Projects

Friends of Chesapeake Gateways focus on initiatives that support the mission and vision of the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network.  Read about a few of our projects below.

Geocaching

In partnership with the National Park Service’s Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail and the Maryland Geocaching Society, Friends of Chesapeake Gateways is pleased to announce the launch of the Star Spangled Banner Geo-trail on February 27, 2010.  Learn more here about how to participate and earn a commemorative coin.

For those new to Geocaching, it is 21st century game of hide-and-seek, where participants use GPS units to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, in outdoor locations. Once a cache has been successfully found, geocachers share news of their discoveries online. Enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds, geocachers share a strong sense of community and support for the environment.

Pocket Naturalist Highlights Chesapeake Wildlife – Now Available

Friends of Chesapeake Gateways and the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network is now offering a Pocket Naturalist guide to the wildlife  of the Chesapeake Bay region.  Chesapeake Bay Wildlife: An Introduction to Familiar Species includes 129 species, a map of the Gateways Network, a map of the Voyages of Captain John Smith,  a conservation message about the Bay and contact information for the Network and the Trail. 

We are offering this guide for bulk order only, packets of 5, 10, 25, 50 and 250.  All proceeds go to support the work of Friends and the Gateways Network. For prices and other information, contact us.

Technical Assistance Workshops

Twice a year, Friends of Chesapeake Gateways offers a series of four technical assistance workshops to Gateway sites with the aim of furthering the goals described above. These free trainings offer an opportunity for networking, and skill building for all involved. Past sessions have included Greening your Gateway, Taking your Marketing Program to the Next Level and Introduction to New Interpretive Technologies. Follow the links above to more detailed information on each workshop, including materials and resources.

This fall, the workshops will focus on the theory and practice of evaluation, with the goal of making assessment useful to individual organizations, grantors and the Network as a whole.

Dates and locations for fall 2009 workshops:

November 16 – Maryland Zoo
November 19 – Mount Harmon Plantation
December 2 – Mason Neck State Park
December 3 – Deltaville Maritime Museum

Want to register or get more information? Email Eleanor Mahoney

Skill Sharing/Best Practices

Friends of Chesapeake Gateways is supporting the development of a Gateways group on the Chesapeake Network, to promote exchange and dialogue among designated sites and their partners. The Chesapeake Watershed Network is an online community of organizations and individuals working to protect and restore the land and waters of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. It facilitates networking and cooperation among members by providing tools, resources and connections to help its members further their efforts. Learn more at http://www.chesapeakenetwork.org/grouplist.htm.