2019 Annual Report
Our full annual report can be downloaded here:
| cei_2019_annual_report.pdf |
CEI’s vision is for a world in which human and natural communities thrive together. Our mission is to foster socially and ecologically healthy communities by enhancing the connections between all people and the natural world. Our flagship program, Columbia Families in Nature, has been running since 2014. In 2018 we launched a community supported education program, Roots & Wings Learning Community, which doubled in size in 2019. Highlights of 2019 include purchasing a 6.4 acre urban organic farm, integration of the Transition Howard County program, climate action, and hiring our first Executive Director.
Farm Purchase: In 2018 CEI was invited to purchase an organic farm in a history-rich area of Columbia. Located behind Atholton High School and near the Middle Patuxent River, this farm was owned by Mr. David Shaw for almost 40 years. CEI was supported by a Leadership Howard County Premier team from the fall of 2018 through June of 2019 to develop a strategy that would allow us to purchase this farm and permanently protect it from housing development. With strong community support, including county and city grants, and a loan from The Conservation Fund, CEI bought the farm in June.
The Community Ecology Center that we are creating on the farm is a place for people to learn through direct experience about how they can have happier, healthier, more connected and more sustainable lives. Programmatic focus areas will include:
In the past six months we have been working diligently to begin stewarding this unique property:
Awards & Press: In April, CEI received a Howard County Green Community Leadership award! We had five articles published on CEI in 2019.
Transition Howard County Merger: The Transition Howard County group became a program of CEI this year. Transition is part of an international movement focused on building more sustainable and resilient communities. The local group has a history of offering innovative programs, such as a Repair Café and Incredible Edible gardens. The Transition team is helping to lead the way on plans to begin creating an exciting “maker space” at the farm in 2020. You can learn more at www.transitionhoco.org.
Executive Director: In October, Dr. Chiara D’Amore was hired as CEI’s Executive Director. Dr. D’Amore founded and has led CEI since its launch in 2016. She holds a Ph.D. in Sustainability Education and a M.S. in Environmental Science and Engineering. Her work focuses on fostering environmental and social well-being through reconnecting people with the natural environment and designing, implementing, and evaluating environmental programs. You can learn more at www.chiaradamore.com.
Climate Action:
In 2019 Howard County was the first county in the country to sign on to the US Climate Alliance’s Natural and Working Lands Challenge. CEI is collaborating with the county to use our new urban farm as a demonstration and education space for land-based climate action. One of our first projects on the farm was the creation of a Climate Victory Garden. In September we hosted a climate focused tour of the farm as a part of the global climate action week and in November our Board President gave a Climate Reality Leader community presentation.
Research:
In August, a case study on our Columbia Families in Nature program entitled “From Social Movement Organizing to Families in the Woods—Columbia Families in Nature” was presented by Dr. Louise Chawla at the Conservation Psychology Institute.
Finances: In 2019, CEI implemented a $40,000 grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust to create six pollinator gardens and two rain gardens in Columbia Association open space with community volunteers. We received a $10,000 Community Opportunity grant from the Horizon Foundation to support the development of CEI’s strategic fundraising plan. We also received a $7,000 Baltimore Gas and Electric Green Grant to create community garden space on the farm and a $2,500 grant from Patapsco Heritage Greenway to hold four “Trash to Treasure” watershed clean up and art creation events. We received grants of $70,000 from Howard County and $50,000 from the Columbia Association for the farm purchase as well as more than 550 individual donations totaling more than $151,000, including $30,000 from the Reis Foundation.
Columbia Families in Nature Program
Columbia Families in Nature (CFIN) is a flagship program of CEI, and predates the non-profit, with its origin in Dr. D’Amore’s dissertation research. The goals of CFIN have remained focused on enhancing participant’s: connection with nature; environmental awareness and action; and family and community relationships. In 2019 we held 54 free events at more than 33 different locations. The cumulative impact of this program is:
Farm Purchase: In 2018 CEI was invited to purchase an organic farm in a history-rich area of Columbia. Located behind Atholton High School and near the Middle Patuxent River, this farm was owned by Mr. David Shaw for almost 40 years. CEI was supported by a Leadership Howard County Premier team from the fall of 2018 through June of 2019 to develop a strategy that would allow us to purchase this farm and permanently protect it from housing development. With strong community support, including county and city grants, and a loan from The Conservation Fund, CEI bought the farm in June.
The Community Ecology Center that we are creating on the farm is a place for people to learn through direct experience about how they can have happier, healthier, more connected and more sustainable lives. Programmatic focus areas will include:
- Gardening and agricultural knowledge
- Environmental sustainability and climate action
- Nature-based education
- Physical/mental health and nutrition
- Cultural land heritage programming
In the past six months we have been working diligently to begin stewarding this unique property:
- 350+ pounds of produce were donated to Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center.
- 125+ trees have been planted on the farm, most courtesy of the Howard Hughes Corporation.
- Greenhouse was restored with the support of Brian England of BA Auto.
- Farm stand has been renovated by girl scout Elise Varoli and family. Many more scouting projects are planned for the spring.
- Atholton High School students have been volunteering twice a week. Their projects have included building compost bins, creating a permaculture berm, and preparing garden beds.
- The Leadership Howard County high school cohort had a team of eight students that did their environmental project on the farm.
- Howard County Public School System students are doing independent studies projects on the farm focused on climate action and have created a Climate Victory Garden.
- We have hosted over 100 volunteers to help with the work of getting the farm going again.
- We received our Non-profit Education and Office Conditional Use approval in November.
Awards & Press: In April, CEI received a Howard County Green Community Leadership award! We had five articles published on CEI in 2019.
Transition Howard County Merger: The Transition Howard County group became a program of CEI this year. Transition is part of an international movement focused on building more sustainable and resilient communities. The local group has a history of offering innovative programs, such as a Repair Café and Incredible Edible gardens. The Transition team is helping to lead the way on plans to begin creating an exciting “maker space” at the farm in 2020. You can learn more at www.transitionhoco.org.
Executive Director: In October, Dr. Chiara D’Amore was hired as CEI’s Executive Director. Dr. D’Amore founded and has led CEI since its launch in 2016. She holds a Ph.D. in Sustainability Education and a M.S. in Environmental Science and Engineering. Her work focuses on fostering environmental and social well-being through reconnecting people with the natural environment and designing, implementing, and evaluating environmental programs. You can learn more at www.chiaradamore.com.
Climate Action:
In 2019 Howard County was the first county in the country to sign on to the US Climate Alliance’s Natural and Working Lands Challenge. CEI is collaborating with the county to use our new urban farm as a demonstration and education space for land-based climate action. One of our first projects on the farm was the creation of a Climate Victory Garden. In September we hosted a climate focused tour of the farm as a part of the global climate action week and in November our Board President gave a Climate Reality Leader community presentation.
Research:
In August, a case study on our Columbia Families in Nature program entitled “From Social Movement Organizing to Families in the Woods—Columbia Families in Nature” was presented by Dr. Louise Chawla at the Conservation Psychology Institute.
Finances: In 2019, CEI implemented a $40,000 grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust to create six pollinator gardens and two rain gardens in Columbia Association open space with community volunteers. We received a $10,000 Community Opportunity grant from the Horizon Foundation to support the development of CEI’s strategic fundraising plan. We also received a $7,000 Baltimore Gas and Electric Green Grant to create community garden space on the farm and a $2,500 grant from Patapsco Heritage Greenway to hold four “Trash to Treasure” watershed clean up and art creation events. We received grants of $70,000 from Howard County and $50,000 from the Columbia Association for the farm purchase as well as more than 550 individual donations totaling more than $151,000, including $30,000 from the Reis Foundation.
Columbia Families in Nature Program
Columbia Families in Nature (CFIN) is a flagship program of CEI, and predates the non-profit, with its origin in Dr. D’Amore’s dissertation research. The goals of CFIN have remained focused on enhancing participant’s: connection with nature; environmental awareness and action; and family and community relationships. In 2019 we held 54 free events at more than 33 different locations. The cumulative impact of this program is:
Year |
# Events |
# Families |
# People |
# Hours |
2014 |
30 |
457 |
1,558 |
3,116 |
2015 |
41 |
572 |
1,663 |
3,492 |
2016 |
48 |
576 |
1,680 |
3,528 |
2017 |
52 |
586 |
1,563 |
3,439 |
2018 |
46 |
491 |
1,456 |
3,203 |
2019 |
54 |
349 |
1,046 |
2,401 |
Total |
271 |
3,031 |
8,966 |
19,179 |
Highlights from the 2019 CFIN events include:
* 660+ pounds of trash removed from local streams
* 525+ native plants in eight new gardens
* 12 new “Farm and Forest Friends” seedlings events
* 8 pollinator and rain gardens created
* 4 Trash to Treasure clean-up and art events
* 2 weekend camping trips
* 1 nature art show at GreenFest
Trash to Treasure Series:
With grant support from Patapsco Heritage Greenway, four CFIN events focused on cleaning up debris in the Patapsco River watershed and making art of the trash before it was disposed of. The art was displayed at Howard County’s GreenFest.
Civic Ecology Garden Creation Series:
With grant support from the Chesapeake Bay Trust and collaborative support from the Columbia Association, six new pollinator gardens and two new rain gardens were created in Columbia Association open space in 2019. These garden creation events taught area residents about the importance of protecting pollinators and considering watershed health in their landscaping choices, and how they can take positive steps in these areas at their own homes. Educational signage at each garden will ensure that the educational opportunities continue.
* 660+ pounds of trash removed from local streams
* 525+ native plants in eight new gardens
* 12 new “Farm and Forest Friends” seedlings events
* 8 pollinator and rain gardens created
* 4 Trash to Treasure clean-up and art events
* 2 weekend camping trips
* 1 nature art show at GreenFest
Trash to Treasure Series:
With grant support from Patapsco Heritage Greenway, four CFIN events focused on cleaning up debris in the Patapsco River watershed and making art of the trash before it was disposed of. The art was displayed at Howard County’s GreenFest.
Civic Ecology Garden Creation Series:
With grant support from the Chesapeake Bay Trust and collaborative support from the Columbia Association, six new pollinator gardens and two new rain gardens were created in Columbia Association open space in 2019. These garden creation events taught area residents about the importance of protecting pollinators and considering watershed health in their landscaping choices, and how they can take positive steps in these areas at their own homes. Educational signage at each garden will ensure that the educational opportunities continue.
Roots & Wings Learning Community:
This program emphasizes place-based experiential learning that prioritizes creativity and the development of strong connections. Roots & Wings launched in 2018 and operated as a two day a week supplemental education program for home schooled elementary aged students. In the 2018-2019 program, twenty families were served Roots & Wings. By the fall of 2019 the program grew to four days a week, serves 45 families, and operates partially from the farm. We are beginning the process of developing a middle school program to serve the children that are growing up in this innovative program.
Testimonials:
This program emphasizes place-based experiential learning that prioritizes creativity and the development of strong connections. Roots & Wings launched in 2018 and operated as a two day a week supplemental education program for home schooled elementary aged students. In the 2018-2019 program, twenty families were served Roots & Wings. By the fall of 2019 the program grew to four days a week, serves 45 families, and operates partially from the farm. We are beginning the process of developing a middle school program to serve the children that are growing up in this innovative program.
Testimonials:
- “Roots & Wings provides an outdoor learning opportunity where kids can connect with nature and apply math, biology, physical education, problem solving, communications, reading comprehension, nutrition, etc. My child loves Roots & Wings.”
- “It's a great group of kids and our children have made really good friendships. The time outside in nature, working in the garden, being in the woods, singing songs and playing games is so enriching.”
- “My kids really enjoyed working on the farm, and just getting to spend time with other kids in a fun environment. I feel like they got to experience the best parts of a school-like environment without any of the negatives that can come along with it.”