Garrett County Soil Conservation District
Every year, HEEC partners with the Garrett Soil Conservation District (GSCD) for a sixth grade lesson about soil. Students rotate through three stations, with one of the stations being run by GSCD staff. Students learn about soil characteristics and how human activities are both dependent on and impact soil properties.
GSCD employees discuss erosion on bare soil versus soil covered with vegetation using a demonstration in an HEEC classroom.
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Sixth grade students see the link between porosity and soil drainage using a hands on activity provided by the GSCD.
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The partnership between HEEC and the GSCD is noted in a GSCD quarterly newsletter.
New Germany State Park
During the residential summer camps at HEEC, students spend one day at New Germany State Park. While there, students are able to canoe, kayak, or paddle board on the lake. They then have a picnic lunch followed by a nature hike led by park rangers. Students have also assisted in the removal of Autumn Olive at the park.
HEEC summer camp members enjoy time on New Germany Lake.
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A camper gets a close up look at a salamander while hiking with New Germany park rangers.
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Maryland Association of Forest Conservancy District Boards
HEEC has hosted the Natural Resources Careers Camp (NRCC) run by the Maryland Association of Forest Conservancy District Boards every year since 1972. High school students from across Maryland and bordering states stay at HEEC for the week-long residential camp. During their stay, campers explore various natural resource careers. Students can elect to complete an exam at the end of the week to obtain two college credits at Allegany College of Maryland for an Introduction to Forestry course.
HEEC also collaborates with the Garrett County Forestry Board on a regular basis. For example, HEEC staff distributes information to fifth grade students visiting the center regarding the Arbor Day poster contest and assists in delivering completed posters to Forestry Board members. Forestry Board members have also assisted with the identification of trees within the arboretum and on HEEC grounds for the tree identification and labeling project (see Structures for Environmental Learning section).
HEEC also collaborates with the Garrett County Forestry Board on a regular basis. For example, HEEC staff distributes information to fifth grade students visiting the center regarding the Arbor Day poster contest and assists in delivering completed posters to Forestry Board members. Forestry Board members have also assisted with the identification of trees within the arboretum and on HEEC grounds for the tree identification and labeling project (see Structures for Environmental Learning section).
The Curriculum Schedule for the 2019 NRCC held at HEEC.
A newspaper article published in the Cumberland Times-News about the 2019 camp.
An email between HEEC staff member Sharon Hoover and a Garrett County Forestry Board member regarding distribution of materials for the 2020 Arbor Day Poster Contest.
A bulletin board display at HEEC of the 2020 Garrett County Maryland Arbor Day Poster Contest winners.
In 2019, a Garrett County student was a state winner in the Arbor Day Poster Contest.
Garrett County Envirothon
HEEC assists with the Garrett County Envirothon county-wide training days and county competition. The county-wide trainings are held at HEEC, and HEEC staff assist with the training and competition. In the past, HEEC staff have helped obtain individuals to train students and assisted with scheduling, busing, organizing lunches, and the running of the competition.
Envirothon students work with a Maryland DNR fisheries employee to learn external fish anatomy in the HEEC nature hall.
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A soil scientist helps Envirothon participants determine soil characteristics in the HEEC soil pit.
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Following is an email regarding planning of the 2020 Garrett County Envirothon training day and competition mentioning HEEC.
Maryland Fur Trappers
Each fall, the Maryland Fur Trappers hold a weekend conference at HEEC. Individuals from across the state stay at HEEC for the weekend. They place traps and skin any animals that are caught along with conducting workshops. Garrett College students enrolled in the Natural Resources & Wildlife Technology program also attend all or part of the weekend. The Fur Trappers have donated items to HEEC's nature hall taxidermy collection, including a mink and a squirrel. Following is the invoice for the 2019 weekend conference.
Northern Garrett High School & Swan Meadow School
HEEC partnered with Northern Garrett High School on the wetland restoration project (see Promoting the Maryland Green Schools Program section and Habitat Restoration section). HEEC has also recently assisted Northern Garrett High School and Swan Meadow School in renewing their Green School status by paying the intent to apply fees and reviewing the applications prior to submission (see Promoting the Maryland Green School Program section).
