The Initiative for a Cleaner Greener Baltimore and the Department of Public Works, Bureau of Solid Waste, partnered with The National Aquarium Conservation Team, Holly Hager and Charmaine Dahlenburg in efforts
to ensure the proper disposal of trash and debris collected along the Fort McHenry shoreline.
The Conservation Team is part of the Aquarium’s commitment to broadening knowledge and sharing the resources they have acquired through everyday preservation efforts. Their commitment to "the betterment of the natural environment" has nurtured partnerships to comprehensively care for, protect, and renew vital environments such as the rain forests and coral reefs, Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay, and the health of the world’s oceans. For individuals, the National Aquarium organizes conservation events, develops helpful conservation tips to foster environmentally sound daily habits, and conducts research to educate and benefit all forms of life.
At the most recent Fort McHenry Field Day held on Saturday, September 26, 2009, 139 volunteers were on hand to contribute to the successful collection of 14,827 pieces of harmful marine debris. This count does not include countless wheelbarrows of driftwood also removed from the wetlands. The National Park Service also joined in this volunteer effort in celebration of National Public Lands Day. The abundant results of this day were recorded and sent to the Ocean Conservancy as part of International Coastal Cleanup, a worldwide effort to remove debris from our waterways.
The National Aquarium Conservation Team sponsors regularly scheduled Fort McHenry Field Days. Each of these events include volunteers restoring habitats for wildlife, removing debris, and maintaining trails at the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore. This undertaking is possible through collaboration with the National Park Service, the Maryland Port Administration, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Steinweg Baltimore, Inc., and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
For more information, please contact the Conservation Department by phone at 410-659-4274, or e-mail
| PHOTOS (click on an image to view larger) |
 Aquarium Conservation Team |
