May 1, 2018
The Garrett Institute for Lifelong Learning (GILL) group, operating under Garrett College Continuing Education and Workforce Development, has released their spring schedule for the month of May. The classes for the month of June will be announced at a later date. GILL learning experiences are developed by the organization’s members based on group interests. The topic sessions are coordinated by volunteers who select presenters for each topic identified.
‘Mah Jongg Day’ will be held at the Garrett College McHenry campus on May 2nd at 10 a.m. with morning instruction for beginners and afternoon play to reinforce all that was learned. Past participants have enjoyed the time spent with new friends, the challenge, and the reinforcement of retention, problem solving, and strategic thinking skills. The class will be taught by experienced Garrett County Mah-Jongg players, Judith Merriman and Sally Lazorchak.
A ‘Windmill Presentation and Tour’ with Jay Gasner, Regional Manager of Exelon Corporation, is scheduled for May 9. Participants will meet at 12:15 p.m. at the Garrett College Southern Outreach Center (former Oakland Armory) parking lot in Oakland and will carpool to the desired destination. The group will be able to see a close up look of the windmills that operate on Backbone Mountain at Eagle Rock Rd.
On May 16, a session, ‘Un-Hot Topics’ is scheduled for GILL members at Uno Chicago Grill Deep Creek (downstairs) from 12 noon until 2 p.m. Ann Stuck will lead the group in an interactive discussion. Hot Topics offers an opportunity for participants to enjoy lunch, a lively discussion on relevant topics, and the fellowship of fellow GILL members. Participants are responsible for the cost of their own lunch.
‘The Battle of Gettysburg’ is a two-part presentation by Jay Clark, a former National Park Ranger who worked for years at Gettysburg and also at the Pearl Harbor Memorial. On May 17 and 24 from 6-8 p.m., participants will meet at the Garrett College Southern Outreach Center in Oakland. The first session will offer an overview of the campaign with an emphasis on the three-day battle. The second session will focus on certain topics with additional issues chosen by the class.
‘Tour of Emmanuel Episcopal Church and Tunnels’ will take place on May 22 at 11 a.m. Participants will meet at 9:30 a.m. to carpool to Cumberland’s historic district. This church is built on the foundations of Fort Cumberland, where George Washington began his military career, and earthwork tunnels remaining from the fort run under the church. These tunnels were later used as a station on the Underground Railroad. The cornerstone of the current native sandstone building was laid in 1849 and completed in 1851. The church contains original Tiffany stained-glass windows from three different periods and a scale model of Fort Cumberland.
‘The Rock Maze’ exploration begins on May 30 at 10 a.m. (rain date is scheduled for May 31). A 12- minute hike on mostly level ground travels through rhododendron forests, leading to a rise with a limestone outcropping that has worn into a maze of magical paths to explore. Kevin Dodge, director of natural resources & wildlife technology at Garrett College, will add his knowledge and humor to the day. Participants will need to bring a picnic lunch and are encouraged to bring a camera.
If you are not a GILL member and wish to join in order to register for a session, please contact Garrett College Continuing Education and Workforce Development at 301-387-3069. More information on the Garrett Institute for Lifelong Learning is also available by contacting Jean Tumbarello at jean.tumbarello@garrettcollege.edu or www.garrettcollege.edu/GILL.
May 1, 2018
A Community Visioning Workshop will be held on Friday, May 18, 2018 at the Garrett College Special Events Center (also known as the old gymnasium), 687 Mosser Rd, McHenry MD, beginning at 7:00 p.m. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. The Special Events Center is building 800 on the campus map which can be located at https://www.garrettcollege.edu/campus-map.php. This strategic visioning exercise is the first of a number of public engagement opportunities that will be presented by the consultants hired to assist the County with the update of the Garrett County Comprehensive Plan. The purpose of this activity is to gather input from citizens to create an image of a desired future for the county in 20 years. Future meetings will use that vision to shape specific recommendations for how to bring that vision to reality. The public is also encouraged to visit the county’s Comprehensive Plan website at https://www.garrettcounty.org/planning-land-development/comprehensive-plan. At that site access is given to the 2008 Comprehensive Plan as well as other useful information. There is also a public comment form that can be used to submit comments. In addition, the public is invited to follow and comment on the Facebook page created and managed by the consultants, AECOM. It can be found by searching for Garrett County Comprehensive Plan in your Facebook search bar. Any questions can be directed to Chet Parsons, AECOM, at chet.parsons@aecom.com or 304- 381-9261 or Deborah Carpenter, Director, Garrett County Planning & Land Management at dcarpenter@garrettcounty.org or 301-334-1924.
May 1, 2018
Garrett College’s Natural Resources and Wildlife Technology program is one of the College’s two signature degree programs receiving nationwide recognition. Led by Kevin Dodge, Director of Natural Resources and Wildlife Technology (NRWT), the associate in applied science degree program attracts and welcomes students across the state and surrounding region, while preparing them to become the next generation of natural resource professionals in the workforce.
Designed to represent a wide range of study, this unique program appeals to students interested in careers focusing on wildlife, fisheries, forestry, soils, wetlands, parks, and other areas of natural resources management and conservation. Graduates from the program are prepared to find employment as technicians in these fields, but many choose to pursue additional education towards a bachelor’s degree. Those who transfer to a four-year school after graduation find that they are exceptionally well-prepared for upper division classes at that university. =
Fifteen students in the NRWT program are on track to graduate this May. As part of the curriculum, students are required to enroll in a seminar II course, NRW289, during the final spring semester. The course aims to introduce students to effective job search strategies and prepare them for employment promptly after graduation.
The course emphasizes identifying an ideal position, preparing an effective resume and cover letter, interviewing, and using multiple resources to locate job opportunities in the natural resources field.
During a recent class session, students experienced genuine mock interview scenarios with natural resources professionals representing the private, public and non-profit career sectors.
“It was great to see the high caliber of individuals the NRWT program has produced with this round of students,” commented Garrett College NRWT graduate Greg Short Jr., Senior Project Manager/Owner of AllStar Ecology. “I was very impressed!”
Students must prepare for the mock interviews as they would a real-world job interview: wearing appropriate interview attire, eloquently verbalizing academic and professional accomplishments, and discussing technical skills and proficiencies. The mock interview activity is only one of a variety of employability skills seminar II students experience in the spring semester immediately before graduation.
“This class is exceedingly valuable in that it teaches the tangible skills employers are looking for in today’s workforce. I can truly say that the NRWT graduates leave Garrett College with a striking resume, interview confidence, and – very often – a job in their field of choice!” noted Ashley Ruby, Director of the Advising and Academic Success Center at Garrett College and seminar II instructor.
The NRWT program includes practical, field-based instruction and hands-on classes (most with an outdoor component). Students learn a variety of real-world skills, including how to manage wildlife habitats, sample fish populations, survey timber, map plant and animal communities, monitor rare plant and animal species, restore eroded stream banks and degraded wetlands, and help children learn about nature.
In addition, students enjoy small classes and personalized attention, advanced technology including Geographic Information Systems and Global Positioning Systems, employment and volunteer opportunities, class trips to the Chesapeake Bay and other regional environments, and spring break trips to southeast Arizona.
For more information on the Natural Resources and Wildlife Technology program, contact the Office of Admissions at 301-387-3044 or visit https://www.garrettcollege.edu/natural-resources-and-wildlife-technology.php
May 1, 2018
I write this Cover Story for the May issue of Deep Creek Times one day after attending a very nice event at Fort Frederick State Park near Hancock. While over an hour away from Deep Creek, I think the value and character of that event and of Fort Frederick State Park in general, extend to our “local” state parks here in Garrett County and to all of the parks in the state. Hence this simple attempt here to highlight these great resources so close to us here at Deep Creek Lake.
As posted on the State Parks website, there are nine state parks in Garrett County. All offer picnic, and fishing areas, while all but Casselman River State Park have hiking paths. Mountain bike paths, swimming areas, and boat launches and rentals are available at Deep Creek, Herrington Manor and New Germany State Parks, and the last two have rental cabins available. Big Run, Deep Creek, Herrington Manor and New Germany State Parks offer canoeing, while campsites may be found at Big Run, Deep Creek, New Germany, and Swallow Falls State Parks. If you wish to camp, it pays to get a reservation in advance. The parks are now taking reservations for Summer, so act quickly. Here’s a listing of all nine with links and phone numbers:
In addition to the natural beauty found in each of our state parks, there is the “beauty” of low-cost accessibility to the diverse flora, fauna, education and experiential resources they provide. Plus, the experiences available all vary by the season, thereby providing a wealth of options for the “local” or visitor. For example, I can attest that each time I hike Swallow Falls I see things I didn’t see before and I also see the trail, park and fellow visitors in a different light. Whether rushing water going over Muddy Falls or the serene quite of the simple hike in Winter, there is something new to experience and enjoy. Our state parks are the gifts that keep on giving!
This constantly evolving view of nature is what keeps me coming back. I say this to encourage all of our readers that have been to a given park to revisit the park to gain a different experience, whether by varying in-park location, time-of-day or season. I also urge all to look in our Daily Notes and Events sections of Deep Creek Times for updates on local events at each of the parks. Whether an educational lecture in the lake house at New Germany State Park, or a guided walk (or talk) by the team at Deep Creek Lake State Park’s Discovery Center, or a leisurely stroll to admire the innovative design at Casselman River Bridge State Park, there is always something to do at one of our local State Parks.
So, visit the parks and this great state resource often and in every season. Whether hiking, biking, learning, swimming, fishing, hunting or skiing, there is likely something you and your family will enjoy. Have fun!
Mike Tumbarello
Deep Creek Times