Interfaith Partners For The Chesapeake Hosting Upcoming Programs On Funding Projects, Rain Gardens, Interfaith Environmental Stewardship

The Interfaith Partners For The Chesapeake, which works to engage religious congregations in being good caretakers of our shared Chesapeake Bay Watershed, is highlighting upcoming events by local partner congregations and education opportunities.

The events include--

-- June 2: Watch Party! Project Funding Webinar. 7:00 p.m. 

This Learning Lab offers funding ideas and strategies to support your congregation's vision for healing the earth, air and water. Our guest speaker was Joseph Toolan, Program Assistant for Outreach and Education at the Chesapeake Bay Trust, who shared grant opportunities which are available, how to navigate the grant process and tips for submitting a strong proposal for your project. 

-- June 4: Rain Garden Expo, Brightside Baptist Church, 515 Hershey Ave., Lancaster. 1:00 p.m.

Join Brightside Baptist Church as we celebrate our new rain garden. We are in the process of transforming our campus to be good stewards of creation. Activities for the whole family, including look-and-learn STEM exhibits, a puppet show, as well as a hands-on educational booth on microplastics. Stop by to meet local native plant vendors and perhaps pick up some for your own garden!

-- June 5: Clean Water Ride & Learn, Hope United Methodist Church, 3474 Rothsville Rd., Ephrata, Lancaster County. 1:00 p.m.

Join the Lancaster One Water Partnership and The Common Wheel for a family-friendly slow ride on the Warwick-Ephrata Trail. Visit with congregations that have taken on projects to address clean water in their neighborhoods. Learn from our friends at Alliance for the Chesapeake about a riparian forest buffer installed at Cocalico Creek. Enjoy a facilitated ride experience complete with bike safety and community riding tips.

-- June 21: Summer Solstice - When Awareness Flows Like A River, Trout Run Nature Preserve, Stump Rd, Peqeua, Lancaster County. 5:00 p.m.

Join Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake & the Lancaster Conservancy, for a One Water Partnership summer solstice hike at Trout Run Nature Preserve. We will explore the local waters and ecology, scavenger hunt style! Bring your most comfortable and explorer-worthy clothes along with your own full water bottle. Let's learn about our precious bodies of local water together!

-- September 8: Changing The Aesthetic - Benefits Of Pollinator Garden Webinar. 7:00 p.m.

Come learn the what, why and how of native plants! 

     -- What are native plants?

     -- What to non-native plants and grass only lawns do for the environment? 

     -- What do native plants contribute to the web of life? 

    -- How can I start planting native plants? 

-- October 7: Watch Party!  Maintaining Stormwater Projects. 7:00 p.m.

In this Learning Lab you will learn:

     -- How do you keep your in-the-ground project alive and functioning?

     -- How do you develop a maintenance plan?

     -- What are the necessary tasks for different types of projects?

     -- What strategies are effective for recruiting and scheduling volunteers to do the maintenance? 

-- October 13, 20, 27: 2022 Faithful Green Leaders 3-Session Training. 7:00 p.m.

During this training session you will learn:

     -- How to establish and grow a green team at your congregation

     -- About exciting environmental education programs to engage your congregation

     -- How to develop an action plan for your Green Team

     -- Ways to enhance your communication skills to help spread the word

-- November 3: Common Roots - Interfaith Environmental Stewardship Webinar. 7:00 p.m.

What do different faiths have in common when it comes to care for the earth, the wider Creation around us, the web of life? 

What unique teachings do different faith tradition offer about stewardship of the environment?

We'll hear from the following speakers share about what their faith tradition says showing how we are all "in this together" with a common commitment to heal and restore our relationship with the earth. 

-- December 8: Watch Party!  Planning Green Team Actions. 7:00 p.m.

This Learning Lab focused on congregations that have successfully planned actions - how they started, what was effective for planning their actions and how they brought the actions to completion. 

Visit the Interfaith Partners Upcoming Events webpage for more information on these and other events.

For more information on programs, initiatives, upcoming events and how you can get involved, visit the Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake website.  Follow on Facebook and on Twitter.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates (bottom of the page).

Webinar For Faith Communities

Last fall, IPC and PEC participated in a webinar about how faith communities can help protect their local watersheds.  Click Here to watch the recording.

[How Clean Is Your Stream?

[Check DEP’s 2022 Water Quality Report to find out how clean streams are near you.]

Related Articles:

PA Environmental Council Podcast: Do Unto Those Downstream - Interfaith Partners For The Chesapeake

Related Articles This Week:

-- Evangelical Environmental Network Blog: A Christian’s Guide To Planet Earth - By Betsy Painter, Author & Conservation Biologist 

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Living Memorial To Victims Of Violence, Pandemic To Take Root In City Of Harrisburg  

[Posted: May 18, 2022]  PA Environment Digest