Kids & Family

Arlington Echo Campers Plant Bog in Ben Oaks

Thanks to a Unity Gardens grant, local watershed stewards and Arlington Echo, the waterfront community now has a bog.

In the blistering heat on Tuesday, 40 campers from the Planet Earth Camp at Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center joined local watershed stewards in planting a bog along part of Severnside Drive in the Ben Oaks community.

The two-day project wraps up on Wednesday with a total of 80 kids from throughout the county participating. 

Thanks to a grant from Unity Gardens coupled with matching funds from Arlington Echo, along with the expertise of four watershed stewards in the Capstone program, the newly-installed plants will help ease stormwater runoff in the bog.

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A bog is a wetland area with mostly dead plant material and this location has a constant flow of water from a natural spring. The new native plants, such as the pitcher plant (to digest insects), cranberry bush and blue flag Iris, can thrive in wet environment while helping to control stormwater runoff, said Laura Tucker, camp leader at Arlington Echo.

Tucker said the campers complete one big community-action project per season.

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"It [the project] promotes awareness for the environment and stewardship," she said.

The area is just before the community beach where a natural spring constantly runs down the sloped area along Severnside Drive to the community pond.

As part of the grant, the campers will complete Severn River watershed stenciling on a storm drain with signs explaining the bog plantings soon to be installed.

"This is a real working garden that keeps the soil in place. The garden will slow down stormwater runoff and beautify the community as well," said Laura Mulvaney, program assistant with the academy who was helping to oversee the project.

"This is a really nice intersection between the Watershed Stewards Academy and the Capstone project," she said.

To become a certified Master Watershed Steward, participants must complete an intensive, research-based, hands-on training including a Capstone project in their community. 

The four Ben Oaks watershed stewards who spearheaded the project for the community are Dory Tate, Patty Child, Lynne Rockenbauch and Marjie Donahue. Each will soon become certified as Master Watershed Stewards for their extensive work on the planning and implementation of the bog.


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