Parks and People

Urban Resources Initiative

The Urban Resources Initiative (URI) is an innovative applied research program that engages the strengths and resources of higher education to assist underserved urban communities in finding practical, community-based solutions to urban parks and natural resource management issues in Baltimore. Take a look at current URI projects.

Environmental Education
We are working with other non-profits and the Baltimore Ecosystem Study to assist with student ecological education to provide meaningful Chesapeake Bay experiences and woodland field trips for urban youth. Contact Mary Hardcastle or Mary Washington to learn about our afterschool programs and professional development that increase environmental literacy in grades K-12.

	BRANCHES The Building Resources and Nurturing Community Health and Environmental Stewardship (BRANCHES) summer park and watershed restoration and maintenance program project seeks to improve the water quality of the Bay by controlling pollution from Baltimore City's run-off. BRANCHES operates as a six-week youth work force training and educational enrichment experience in park forestry management and maintenance. BRANCHES is a joint initiative of the Parks & People Foundation and the Department of Recreation and Parks.

	Project BLUE Project BLUE (Baltimore Lessons in Urban Ecosystems) is an educational outreach program of the Parks & People Foundation that focuses on improving science and math skills, increasing environmental awareness and engaging youth in solving community issues and exposing them to nature and the ecosystem.Project BLUE immerses students in the worlds of watersheds and ecosystems through engaging lessons and hands-on activities. During the program, students actively participate in experiences centered on how watersheds and ecosystems function and how they can become stewards for their environment. To view photos of Project BLUE, click here http://www.flickr.com/photos/parkspeople/

	Schoolyard Habitat & Education Program The Schoolyard Habitat & Education Program (SHEP) is professional development that assists teachers in using schoolyard habitats as outdoor classrooms to help them provide Meaningful Chesapeake Bay Experiences for their students. Teachers apply concepts learned during the workshops to lead their students in designing and implementing schoolyard habitats on their school grounds. Hands-on lessons taught in the schoolyard reinforce concepts taught in all subject areas. In addition, studying the immediate environment helps strengthen a sense of community and promotes stewardship. SHEP workshops are held after school once a week for 3 weeks. Each 2.5 hour workshop takes place at the school and combines resource sharing with outdoor hands-on lessons. Workshops address curriculum concepts, learning objectives, and habitat garden design and maintenance . All lessons are aligned with the Maryland State Curriculum. In addition, SHEP supports teachers and schools in attaining Green School certification through the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) Maryland Green School Award Program www.maeoe.org.

Baltimore Ecosystem Study
Through URI, Parks & People is a partner in the Baltimore Ecosystem Study (BES), a National Science Foundation funded study of Baltimore as an urban ecosystem. BES focuses on interactions between people - our actions, ideas and institutions - and the urban ecosystem in the metropolitan area. BES is one of 24 sites in the Long-Term Ecological Research Network, and one of only two urban ecological research sites. BES research addresses three central questions: 1) how Baltimore's ecosystem is changing over time; 2) how the structure of the natural and built environments affects ecological processes; and 3) how Baltimore residents can improve their daily lives through understanding that the city itself is an ecosystem.

URI Internship Program
URI's internship program works with high school, college and graduate student interns to initiate innovative pilot projects and conduct research to support restoration of Baltimore's urban parks, natural resources, and neighborhoods. During the summer, interns work on projects that include research and development, education and training, and community building with local government agencies including the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks, non-profits and community organizations. These projects help to broaden their understanding of urban natural resource and neighborhood revitalization issues, and the link between classroom learning and career development. URI interns have a strong record of serving Baltimore, enhancing urban parks and natural resources and achieving academic and professional success.