Become a Marshy Point Nature
Center Council Member
The Marshy Point Nature Center Council is a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to the enjoyment and stewardship of our natural environment. Council members work in partnership with the staff of Baltimore County’s Department of Recreation and Parks to advise, recommend, promote, conduct, and provide support for a variety of educational programs and field experiences which focus on preserving our nearly 500 acres of protected wetland and watershed habitat. Membership in the Council is open to any person, family, or group interested in nature activities and facilities in the County.
Council Members enjoy a variety of benefits, including:
- a subscription to our quarterly newsletter, “Cattails”
- a subscription to our semi-weekly e-newsletter, Marsh Mail
- members only programs and events
- discounts on special programs like Chesapeake Camp
- discounts on facility rental
It’s easy to become a member:
- Download the membership
form
- Complete the application and mail in your membership fee to the nature center. Your modest membership fee is used to support year-round educational programs and to fund the ongoing development of Marshy Point.
See the vision come alive.
The Marshy Point Nature Center Council is a non-profit 501 © 3 organization led by an Executive Board, which is elected by the members of the Council. Council members are encouraged to serve on the board on Council committees (e.g. newsletter, membership, programs, development, etc.) or to volunteer to help with trail maintenance, serve as tour or trail guides, or assist with special events, among other tasks.
The Board meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm at the nature center; all Council members are welcome to attend.
Help Marshy Point Nature Center realize its potential to be the premier Chesapeake Bay watershed educational venue in Baltimore County by bringing your creative energy, vision, and resources to the Council!
Grow with us. Be a Volunteer!
Share your enthusiasm, learn something new, teach others, get outdoors, and meet folks who care as much as you do. All our volunteers are invited to monthly excursions (see our calendar for what’s coming up). Be a part of the growing Marshy Point Nature Center community! Contact us for more information about these and other opportunities...
Current Volunteer Opportunities:
Field Trip Leaders
Leaders must be comfortable with teaching children. Shadow training is regularly provided in addition to seasonal training sessions. Field trips are scheduled year-round.
Contact:
James Frank, Naturalist
Canoe Captains
Share your knowledge and know-how with other folks! We’re in need of Canoe Captains who can steer the canoe and keep a group together for many types of trips. Trips are scheduled regularly with the exception of the winter months.
Contact:
Bob Stanhope, Director
Writers
Our "Cattails" newsletter is published four times a year: September, December, March, and June. The writing and editing staff meets six weeks before deadline to plan each issue. Individual writing and editing tasks are assigned to volunteers. Lay-out and production are handled by the office staff. Meet once quarterly, and write at your leisure before the editing deadline
Contact:
Joan Grabowski, Editor
The IT/Web Committee meets with staff once monthly to make updates and changes to marshypoint.org. Individual writing and editing tasks are assigned to volunteers. Lay-out and production are handled by the office staff and our webmaster. Meet once monthly, and write at your leisure before the editing deadline.
Contact:
Lindsay Young, Editor
Event Hosts
From the Popsicle Plunge to Spring and Fall Festivals and everything in between, many events at Marshy Point need volunteers to help make visitors feel at home. You can help by manning the welcome tent, leading or coordinating activities, or helping set-up / break-down equipment. Time commitment: Shifts and needs vary for each event.
Contact:
James Frank, Naturalist
Committee Helpers
Green Team Committee: As our center grows, so does our potential to harm the surrounding environment. The Green Team, co-chaired by Chief Naturalist Bob Stanhope with Naturalist James Frank, works to improve the park and nature center with focus on lowering our environmental impact and that of our visitors.
Contact:
James Frank, Naturalist or Hal Ashman, Council Chair
Membership Committee: Phone, mail, and email are all essential aspects of staying in touch, and regularly touching base with our members is vital to keeping our efforts effective. Sharing Marshy Point with new folks is a huge part of ensuring the preservation of this invaluable resource. Casual meetings (about 1-3 hours/month)
Contact:
Ginny Elliott, Administrative Assistant or Vera Reiner, Council Chair
Publicity Committee: Coordinate with staff to write and distribute press releases. Design posters, flyers, and invitations! Publicize weekend programs, special events, monthly lectures… not to mention the latest newsworthy events such as the new Education Wing and construction! With so much going on these days, there’s so much to make known! Know a good place to drop off some flyers? 5 minutes of your time could be hugely helpful! Time commitment varies according to your own schedule. Press releases are sent weekly. Flyers and posters come out for special events and monthly lecturers.
Contact:
Ginny Elliott, Administrative Assistant
Arts/Exhibits Committee: Contribute your ideas and help design exhibits. Help plan nature art courses and events. Evening meetings once monthly, some follow-up between meetings as needed.
Contact:
James Frank, Naturalist
“TLC” Providers (Trail and Landscape Crew)
Regular trail maintenance is needed on the White Tail Trail. Weed-whacking, chain-sawing, and mulch-laying are seasonal aspects of the job, and nasty weather occasionally makes the trail impassible. With the anticipated creation of the Sweet Gum Trail this year, the responsibility is going to be two-fold come autumn. A great way to get out and enjoy the trails! Meets 9am, second Saturday of the month. Weekday projects also available.
Contact:
James Frank, Naturalist or Bob Stanhope, Director
Teen Volunteers
If you are a High School or Middle School student who loves the outdoors, the Marshy Point Muskrat program is for you. Teen volunteers assist with animal care, weekend programs, council committee projects, and special events. Apply the time you spend volunteering towards service learning graduation requirements! Teens are also given opportunities to attend special events like hiking and canoe trips, workboat daytrips, and other excursions. Schedule determined upon application.
Contact:
James Frank, Naturalist or Ginny Elliott, Administrative Assistant
MPNC Internships
Marshy Point Nature Center is looking for talented college and high school students to help with running programs, promoting events, and updating and maintaining our exhibits (including animal exhibits). Good candidates are those interested in the outdoors or the natural sciences and also have good communication skills. To learn more, download the application packet and talk to your school advisor.
Contact:
James Frank, Naturalist
Scouts
Scouts are a huge help to the Center. We have had nearly 20 Eagle Scout projects since we opened in 2000! Here’s a quick run-down of our current project ideas for scouts...
- a self-guided interpretive trail (numbered posts that correspond to an informative pamphlet about each site)
- owl boxes and/or nesting boxes for other birds (purple martin houses, and/or an osprey platform for example, built into the creek bottom)
- a man-made wetland garden with interpretive signs at the front of the center (this is a naturally wet spot that could be landscaped to make a more permanent wetland)
- indoor exhibits
- benches for observing the butterfly garden
- a campfire ring with benches for night-hikes and other events
- bat boxes
- you tell us! Have a specialty or idea? Let us know!
Contact:
James Frank, Naturalist or Bob Stanhope, Director
