Watershed Report Card Program Celebrates 10 Years of Bringing Howard County Together to Advocate for the Environment

April 29th, 2024

Ninth and 10th grade biology students, teachers, and administrators from HCPSS high schools and Homewood Center, Howard County Conservancy staff, and state and local representatives gathered at the Conservancy on April 17 for the 10th annual Howard County Watershed Summit. The summit is the culmination of students’ participation in the Watershed Report Card Program, in which students conduct rigorous assessments of the biological, chemical, and physical aspects of local schoolyards and streams and develop recommendations for improvement.

This year’s event kicked off with welcomes from HCPSS Acting Superintendent William J. Barnes, Howard County Conservancy Executive Director Meg Boyd, HCPSS Environmental Educator and Watershed Report Card Program founder Ann Strozyk and Howard County Executive Dr. Calvin Ball.

Barnes celebrated “a decade of devotion” to the Watershed Report Card program and the positive impact it has had on the thousands of students who have participated in it over the years, as well as on the health of our local streams and the Chesapeake Bay.

“Each student should take pride in knowing that as a result of this program, you are a more informed environmental citizen,” Barnes added, encouraging students to take their knowledge and appreciation for a clean and healthy environment and share it with their fellow students and friends.

In her remarks, Boyd highlighted the growing body of data pointing to the importance of environmental careers, as well as her optimism about HCPSS students’ future as environmental scientists. In addition, she celebrated the growth of the Youth Climate Institute, of which many HCPSS students are a part, and that began in Howard County and has expanded into states around the country.

Dr. Ball spoke about Howard County leading the way in environmental stewardship and issued a formal proclamation establishing April 17, 2024 as Watershed Report Card Day in Howard County.

The program continued with students presenting their research, recommendations, and action plans to improve the health of their schoolyards and streams. Afterward, they had the opportunity to speak one-on-one with the elected officials, Conservancy staff, HCPSS staff and administrators and others about their findings and their overall experience in the Watershed Report Card program.

One of the participating students remarked that, for her, the program highlight was getting outside the classroom and studying water flow on her school’s campus.

“It was great to see how much we are doing well, but also to see where the opportunities are for us to improve,” she said.

Another student commented that hearing from and connecting with students from across Howard County was the highlight of her Report Card experience.

“It’s amazing to hear about everyone’s research and discover that while we all live in the same county, we have different environmental challenges and different ideas on how to address them. It’s also valuable to know that we have a shared interest in making our environment better.”

Still another student noted the significance of having “VIPs” in attendance at the Watershed Summit.

“When you have officials in the room who are there to listen to your ideas, you feel like there’s a real chance of action being taken and improvement being made,” he said.

Wilde Lake High School Science teacher Amy Archibald added that the value of the Watershed Report Card Program is hard to overstate.

“From the joy of walking in the streams and discovering nature to the experience of advocating for something they care deeply about, students gain so much through this program.”

Learn more about the Watershed Report Card Program online.