Montgomery County Celebrates Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week 2019

Adapted from Joan Smedinghoff’s original article, “All of us have a hand in restoring the Bay,” published on May 30, 2019.

Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week is a time for us to celebrate the culture, history and natural beauty of the Bay and its surrounding lands, rivers and streams. From upstate New York to southern Virginia, and West Virginia’s panhandle to eastern Delaware, we all share a piece of the nation’s largest estuary and our daily actions have a direct impact on the Bay.

Theme in 2019

From June 1-9, celebrate Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week at events spanning the region.

This year’s theme, “All Hands,” highlights the fact that it takes all of us to contribute to the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay. Throughout the week, we will celebrate the actions that farmers, local governments, small businesses, non-profit organizations, utility companies, recreation enthusiasts, watermen, volunteers, military personnel and most importantly—you—are taking to protect the Bay and its waterways.

“Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week is an annual reminder for every one of us to re-commit to doing our part, every day, for a cleaner Chesapeake Bay,” says Kate Fritz, executive director for the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. “We can all do something; pick-up trash in our neighborhood, clean up after our dogs, utilize reusable grocery bags, not fertilize our lawns before it rains and much more.”

Conservation Awareness since 2016

In 2016, the Chesapeake Bay Commission championed the idea of designating a week in June as Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week. The designation encourages residents to commemorate the week with events, activities and educational programs to acknowledge the significance of the Bay.

“People should have public access to the Bay so that they can explore and fall in love with it, creating the next generation of Chesapeake conservationists,” says Joel Dunn, president of the Chesapeake Conservancy. “We know that when people feel connected to the Bay, they’ll be more likely to help take care of it.”

While this week has been officially designated in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia, events will take place throughout the entire region to raise awareness about this valuable economic and environmental resource—a national treasure that directly connects over 18 million residents. Find an event near you.

Events in Montgomery County

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and Councilmember Craig Rice will proclaim the first week of June as Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week in Montgomery County. Residents are encouraged to celebrate by participating in Chesapeake Bay awareness activities or visiting a local waterway.

The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has scheduled the following Chesapeake Bay Awareness activities:

• June 1^st  – White Oak Community Day, White Oak Community Rec. Center (12 – 4 pm)
• June 4^th – Stormwater Summit at Silver Spring Civic Building – Great Hall (6 pm – 8:30 pm)
• June 4^th – Solar Co-Op residential info session at Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg (6 – 7 pm)
• June 5^th – Stormdrain art painting with Viers Mill Elementary students (9 am – 2 pm)
• June 6^th – Bioblitz with Arcola Elementary students,  (9:30 am – 3 pm)
• June 8^th – Breewood Restoration Celebration at Northwood Presbyterian Church (10 am – 12:30 pm)
• June 8^th – Confidential paper shredding/recycling & clothing household item reuse donation collection event at Sherwood High School (10-2pm)

Visit the Community Calendar to see additional events. For more information about the work that DEP does all year long to protect and improve the County’s air, water and land go to the DEP website.