more efficient and reliable. The systems will also include air filtration systems to maintain air quality.
Individuals involved: HVAC company, GCPS maintenance department
Expected outcome: The improved climate and air quality in the cabins will help ensure that groups continue to use HEEC for overnight activities and help to keep summer camp attendance high.

Provide support in order for all Garrett County Public Schools to become Maryland Green Schools

Actions for success: Reach out to the principals of any GCPS schools that are not yet Green Schools. Express our desire for them to become a Green School and offer support. Meet with all principals and interested teachers if possible. Once schools are convinced to complete the application process, provide individualized support as needed.
Individuals involved: Principals and teachers at participating schools
Expected outcome: Hopefully all, or at least a greater percentage of, GCPS schools will become Maryland Green Schools in the next twelve years.

Top Five Accomplishments

A hybrid chestnut grove was established and is being maintained in the arboretum.
Murals depicting natural habitats and astronomical objects and bodies were painted on the walls of the nature hall and planetarium, creating a more interesting and welcoming environment.
The trail network was improved by constructing a new trail to the arboretum and adding a bridge and gravel to a section of an existing trail to make it usable year-round.
Hickory partnered with an eighth grade English class to visit Annapolis and propose legislation to designate the long-tailed salamander as Maryland's state amphibian.
Lessons were created that align to the curriculum of a high school physical science course that is now a requirement for all Garrett County Public School students, allowing students to visit the center when completing the course.