Nicodemus Wilderness Project -- Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists

Howard County, Maryland, sandwiched between Baltimore and D.C, is home to the planned community of Columbia. This town was created by James Rouse, who envisioned Columbia to be the antithesis of typical suburbia. Rouse focused on Smart Growth strategies, such as mixed land use, socioeconomic diversity, and environmental preservation. Today, over 50 years later, it cannot be said that Rouse's environmental vision is alive. In my town of Columbia, I have noticed a decline in native vegetation, and an increase in invasive and exotic landscaping. This year, I created an environmental project that focused on educating high school students on the importance of native flowers, as well as how to grow them.

My name is Andrew and I am currently a high school senior living in Columbia, Maryland. My interest in ecology and the environment began when my friends and I reinstated our school's environmental club in 2019. Over my time as both a member and co-president, I have had the opportunity to volunteer at local environmental events, connect with community members, and learn more about the environment. One event I look forward to every year is the Maryland Envirothon, which I participated in for the past two years, and am planning to again this year. Studying for this competition educated me in soil science, forestry, aquatics, wildlife, and waste-to-resources strategies.

Apart from the environmental club, another activity that fostered my interest in the environment is gardening. Over the pandemic, I picked up gardening and grew a variety of flowers. When I went back to school the following year, I wanted to share my interest with my peers. However, I noticed I was the only person my age interested in growing anything. This was also around the same time that I took an interest in native conservation and growing native flowers, as I was studying for Envirothon. I immediately saw an issue and disconnect within my community. The location of Columbia puts us at a close proximity to the Chesapeake Bay. In school, we learn about Bay health and watersheds, so students already have a baseline idea of the importance of helping the environment. Yet, little are students educated on ways to improve the health of the Bay and surrounding ecosystems, apart from being told not to litter. I've also noticed that the forests around our community are filled with invasive species, such as English ivy and vinca vine. There is so much natural beauty in Maryland, but rarely do you ever see our native flowers, besides the black eyed susan. It is important that we remember what plants used to be here and how their absence has contributed to more devastating disturbances.

To solve both of these issues, I created the Grow Along, whose purpose was to give other teenagers my age the opportunity to explore ecology and botany with guidance and assistance, as well as educate them on the importance of native plants. Many people did not know anything about identifying native plants or what ecological benefits they have. My goal was to empower my peers with the skills and knowledge that they could change the status quo around native plants, landscaping, and Bay health.

My execution plan was simple: students could sign up for the Grow Along, the environmental club would put together grow-kits, and the club would post informational videos online to help students grow their own native flowers and their benefits. To launch my idea, I first had to organize and propose the project to my fellow environmental club members. With their approval, we moved onto researching native plants that our peers would grow at home, as well as the easiest growing methods. We also created a budget, video schedule, multiple advertisements, spreadsheets to collect student's information, and a collection system to gather and reuse plastic containers. Finally, we assembled the grow kits and distributed them. Students were offered the option to plant their seeds in person or at home, and many chose to come to the live demonstration. As a club, we felt it was best for students with no prior experience to use the winter sowing method to plant their seeds, so students were able to take advantage of the natural way many natives germinate. Every week, I updated the club's Instagram page with instructions and reminders so students could follow along at home. I would also like to note that in the beginning, the Grow Along was created as a way for students to connect with each other during virtual learning in 2021, but has evolved into a community of ecologists learning and growing together in 2022.

Throughout my project, I have had the chance to connect with other people my age and foster their interests in gardening and ecology. I loved answering questions and watching how excited the students were when their plants achieved a new milestone of growth. I created a sense of community at my school and connections with community members, such as our town's community association, as well as local farms. By raising awareness about the importance of native plants, I caused my club to take an interest in clearing invasive plants and replacing them with natives. We are fortunate enough to have adopted a local stream, with help from our community association, and plan to take care of it for years to come. Throughout this journey, I've developed a deep love for our native species and how they benefit everyone. I realized how everything is connected and has evolved together to create a working community where balance is key. In the future, I hope to continue advocacy for native plant species. I want to push for native landscaping and for more stores to carry native species instead of invasives or exotics. I know the Grow Along has helped many of my peers learn about the importance of native species, and I hope they will use this opportunity to educate others.