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Updates and news coverage about the meeting
The meeting meeting completed successfully! An article entitled Earth Day suffers growing pains published in the Frederick News-Post com describes some of the day's events. The text of the article appears below:
'Earth Day suffers growing pains' article text from the Frederick News-PostEarth Day suffers growing pains
Originally published April 23, 2009
By Karen Gardner
News-Post Staff
For David Denton, the lesson of Earth Day is in the senses. The aroma of sourwood tree blossoms on a hot July day, the sight of a soaring walnut tree, the feel of the rocks in the soil. These were the senses he rediscovered when he returned to his childhood home in the mountains of North Carolina recently. Denton talked of that Wednesday at a gathering of environmental professionals and volunteers at Camp Greentop in Catoctin Mountain Park. Meeting on the Mountain, sponsored by the Catoctin Forest Alliance, included more than 50 people from environmental organizations, local governments and state and national park services. Denton, a retired superintendent of the Maryland School for the Deaf, is a member of the Catoctin Forest Alliance. This newly formed organization hopes to preserve and protect the forests along the Catoctin Ridge in the western half of Frederick County. Eric Schwaab, deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, talked about the challenges the environmental community is facing. When the first Earth Day took place, on April 22, 1970, federal laws were being passed to improve air and water. The Clean Air Act took much of the gray smoke out of the air, and the Clean Water Act took the much of the murkiness out of the water. Today, the key to a cleaner environment is a grass-roots issue, Schwaab said. "We've allowed things to proliferate at the local level," he said. "People can drive SUVs one hour to work and live on five acres of grass they have to mow." But those seemingly innocent activities add up, he said. Local governments have come a long way in upgrading sewage treatment plants, but need to find ways to help people stop pouring fertilizer onto the ground and thus, into the Chesapeake Bay, Schwaab said. "We can strategically help support you in addressing local challenges," he said. One way is through Smart, Green and Growing, a DNR website that shows where pollution trouble spots are in Maryland, where progress is being made, where trees are being planted and where wetlands are being restored. Targeted ecological areas include the Catoctin Forest area, which encompasses much of western Frederick County. Mel Poole, superintendent of Catoctin Mountain Park, said the federal recovery package will provide much-needed cash for the nation's park systems. "There's nothing that goes on in the forests that doesn't affect the watershed," he said. Denton alluded to the forested setting of Camp Greentop as he talked of the natural resource. He recalled the calls of the whippoorwill and the wood thrush, once common birds he listened to in his youth in North Carolina that have mostly died out. "These sounds were teachers," he said. "The sounds are gone. The lessons that were taught by those sounds are gone." There are still new lessons to be taught, he said. Catoctin Forest Alliance kicks off preservation effort by Chris PattersonCatoctin Forest Alliance kicks off preservation effort Chris Patterson  (5/1) Over fifty people met at Camp Greentop on April 21 to launch the Catoctin Forest Alliance, a nonprofit organized to preserve the Catoctin Mountain forest and accompanying watershed areas.
It was not an accident that the organization met on the 39th anniversary of Earth Day. But they were not there to celebrate that birthday, but rather the birth of an alliance of private landowners, businesses, non-profit organizations, and local, state, and federal agencies working together to "preserve and promote the health of the Catoctin Mountain forest for the enjoyment of present and future generations," announcements of the event stated. Michael West, CFA's president, told everyone that about 80 percent of the region is owned by private landowners. Only 20 percent is dedicated to park land and protected watershed areas like the Frederick City watershed. The Catoctin Forest area served by the CFA runs the length of the mountains north to the Pennsylvania line and south into the Ballenger Creek area. The event was a "meeting of minds" during which attendees brainstormed about how this new organization, an outgrowth of the former New Forest Society, would accomplish its mission. The New Forest Society was started by area resident and artist, Elizabeth Prongas, which had its final meeting in March. Prongas said the CFA is a collaborative effort with which the New Forest Society has merged. Discussion topics for the eight small group sessions included environmental education, accessibility and recreation, watershed protection,wildlife diversity and preservation, and plant diversity and preservation. Deputy Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Eric Schwaab, a featured speaker at the meeting, told the attendees that the place-based work they were doing in the CFA will be the history of the environmental movement. He talked about the challenges the environmental community is facing, noting that the Catoctin Forest is recognized by his agency as a "significant ecological area" and promising the DNR will work with the CFA. "One of the things we recognize is that we can very strategically and very effectively in a lot of ways help support you in addressing the local challenges that you have identified, that you face, and that you are working on here today," Schwaab said. Among the attendees were Schwaab, Prongas, Catoctin Mountain Park superintendent Tom McFadden and current superintendent Mel Poole, Maryland Magazine publisher Ross Peddicord (a CFA board member), County Commissioner Kai Hagan, former Frederick Mayor Jennifer Dougherty, Elizabeth Prongas - CFA board member and president of New Forest Society and Frederick County Tourism Council Director John Fiesler. As a tribute to the work done by Prongas regarding preservation and protection of the watershed and forest, Catoctin Forest Alliance's board of directors created an award named in her honor, and presented that first award to Dr. James H. Gilford, a columnist for the Frederick News Post, a fly fisherman, scientist, educator and a strong voice for conservation.
During the meeting Tim Goodfellow mentioned an important report from the Monocacy Scenic River Citizens' Advisory Board entitled '2009 Monocacy River Report' that has relevance to the Catoctin Forest Alliance. The report is available at the Monocacy Scenic River Citizens' Advisory Board Web site. The report is also attached at the bottom of this page as a PDF named '.MonocacyRiverFinalReport2009'.
Below are a few pictures from the meeting. As other attendees submit pictures (mail to tyson.rose@gmail.com) they will be added. When a summary of the break-out meeting sessions become available it too will appear on this page.
Meeting room facilities at Camp Greentop (photo by Tyson Rose)
From left: Erick Schwaab, Deputy Secretary
Maryland Department of Natural Resources; Michael West, President
Catoctin Forest Alliance; Jim Gilford, Recipient of the Elizabeth Prongas Award;
Elizabeth Prongas, Director of
Catoctin Forest Alliance, Nita Settina Superintendent Maryland Park Service; Cindy Ecker, Cunningham Falls State Park Manager; Mel Poole, Superintendent Catoctin Mountain Park. (photo by Ross Peddicord)
CFA President, Mike West, receives a $20,000 gift check from Mike Irons of the Catoctin Mountain Tourism Council. From left: Mel Poole, Superintendent Catoctin Mountain Park; Erick Schwaab, Deputy Secretary Maryland Department of Natural Resources; Michael West, President Catoctin Forest Alliance; Mike Irons Treasurer, Catoctin forest Alliance, Nita Settina, Superintendent Maryland Park
Service; Cindy Ecker, Cunningham Falls State Park Manager; John Fieseler, Director Catoctin Mountain Tourism Council.(photo by Tyson Rose)
Break-out sessions (photo by Tyson Rose)
Break-out sessions (photo by Ross Peddicord)
With the meeting being held on Earth Day every attendee received a tree seedling prepared for planting. (photo by Tyson Rose)
Meeting Agenda
Catoctin Forest
Alliance
Meeting on
the Mountain
April 22, 2009
Camp Greentop
Catoctin Mountain
Park
Thurmont, Maryland
Meeting Focus: Aligning collaborative priorities to preserve and promote the health of the Catoctin Mountain Forest for the enjoyment of present and future generations
Agenda (updated 4/3/09)
9:30 Registration, Refreshments and Networking
10:00 Welcome and Overview: Michael West, President, Catoctin Forest Alliance
10:05 General Session Presentation: Eric Schwaab, Deputy Secretary, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
10:25 Overview of Breakout Session Discussions: Karen Justice, Facilitator
10:30 Break
Group reassembles for small group work
10:45 Breakout Session Assigned Topic Instructions: Facilitator
11:20 Breakout Session: Full Topic List Discussions
12:00 Lunch Buffet
12:30 General Session: Reports from Table Representatives
1:15 Conclusion Speaker: David Denton
1:30 Facilitator Wrap Up and Evaluation Forms
1:45 Conclusion Comments, Next Steps, Complimentary Gift (a tree seedling supplied by the Frederick County Forestry Board)
2:00 Adjourn
For Release: April 20, 2009
Contact: Mel Poole
301-663-9330
Catoctin Forest Alliance Celebrates Earth Day
with
Meeting on the Mountain
Friends and neighbors of the Catoctin Forest will gather to launch a new local environmental organization on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at Camp Greentop, 15001 Park Central Road, Catoctin Mountain Park, Thurmont, MD from 9:30 a.m-2:00 pm. Lunch will be provided.
The keynote speaker will be Deputy Secretary Eric C. Schwaab, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
The Catoctin Forest Alliance Conservation Award will be presented to Dr. James H. Gilford of Frederick, MD. Dr. Gilford is a premier fly fisherman in addition to being a distinguished scientist, educator and conservation voice in the state of Maryland and throughout the nation for over fifty years.
The Catoctin Forest Alliance is a non-profit association composed of private landowners, for-profit and non-profit organizations, and local, state, and federal agencies who to seek to preserve and promote the health of the Catoctin Mountain forest for the enjoyment of present and future generations.
Invitation letter
Sent out on 3/26/2009
Chart the Future of the Catoctin Forest on Earth Day
You are cordially invited to join a gathering of friends and neighbors of the Catoctin Mountains to learn from one another, network, set priorities, celebrate, share food and fellowship and join in launching the new nonprofit Catoctin Forest Alliance.
Our keynote speaker will be the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources, Eric Schwaab.
Join us for refreshments and registration at 9:30 am on Wednesday, April 22nd at Camp Greentop (15001 Park Central Road, Thurmont, MD) in Catoctin Mountain Park. Lunch will be provided and we will adjourn for the day at 2 pm. Space is limited so please RSVP by April 10th to Amber Cavey, Cunningham Falls State Park at 301 271-7574 or acavey@dnr.state.md.us.
The mission of the Catoctin Forest Alliance is to preserve and promote the health of the Catoctin Mountain forest for the enjoyment of present and future generations.
The forum will be hosted by members and the Board of Directors. For further information please refer to the Catoctin Forest Alliance Web site at the following internet address: http://sites.google.com/site/catoctinforestalliance
Directions to Camp Greentop
Location of Camp Greentop (National Park Service map - see attachments for complete park map)
For GPS Use Only: The street address is 15001 Park Central Road, Thurmont, MD. This is NOT the mailing address for correspondence to the Park. The park mailing address is: Catoctin Mountain Park, 6602 Foxville Road, Thurmont, MD 21788.
From Washington DC take the George Washington Memorial Parkway north to I495 to I270 north 27 miles to Frederick, MD. Take Route 15 17 miles north to Thurmont, MD. Take Route 77 West, the exit sign is marked Catoctin Mountain Park. Travel approximately 6 miles west on 77 (you will pass Park Central Road and the park Visitor Center) and turn right onto Foxville-Deerfield Road. As the road forks, turn right onto Manahan Road. At the next intersection, turn right onto Park Central Road. Continue approximately 1/2 mile and turn right into Camp Greentop.
From Baltimore, MD take I695 beltway to I70 West to Frederick, MD. Take Route 15 North to Thurmont, MD. Take Route 77 West (the exit sign says Catoctin Mountain Park.) Travel approximately 6 miles west on 77 (you will pass Park Central Road and the park Visitor Center) and turn right onto Foxville-Deerfield Road. As the road forks, turn right onto Manahan Road. At the next intersection, turn right onto Park Central Road. Continue approximately 1/2 mile and turn right into Camp Greentop.
From Hagerstown, MD take I70 East to Route 66 North for 7 miles. Turn right onto Route 64 (East) for 1 mile then turn right at a traffic light onto Route 77 East for approximately 4 miles. Turn left onto Foxville-Deerfield Road. As the road forks, turn right onto Manahan Road. At the next intersection, turn right onto Park Central Road. Continue approximately 1/2 mile and turn right into Camp Greentop.
From Gettysburg, PA take Route 15 South. In Thurmont, MD, exit onto Route 77 West (the exit sign says Catoctin Mountain Park.) Travel approximately 6 miles west on 77 (you will pass Park Central Road and the park Visitor Center) and turn right onto Foxville-Deerfield Road. As the road forks, turn right onto Manahan Road. At the next intersection, turn right onto Park Central Road. Continue approximately 1/2 mile and turn right into Camp Greentop.
2009 Meeting on the Mountain Summation Report
Below are the Executive Summary and the Table of Contents from the final report prepared by Karen Justice, Primary Generator of The PowerHouse, who facilitated the meeting. Executive Summary of Key Points The Catoctin Forest
Alliance’s Meeting on the Mountain ignited renewed energy and motivation among
the participants. There were three key points of agreement:
- There is a need and desire to move forward with
a collective plan for the protection, preservation and enjoyment of the Catoctin Forest area.
- Education of the general public, user groups and
especially area youth is the key to long term positive outcomes.
- A Green Infrastructure Plan would address and
facilitate many of the identified challenges and solution opportunities.
The general consensus was
that a successful outcome required further breakdown of the issues,
identification and prioritization of goals, a collaborative plan on how to
tackle them, coordination of efforts and an identified central point of
contact.
The Catoctin Forest Alliance
(CFA) can serve as the much needed cross-interest group. CFA can capture and
focus the attention of our target audience. CFA can disseminate information
through their web site and other means.
Communication needs to
address educating the general public on why they should preserve the Catoctin
area. Messages should use creativity to get people beyond talking and
generate action. The communication challenge will be making the messages
relevant, easy to digest and stirring enough to affect changed attitudes and
behaviors. Messages and education regarding preservation and protection must go
beyond the traditional audiences, beyond ‘preaching to the choir,’ and reach
the silent majority.
Since education is key to
help solving the issues, progress can most quickly be made by using and
enhancing existing education entities and communication vehicles.
There are three target groups
for new and increased educational efforts:
- Private property landowners and home owners
- Recreational user groups
- Youth
Youth involvement was
identified as a primary focus since they are the future forest preservers.
Environment education programs already exist in Frederick County’s for 6th grade programs, in public high schools and at
Mount St. Mary’s. Engaging and enlarging these programs is a targeted action.
In fact, it may be possible to engage the environmental program at Mount St.
Mary’s in relevant research to determine, benchmark, substantiate and evaluate
the goals and objectives of the Catoctin Forest Alliance.
One of the overarching
concepts identified is the concept of creating a Green Infrastructure Plan; a
collective plan for the use and preservation of the Catoctin Forest area for the enjoyment of our citizens and visitors and for posterity.
Table of Contents The list below is the table of contents from the 26 page report.
Mission Statement
The Purposes of the Catoctin Forest Alliance
Web Site
Executive Summary of Key Points
The Collective Current Impression
Creating Collaboration and Coordination
The Catoctin Forest in General
Challenges in Watershed Protection
Environmental Education and Awareness Challenges
Plant and Wildlife Diversity and Preservation Challenges
Wildlife Diversity And Preservation Management and Control.
Accessibility and Recreation Challenges
Responsible Land Use
The Collective Vision of Opportunities and Necessary Actions
Vision
Tactics.
Focus Areas
The Catoctin Forest in General
Identity
Green Infrastructure
Economic arguments
Environmental Education and Awareness Opportunities
Youth Education and Involvement
Public Awareness, Education and Stewardship
Watershed Protection Opportunities
Environmental Stewardship
Infrastructure planning and management
Opportunities For Plant And Wildlife Diversity And Preservation
Opportunities to Address Accessibility and Recreational Use
Planning, informing and enforcing
Miscellaneous opportunities regarding access and recreation
Public and private land use and access
Other Issues and Ideas
Successes / Benchmark Options
Appendix A: List of Attendees
Appendix B: Stakeholder Groups (Partial List)
Appendix C: Maps*
Catoctin Forest
Protected Lands
Targeted Ecological Areas
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Attachments (2)
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CATOmap1.pdf - on Mar 29, 2009 11:29 AM by Tyson Rose (version 1)
363k
View Download
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MonocacyRiverFinalReport2009.pdf - on Apr 24, 2009 8:34 AM by Tyson Rose (version 1)
2368k
View Download
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