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Grand Opening After Caitlin died, we started working with the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland (GSCM) to create a Nature Center in Caitlin's memory. Working with local Scouts and their friends and families, we completed the first Caitlin Dunbar Nature Center at Girl Scout Camp Conowingo in June 2006. The CDNC-Conowingo has been a great success with over 3,000 visitors in its first 18 months in operation. Recognizing a winning venture, GSCM agreed to expand the original CDNC vision to include all four of its Camp properties, along with a possible urban location in Baltimore. Each CDNC location will focus on a different theme. Girl Scout Camp Ilchester, located in Ellicott City, Maryland, will soon become home to the latest installment in GSCM's Caitlin Dunbar Nature Center project. The CDNC-Ilchester will be our environmental studies center. We have already had two active honey bee hives donated to us. The bees will serve as the cornerstone for several programs we plan to offer. One of these is the study of climate changes as indicated by changes in the bees and their hives. This program is being developed in conjunction with a NASA climatologist who is also a beekeeper. We hope to be able to offer a program on beekeeping in conjunction with the Howard County Beekeepers Association. An observation hive will be resident in the nature center year round. We may even offer CDNC honey for sale -- what a sweet idea! We are becoming a turtle rescue center. We already have a few in-house. An outdoor turtle pond is planned. Caitlin’s younger sister, Kelsey, is investigating developing an energy garden whose produce could be used for creating bio-diesel fuel. The goal is to quickly expand this program so that every member of GSCM will have an opportunity to participate (imagine 30,000 sunflower plants and all of the seeds they will yield). In keeping with environment-friendly practices, Caitlin’s youngest sister, Kristy, envisions composting all of the plant-waste and turning it into enriched soil for reuse in subsequent plantings. Wild flowers will soon take root in front of the Peterson Activity Center which serves as the base for the CDNC-Ilchester. We have bird boxes and bat boxes in construction by local Girl Scouts. We are seeking partners -- Girl Scouts and other members of the community -- to develop additional environmental study programs for us. One model we find particularly attractive is the Citizen Scientist -- where the program/project is kept going by volunteers from the community. Informational displays are planned by girls working on their Bronze and Silver Awards. We are offering nearly unlimited opportunities for Girl Scouts, their friends and the community-at-large to get involved with nature and the environment -- to become "planet protectors" for the future. We are also looking for partners to serve as mentors for the girls, as they plan and develop their projects and to provide expertise to any who need it. If you are available on Thursday evening, February 28, 2008, from 7:00pm until 8:00pm, I invite you to join us at Camp Ilchester for our next CDNC-Ilchester planning meeting. Bring your ideas for projects we may be able to pursue -- many others in attendance come for the ideas. Come to bask in the love that is evident at our meetings -- love of nature, the environment, and Caitlin's spirit. I will be there, as always. This has been and continues to be a completely volunteer project. All funds have been raised through donations. Most of the labor has been done by students -- Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, their friends and families. Here are some ideas that we have already put out to our community of volunteers: Butterfly
garden renovations Our 2008 meetings are scheduled as follows: February 28 and March 6, at 7:00pm, and March 8 at 9:00 am. Click the link below for directions to Camp Ilchester. If you are unable to attend one of our meetings but would like to get involved, drop me a note at memories@caitlindunbar.com. Please also contact me concerning donating items and/or materials for use in developing the CDNC. To make a financial donation, please make your check payable to Caitlin Dunbar Nature Center. Send it to: Caitlin Dunbar Nature Center Thank you very much for your support.
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