2016ANNUAL REPORT

10520 OLD FREDERICK ROAD PO BOX 175 WOODSTOCK, MARYLAND 21163PHONE 410-465-8877 FAX 410-465-8277 www.hcconservancy.org

Not only has this program grown outside of Howard County, but the work of our students had an impact on citizen science statewide. Howard County students contributed to the development of a new biological assessment tool, which enables greater precision in organism identification and classification. In partnership with Maryland Department of Natural Resources, this improved stream survey tool is now used as part of the Stream Waders program, which evaluates more than 100 streams across the state.

More than 3,200 elementary school children experienced outdoor education at the Conservancy this year. Our second grade soil program with hands-on exploration at the soil pit is still our most popular elementary field experience. All programs align with school system curriculum, from first grade Owl’s Observations where students learn about adaptations and survival to Nature Tales where preschoolers listen to read-aloud stories during their nature hikes.

Bioblitz at Belmont saw fifth and seventh grade students working to identify all the living species in the park. 252 total species were identified this year, and 45 were research-grade observations that were shared through the citizen science iNaturalist program.

It was another great summer with 335 summer campers at our two sites. With the theme of Explore your World, campers investigated habitats, hiked to ponds, streams and champion trees, and learned from experts about paleontology, beekeeping, archery and more.

High school students participate in a stream corridor assessment.

PHOTO CREDIT: EMILY CALKINS

2016 was a milestone year for the Conservancy with the groundbreaking for our expanded environmental education center! The new nature center will allow us to better serve the community for years to come. This exciting project would not be possible without the support of our donors and volunteers.

Thank you!

Expansion Begins

Construction on our expanded education center is expected to be complete in May 2017, just in time for our 11th annual Wine in the Garden and Beer in the Barn! The new nature center will feature exhibits on trees, birds, beneficial bugs, pollinators and more. A new children’s play area will offer opportunities for the very young, while the nature center, meeting rooms and outdoor classroom will serve students and adults alike.

Educational ProgramsAnother milestone this year is the growth of award winning

Conservancy programs across the state! The student generated Watershed Report Card, an authentic environmental experience where students evaluate the biological, chemical and physical factors of their watershed, is now in twelve jurisdictions across the state. A statewide summit will be held at the Statehouse in Annapolis in the spring, and students will advocate for improvements to their watershed with elected officials. Thirty-two schools across the state are taking part in this program, with 1,500 students in Howard County alone!

Major donors and elected officials help break ground on our education center expansion.

PHOTO CREDIT: VIC GLADSTONE

Community OutreachConservancy programs “on the road”

reached nearly 2,500 this year. Our owls, snakes and turtles were just some of the Conservancy family to visit schools, libraries and senior centers across the county. Businesses even joined in this year, providing educational opportunities for their customers.

Special EventsPublic programs drew more than

4,000 visitors to the Conservancy. Some highlights included Scott Weidensual, Peterson Reference Guide author, who drew more than 100 to his talk about owls. Our storytelling program featuring local citizens sharing personal stories of life in Howard County was sold out. We are excited that this successful program will return in 2017 and will incorporate the 50th birthday of Columbia.

AwardsEveryone at the Conservancy

was thrilled with the induction of Ruth and Frances Brown into the Howard County Women’s Hall of Fame this year. Many former students and neighbors were able to attend the ceremony to celebrate the sisters and the incredible gift of Mt. Pleasant Farm that was left to our community. We were also pleased to be recertified this year as a Maryland Green Center by the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education.

BelmontProgram attendance at Belmont has

grown by 75% this year! In addition to our school and camp programs, we offer monthly preschool programs and free guided hikes on the third Saturday of every month–come visit!

Our Grounds Our Community Garden continues

to thrive and support those in need. This year 1,459 pounds of fresh, organic vegetables were donated to the Howard County Food Bank. Our honeybees were busy too – we now have eleven hives, and 120 pounds of honey were harvested this year in partnership with the Howard County Beekeepers Association.

Our bluebird boxes had a good year as well, producing 30 total nest sites, 93 eggs and 51 young.

In partnership with The Howard County Bird Club, a new sky watch site was installed along the grassland loop trail. In addition to hawks, this is a great place to watch the migration of kestrels, osprey, eagles and even non-raptor migrants like swallows, warblers, hummingbirds and monarchs.

And, despite a cold rain, 120 dedicated volunteers planted 145 trees along our trail network on Earth Day!

The Conservancy hosts an annual hike to the Patapsco River.

A great day at summer camp!

PHOTO CREDIT: LORNA SCRIBNER

The historic farmstead at Mt. Pleasant.

PHOTO CREDIT: KEITH JANSON

2016 DONORSMore than 600 corporations, foundations, and individuals contributed to the Conservancy’s general fund in 2016. We grate fully

acknowledge these donations. Every effort has been made to properly acknowledge all contributors; please contact us if a listing is in error.

GRANTS

BGECommunity Foundation

of Howard CountyNOAAPatapsco Heritage Greenway, Inc.Rotary Club of Columbia-Patuxent*Rotary Club of ElkridgeState of Maryland, Department of

Natural ResourcesW.R. Grace & Co.

IN MEMORY OF BOB GROSSMAN

The Arthur FamilyCarolyn and Bill BauerDarcy Bellido de LunaRobert BlauBetty BlauMeg and John BoydLynn BrunoAndrew ButtlesVirginia CiminBrad and Mary Jo ClossDiane CockrellJim and Carolyn CradlerReuben DagoldClarita de JesusDorsey’s Search Community AssociationRosemarie EickerMonica Fortner & Richard ParentiThe Friends of Patapsco Valley State ParkRobert and Barbara GarnerRobert GladdingCorliss GlennonGlenn GordonMarilyn GowerLarry and Emily GrossmanThe Grossman FamilyJeffrey and Sharon GustinAnn HackelingAllen HankinsonMark and Peggy HannonEdward and Adele HansonJean HinckleyLinda HintonMason and Nancy HolmwoodPatricia HookerMichael JonesJames KouryAylene Kovensky-GardElizabeth KristoffersenTom and Janet KustererBarbara LazarSusan Levi-GoerlichAmy LohrDavid and Kathy LyonLeslie Marcuse

Paul and Nancy McAllisterMary and Jim McElveenWoody and Susan MerkleJoan MontanariM.O.R.E.Gwen MorrisonRosemary NobleConnie NorrisGeraldine NovoselKim and Robb O’ConorClare OpenshawKaren PalmBarb ParishJune PetersonRosser PettitJo PieperGary ReinoehlBetty RiceKaren RistDavid and Judith RoePhilip Rous and Sabrina Su-Bin FuRichard and Gina SeyfriedShepherd’s Spring Outdoor Ministry CenterJim and Sharon SmithJan and John SteinLynne StottRichard TeachTed and Dottie TeachStuart TeachJoan ValentineCarole VeihmeyerSteve and Julia WalkerJudith WalshThomas WattsPatrick and Joanne WintersDavid Yanosik

IN MEMORY OF CHELSI ANN ICHRIST

Carol DowningLynne HullDina NociforaCharles and Lisa PulayScott ShermanJeff TrollLisa VaughanDavid and Joan Wanex

BENEFACTORS($2,500 and above)

Duane and Marianne Alexander**AnonymousAT&TBurnet and Lydia Chalmers**Ken Clark*DLA Piper*Susan Duggan

In memory of Robert Duggan

Richard and Vanessa Deutschmann*Georgia Eacker*Environmental Reclamation Company*Graham and Beth Fowler*France-Merrick Foundation*Robert and Janine Grossman*Homer and Martha Gudelsky

Family FoundationRon and Cyndi Gula*Howard County Bird Club*Bob and Bach Jeffrey*The Kahlert Foundation*Keelty and Company*Kohl’s Associates in ActionThe M & T Charitable Foundation*Bob and Mary McCleary**Middendorf Foundation*Jim and Dessie Moxley*Lisa Schlossnagle*Robert Schoeberlein

and Johanna Som de Cerff*In honor of Pieter and Jp Som de Cerff

Dale Schumacher and Barbara Parker*Randolph and Angela Sergent*Robert and Joanne Solem*George and Holly Stone*Gary and Stacia Smith*Katrina Tagget Memorial Foundation

In memory of loved ones who havebeen victims of suicide

Stuart Teach*Whiting Turner Corporation*Whole Foods Market*W.R. Grace & Co.*

PATRONS($1,000–2,499)

Ameresco FSGScott and Dena BerglundBerman, Goldman and Ribakow LLPBozzuto HomesCarney, Kelehan, Bresler, Bennett

and Scherr LLP*The Columbia AssociationCorporate Office Properties Trust*Judeth Erwin

In memory of Victoria M. and William H. Erwin

John and Diane Ference*Keith and Amy Gonce*Joel Goodman and Sally Lentz*Cheryl Griffin*Harkins BuildersHarvest Business AdvisorsErnest and Elmina Hilsenrath*Howard County Department

of Recreation and ParksCathy HudsonJonas and Gabrielle Jacobson*

The Jeffrey Group at Morgan StanleyEdward and Pamela Kasemeyer*Katz, Abosch, Windesheim, Gershman

and Freedman, P.A.Robert and Sally KendallTom and Janet Kusterer*Land Design and Development Inc.Law Offices of Andrea LeWinterKen and Elizabeth Lundeen*Woody and Susan Merkle*Charles MillerThe Parks Family*

In memory of Victoria M and William E Erwin

Perry, White, Ross, and JacobsonPlano-Coudon, LLCThe Plano-Coudon FoundationAlexander and Terry Ruygrok**Sandy Spring Bank*Thomas Scott*

In memory of Dr. Charles EckerSecurity Development CorporationUnitarian Universalist Congregation

of Columbia*James Truby and Verity Weston-Truby*Gina Zawitoski*

FOUNDERS($500–999)

Bruce and Allison AndersonBill and Lynn BentonMax and Patty Buffington*CareFirst, Blue Cross Blue ShieldCattail River Garden Club*Lloyd Chastant*Donald ColeJim and Carolyn Cradler*Suzanne Eacker Curran and Darcy Curran

In memory of James EackerCarol Doermann*

In honor of Rebecca DoermannDan Gabel*Chris and Jack GarbartAlice Giles*Kingdon and Mary GouldArmand and Charlotte Harris*

In honor of Dr. and Mrs. Michael Borkon, Dr. and Mrs. Ronald Byank and Mr. and Mrs. Lou Porta

Daniel and Mary HelfrichRobert and Marianne HellauerJay and Jean JamesSusan Jameson and Richard Yocum*Don Koch and Ann Holmes Jones*Mario Jorquera and Lisa Simonson*Richard LoughlinKarla MartyMike and Holly McFarlandCraig and Paula Krahn Merkle

Miller Family FoundationDaniel and Gwen Morrison*Robin MoskalRob and Ann MoxleyHarshika Patel*Ron and Susan Polniaszek*Select Equity Group FoundationWarren and Ann Strozyk*Alan and Sarah WheedletonNat Williams*Mark and Janice Winter*Vernon and Lucy Wright

SPONSORS($250–499)

Robert and Helen BestLloyd Knowles and Liz Bobo*Helen BowdoinMeg and John Boyd

In honor of Dale Schumacher and Barbara Parker’s 50th anniversary

Steve and Jackie BreedenKen and Michelle Bryden*Alison BurkowskeChristine ConnJeff Bronow and

Kimberly Dorsey-Bronow*Douglas Eacker

In memory of James H. EackerSharon ElliottRalph FerraroJonathan and Pamela GennJeffrey GramlingJames Harris*Ken and Anne HartDenny and Bonnie HartingDavid and Margaret HegmannThe Hobby Family*Elaine HochreiterHoward County Garden Club*

In honor of Janice Winter

Walter and Mary JohnstonKittamaqundi Community ChurchDiana LiebnoLongfellow Club*Michael and Grazina McClureSteve and Cynthia ParrJames PerschyEric Pfoutz and Ryan FreasRenee PiskorChris PowellStephanie ReaGary and Justine Reinoehl*Dr. and Mrs. James and Melissa RichardsonHugh RossTom and Lisa RossbergScott and Sharon StewartRyan and Rachel Sturm*Ned and Kathy Tillman**Will and Mary TothBill and Pat VogelThe Deitemyer Family*Mike and Louise WallPatrick and Joanne Winters*

ASSOCIATES($100–249)

Lowell and Pat AdamsDavid AlexanderBeth Amstad*Shahid and Jean Aziz

In honor of Glenn and Alice WebbJulie Baird*Allan and Marilyn BandelAnne BarkerAlicia BeallRobert and Nancy Berman*Charles and Marilyn BernhardtMatthias K. Gobbert and Robin BlasbergBruce and Harriet BlumDavid and Angie Boyter*

Marney BruceArnold and Joyce BrucknerDiane BuckleymaidtSusan BuswellMeredith and Jesse ChancellorFeng ChenClark Construction Group, LLCEileen CleggRichard and Joan Clinch*Brad and Mary Jo ClossEd CochranKenneth Colburn*Reid and Nancy Compton*Katherine ContiJohn and Linda Coulter

In memory of Pat FrancisNessly and Susan CraigPhillip DennisPaul and Barbara Denton*Paul and Joanne DiCrispino*Tina Dinwoodie*David Ditman and

Denise Valancius-Ditman*Robert and Marilyn Dorfman*David Drake*Alex DunbarDawn EbelingPeggy EckerEco-Care Pest Management, Inc.Middleton Evans*ExelonHelen Farnen*Edwin Fenwick*James Ferry PhotographyNancy Fiscus Levan

In memory of Theresa Fiscus MoriartySteve and Marian FoxDavid and Jeanne FranczakBarry and Lori FrederickBob and Janet FreemanIra Friedrich and Carol BucherMark Garman

John and Alice GershRalph and Jane GeuderRobert Gladding and Ellen Frishberg*Mary GoldFred and Pat Gottemoeller*Cheryl GramlingCharles and Theo GriesackerJeffrey and Sharon Gustin*

In honor of Beverly SandersonReg Hahne*Laurie and Fred HansenFrank and Barbara HansonArmand and Charlotte Harris*

In memory of Carole OlsonBill and Rita HartKathy Hartley*Leigha HaywardFrank and Sessy Hazzard*Kevin and Karen HeffernanRobin Hessey*Margie Horner*Clara Jean Hughes*Pete and Kim HurstBill and Sue Jones*Joe Crossney and Claudine KavanaughRoberta Kemp

In honor of Yuri and Randi Stoneon the occasion of their marriage

Eric and Anita KoehlerJeff and Jennifer KubinaJames and Grace KubofcikRoger and Linda LarkLarriland FarmElaine LaubePeg Lawrence*William and Laura Lee*Paul and Judith LeeperThomas and Tammy LenahanSteve and Anna LevinMitch Louie and Zarrin Caldwell*Joan Lucco*David and Kathy Lyon*

Investments$55,363

4%Administration

$87,9888%

4

2016 DONORS

Contributions$933,888

68%

EducationPrograms$144,988

11%

Earned Income$241,053

17%Fundraising$53,164

5%

Preservation & Education$910,371

87%

2016 Expenses 2016 Income

John and Marge Mackey*Greg Shirah and Therese MaddenDavid and Debbie Marc*Maryland Science Supervisors AssociationAndy and Dot MastandreaRoderick Matheson, IIIJames McCannShannon McMahon

and William ZinsmeisterWayne and Pat MeadorJoseph Zuraw and Donna MennittoAnna Mae Miller*Bill and Chris MitchellJames and Juanita Mohler*John MooreJ. David Mullinix & SonsJames Riches and Karen Nook RichesPaul and Caroline NoonanScott and Maggie OsborneMike and Jackie O’Shaughnessy*Gretchen PaigeMark ParkisonHoward PattersonChrista Peters-LidardHans Plugge and Abby Ershow*Lou and Sue PoliseJanine PollackPhillip and Suzanne ProbstSegundo and Linda Quinones*Wendel and Constance RennerKenneth and Bernadette RockSteve Sachs

Alan SakakiharaWilliam Thompson and Kirsten SaxePaul and Chaya SchapiroGeorge and Martha Schmidt*John and Ann SeedGary and Celeste SegalDrew Seker

In honor of Wayne and Pat MeadorJohn and Marion Sernulka*Sharp’s at Waterford FarmPaul SheehyJudy SheldonAlbert and Elizabeth Simon*Robert and Cynthia SmithMark Southerland and Mary Klett*Split Rail Garden Club*Charles Stirrat*Mark and Shelley Stout*Paul StrainDavis and Martha StreakerRichard TalkinTaylor Foundation*David and April Tayman*John Teichmoeller

and Kathy Farnsworth*Terrapin Adventures*Mary TooeyLarry UhtegSteven Jamar

and Shelley Von Hagen-Jamar*Robert Croninger and Ruth VriendEd and Mary Cate Walter*

2016 DONORSGlen and Alice WebbCheron Wicker*James Williams*Tom and Ann WingTerry YooJohn Zirschky and Natalie Ziegler

FRIENDS($50 –99)

Linda and Peter AdamsJeff and Lisa AleshireJanet Ameen-LeeJohn ArmorJulia ArnoldKathleen Avery*

In honor of the wedding of Ken Coulson and Tracey Smith

Donald and Anne BandelGail Bates*Ernie and Sharon Beck

In honor of Mr. and Mrs. Rudy NothdurftJean Bicknell*Joan BielskiWilliam Bitman*Linda BlakesleeMary BlanchardRichard and Janet BlumenthalJames BockMichael and Sharyn BolingerKathleen O. Bowen*Rebecca Branham

Robert BrownMark Buda and Brantley RileyJoe and Roxanne BudsockTom Canby and Susan Fifer CanbyMatthew CerviColumbia Jewish Community SchoolThomas and Elizabeth CooleySally Ann CooperKen and Chris CrandellP. Robin CrosbyAlexander CurtisMellissa Dalby*Dan and Jonna DeBenedictisLinda Decker-HartmanWayne DeHart*Robert DoyleLois FinninConstance GallerizzoSarah GawensLes and Margaret Gesell*Sherwood and Anne GithensCarole GravesAlan and Karen GreenTom and Judy HabibArmand and Charlotte Harris*

In honor of Jane and Kim Sherman’s 50th wedding anniversary

Armand and Charlotte Harris*In honor of the wedding ofKen Coulson and Tracey Smith

Lois HarrisBob and Suzanne Henig

PHOTO CREDIT WENDY CROWE

Bob HersteinJoe and Joanne HohnLinda HuntIBM International FoundationKing Audio Visual Inc.Neil and Linda KirschnerBarbara KnickmanBruce KruegerDonald and Judith LambertGeorge and Martha LawrenceJohn and Janice LiebensteinMarlee LindonJim LubitzJacqui MaceGene and Judy MajorKlare MarkoticJames MartinEileen McCarrierAnne McEvoyMatthew McKnightMarsha McLaughlinPhilip and Stephanie McQuaid*Ann and Dave MeixnerDonna Mergliano*Tom and Susan MillsRita MoyJoseph and Janice MurphyIrva Nachlas-GabinDouglas and Ruth NelsonMary NicholsPeter Noon*

In honor of the wedding of Ken Coulson and Tracey Smith

Todd and Cathy O’BrienEllen OppenheimerGeorge and Sharon OrangeBonnie Ott

Norman and Judy Peddicord*Norma PetersenJames Pfefferkorn and Tillie BaylessWanda PratherRay PuzioPaula RaseraMary RatcliffeLan and Rondie ReeserWilliam ReinhardPhilip ReitzelMac and Judy RivkinJim and Janet RobeyTom and Lorraine RothBarbara Russell*William LeConte and Andrea SchumacherBrooke and Kari SchummTerri ShowersGraeme Simpson*Steve and Laura Sinnott

In honor of Tabitha FiqueRussell SmithRoland and Heather SteinerAlbie and Marsha StepowanyJames Sturm and Leslie HartzMark and Pat SylvesterKathleen Ten EyckGreg and Kris ThorneTravelers CyberGrants, Inc.Frank and Kimberlee TurnerRonald and Carol VatalaroJohn WaferNeville WardJ.G. and Laura WarfieldMr. and Mrs. Robert WestIrene WhitakerThomas and Barbara WigginsJonathan Wilson and Alexa Mayo*

Eric and Sharon WisselPaula YanickKevin and Janice Yant

DONORS(Up to $49)

Susan AdalpeBonnie BezilaBranch and Twig Garden ClubRachael Brumsted*Pamela BryceWarren BurkeJoan BurleysonRichard W. BushChristopher CarrollSlu ChenBarbara CzarraRichard and Kathryn DavisJohn DitomassoChristopher and Katherine DuckMichael Vogel and Julie Dunlap*Barbara FennerCraig and Susan FingermanJames and Judith GeorgeBernard and Barbara GerrityRaymond and Rose Marie Glenn*Grandfather’s Garden CenterTom and Kathy HeltMary Jeanne HoffJennifer HopkinsPaul HunterPamela IsabelRichard KarelChris and Joyce Kelly*Tricia KennedyPaul and Xina Kojzar

Dave KorotkinSusan KosiskyCuauhtemoc KuonenDonald and Barbara LangridgeLaw Offices of Cynthia M. LifsonSally LevinChris Carroll and Jennifer Manning*

In honor of Ned TillmanMr. and Mrs. Eugene Mason*Glenn and April McLaughlinLois MikkilaTim and Ellen MillhollonBob and Cathy MullerTrish PfaffKevin and Kate PowellAmber QuilesChris and Norma RichardsonKathleen RocheBeverly Sanderson*

In honor of Sharon Gustin’s birthdayJohn and Cindy SansoneVic Gladstone and Mary SaylorRussell SchumannJames ShaversBob and Eileen StonerGreta SwansonMarjorie Tolins

In memory of Larry HamiltonDavid C. Weeks FamilyDave and Pat WeirSteven Witkin

* Donor to the Gudelsky Environmental Education Center Expansion Campaign ** Donors to the Clark Memorial Terrace

The mission of the Howard County Conservancy is to educate children and adults about our natural world, preserve the land and its legacy for future generations and model responsible stewardship of our environment.

BOARD OF DIRECTORSGina M. ZawitoskiPresident Randolph S. SergentVice PresidentW. Craig EngelhauptTreasurer andImmediate Past PresidentKimberly Dorsey BronowSecretary

TrusteesMarianne AlexanderAlice GilesMina Hilsenrath Jonas Jacobson Edward J. Kasemeyer Woody Merkle Charles H. Miller Brett Plano Audrey Soller Suhr Mark SoutherlandHolly Stone Ryan SturmCheron Victoria WickerNat Williams

Meg Schumacher BoydExecutive Director

PHOTO CREDIT BRIAN ROACHE