Resources

On this page we have compiled a set of resources that may help you complete your projects.  These resources include links to the organizations that developed each of the project write-ups and others that do similar work, links to businesses that can help you realize your project goals, and links to potential sources of funding for your projects.

 FALL

• Source: Low Impact Development Center
• University of Wisconsin Rain Garden Manual (3 MB PDF file) - A colorful and complete guide to rain garden installation.
• University of Wisconsin Rain Garden Brochure (696 KB PDF file) - An overview of rain gardens - ideal for handout material.
• RainScapes – Montgomery County - On this site you will find information about Rain Gardens, Rain Barrels, Native Plant Nurseries, Images and more.
• Virginia Department of Forestry - A quick general overview of rain gardens with additional specific information for Virginia residents.
• Rain Gardens.org - A complete website just on rain gardens.
• Center for Watershed Protection (212 KB PDF file) - A short how-to document on rain gardens and rain barrels.
• Taylor Creek Nurseries (512 KB PDF file) - A brochure on rain gardens including what type of plants to install with pictures.
• Plants for Rain Gardens (44 KB PDF file) - A document just on rain garden plants - no pictures.
• Prince George’s County Bioretention Page - A technical manual on rain gardens (bioretention) from the County that pioneered its use.
• Sample Liability Waiver (37 KB PDF file) - For volunteer events.

• Source: Potomac Watershed Partnership
• Potomac Conservancy - Growing Native website with all sorts of information on the program.
• Virginia Department of Forestry - Information on collecting acorns.
• Virginia State Nurseries (Augusta) - Directions to nursery drop off Virginia locations & places where you can purchase trees.
• Virginia State Nurseries (Garland Gray) - Directions to nursery drop off Virginia locations & places where you can purchase trees.
• Maryland Forest Service - General site for information on state nurseries in Maryland.
• Collecting Hardwood Seeds - Site listing tree species and when they are collected - specific to Minnesota, but can be extrapolated to our region.
• Tree and Seed Guide (1.1 MB PDF file) - Potomac Watershed Partnership photo guide to collected tree species and their seeds.
• Sample Permission Letter (14 KB PDF file) - For seed collection events.
• Sample Site Tracking Form (22 KB PDF file) - For seed collection events.
• Sample Newsletter Posting (15 KB PDF file) - For seed collection events.
• Sample Calendar Posting (36 KB PDF file) - For seed collection events.
• Sample Bag Tags (3 KB PDF file) - For seed collection events.
• Sample Liability Waiver (37 KB PDF file) - For volunteer events.

• Source: Provided by the State of Maryland and Adopt-A-Stream (Save Our Streams)
• Texas Storm Drain Stenciling Guidebook (992 KB PDF file) - An excellent how-to guide on storm drain stenciling.
• Texas Storm Drain Marking Manual (192 KB PDF file) - A shorter version of the above guide.
• Maryland DNR - A Maryland-focused guide to stenciling.
• University of Wisconsin - A web-based guide with other activities.
• South Carolina Department of Health (660 KB PDF file) - Four-page color instructions on stenciling.
  
• Vendors
  • Das Manufacturing
  • Bowhead Manufacturing
  • Earth Water Stencils
• Sample Press Release (7 KB PDF file) - For volunteer events.
• Sample Liability Waiver (37 KB PDF file) - For volunteer events.
• Sample Flyer (340 KB PDF file) - For volunteer events.
• Sample Data Form (12 KB PDF file) - For volunteer events.
• Sample Door Hanger (4.5 MB PDF file) - For volunteer events.

• Source: TreeMendous Maryland
• Weston Nurseries - A simple guide walking through each step in one paragraph.
• Planting a tree – A step by step guide with information on everything from choosing a tree to pruning.
• Savy Gardener – Planting Trees - A guide with several graphics.
• Better Homes and Gardens - Good step by step photos, but lots of ads.
• D.C. Urban Forestry Administration – Recommended Street Trees for Urban Areas
• Benefits of Urban Trees - Background on why Trees are important
• Arbor Day Foundation - Everything you could want to know about trees, planting them and caring for them.
• Casey Tree Endowment - A D.C. oriented organization dedicated to increasing tree cover in the nation's capital.
• Colorado State University - The Ten Commandments of Tree Planting
• American Forests - Information on Urban Forests
• Sample Liability Waiver (37 KB PDF file) - For volunteer events.

• Source: The University of California Cooperative Extension 4-H Project
• University of California - Watershed Model Construction Manual (621 KB PDF file) - Manual on which our write up was based.
• EPA - Build a Watershed Model (884 KB PDF file) - A very simple desktop version of a watershed model.
• Virginia Save Our Streams Program - How to Make a Watershed Model - An extremely simple model with no graphics.
• Watershed Model (28 KB PDF file) - A watershed model lesson plan for educators.
• National Geographic - User-Friendly Rivers - Three lesson plans about rivers and watersheds including one on watershed models.
• EnviroScape - Vendor of manufactured watershed models.
• Classroom Watershed Setup (2.5 MB PDF file) - An interesting do it yourself model that includes groundwater.
• Envision - Vendor of groundwater models.
  

 WINTER

• Source: New Mexico State University (16 KB PDF file)
• Greater Vancouver Regional District, Worm Composting (728 KB PDF file) - A colorful brochure on worm composting.
• Missouri DNR - Details on building a worm bin including a list of reference materials.
• Greater Vancouver Regional District, Composting - A website with several documents on different types of composting.
• Solid Waste.org - A great website with information on how to reduce household waste including a design for worm composting.
• How to Compost - A website with links to the top composting websites.
• Montgomery County DEP - A local website along with a list of worm composting suppliers.
• Order Worm Supplies:
  • Vermiculture.com
  • Vermitechnology
  • Harmony Farm Supply
  • Worm Woman
• Sample Liability Waiver (37 KB PDF file) - For volunteer events.

• Source: Hinterland Who’s Who
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Homes for Birds - Designs of bird boxes for many species of birds.
• Cornell Bird Boxes - An amazing site all about birdhouses and helping native nesters find a place to live.
• Cornell Ornithology Lab - Information on birds and bird migration from the nation's foremost ornithology program.
• Backyard Bird Feeding - Information and plans for bird feeders.
• Backyard Bird Problems - A site with literature on problem bird species and problems for birds.
• Backyard Birding - A list of links about birding from home.
• Building Nesting Boxes
• Nest Boxes to buy - Backyard Bird Co.
• Nest Boxes to buy - Shaw Creek Bird Supply
• Homemade Nest Boxes For Cavity-Nesting Ducks - A site specifically on duck boxes.
• Sample Liability Waiver (37 KB PDF file) - For volunteer events.

• Source: Spokane Solid Waste
• Home and Garden Television - A step by step guide with photos on building a compost bin.
• Ontario Compost Bin Fact Sheet - Designs for a 3 chamber compost bin.
• A Guide to Backyard Composting - Here's the Dirt (3.6 MB PDF file) - A color brochure on composting.
• British Columbia Compost Bin Fact Sheet - A website with several documents on different types of composting.
• Ohio State, Composting at Home - Illustrations of different compost bins and a guide to solving composting problems.
• Colorado State, Composting Yard Waste - A detailed guide to composting including a guide to solving composting issues.
• Backyard Gardener - Links to several composting designs and links to composting resources.
• Composters to Buy - A composting vendor.
• Sample Liability Waiver (37 KB PDF file) - For volunteer events.

• Source: Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin
• Electronic Watershed Fact Sheets
  • Sideling Hill Creek Watershed
  • Town Creek Watershed
  • Rock Creek Watershed, Pennsylvania
  • Marsh Creek Watershed, Pennsylvania
• Chesapeake Bay Watershed Fact sheets (16 KB PDF file) - A pdf of fact sheets from the Potomac Basin.
• Shenandoah Watershed Fact Sheet (16 KB PDF file) - A pdf of fact sheets from the Potomac Basin.
• Monocacy Watershed Fact Sheet (16 KB PDF file) - A pdf of fact sheets from the Potomac Basin.

• Source:  Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin
• Red de Solidaridad de la Maquila Solidarity Network - A guide to starting an activist campaign.
• Amnesty International Letter Writing Guide - A guide on writing letters from an organization known for effective letter writing campaigns.
• National Housing Institute - Using Letters Effectively - Tips on how to make your letter the best it can be.
• The Fundraising Letter (84 KB PDF file) - A guide specifically on writing fundraising letters.
• Act Up - Letter Campaigns - Information on how to create a letter writing campaign and other activist campaigns.
• Letter-Writing Campaign - A Step-by-Step Manual - A brief guide to letter writing.
• Info-Mission.org - More suggestions on how to make your letter effective.

 SPRING

• Source: Virginia Department of Forestry
• Colorado State University - Seedling Tree Planting Guide
• University of New Hampshire - Planting and Care of Tree Seedlings (276 KB PDF file) - A good guide with different planting techniques.
• Nebraska Cooperative Extension - Tree Planting Guide - A guide specifically for planting and caring for seedlings.
• American Forests - How to Plant a Tree - Information on planting trees and seedlings.
• Arbor Day Foundation - Everything you could want to know about trees, planting them and caring for them.
• Casey Tree Endowment - A D.C. oriented organization dedicated to increasing tree cover in the nation's capital.
• Virginia State Nurseries (Augusta) - Directions to nursery drop off Virginia locations & places where you can purchase trees.
• Virginia State Nurseries (Garland Gray) - Directions to nursery drop off Virginia locations & places where you can purchase trees.
• Colorado State University - The Ten Commandments of Tree Planting
• District of Columbia Urban Forestry - Recommended Street Trees for Urban Areas
• Sample Liability Waiver (37 KB PDF file) - For volunteer events.

• Source: Alice Ferguson Foundation - Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup
• Virginia Department of Education (224 KB PDF file) - A thorough guide to planning and leading a cleanup.
• Georgia River’s Alive Program - General information on Georgia's stream cleanup program.
  • How to Organize a Waterway Cleanup Resource Guide (2.2 MB PDF file) - A detailed guide on planning and carrying out a cleanup event.
• Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation - A local adopt a stream initiative.
• Maryland Department of Natural Resources - Trash is Worse Than Ugly! (88 KB PDF file) - A Maryland guide for planning and leading a cleanup.
• Water Action Volunteers - Stream and River Cleanup (1.3 MB PDF file) - A guide to planning and leading a cleanup.
• International Coastal Cleanup - A national cleanup event.
• Sample Press Release (41 KB PDF file) - For volunteer events.
• Sample Liability Waiver (37 KB PDF file) - For volunteer events.
• Sample Cleanup Flyer (61 KB PDF file) - For volunteer events.
• Sample Data Form (25 KB PDF file) - For volunteer events.
• Sample Cleanup Sign (124 KB PDF file) - For volunteer events.
• Sample Sponsor Letter (4 KB PDF file) - For volunteer events.

• Source: Community Commons
• USDA Silvics of North America - Guides to the natural history and range of North American tree species.
• Colorado State University - Growing Trees and Shrubs from Seed (72 KB PDF file) - A guide to growing trees from seed including specific growing conditions for several species.
• Growing Oaks from Seed (1.3 MB PDF file) - A guide specifically on growing trees from oak trees.
• Maryland DNR Treemendous Program - A Maryland program on increasing tree cover in the state.
• Growing Wisconsin Trees from Seed (168 KB PDF file) - A guide to growing trees from seed including specific growing conditions for several species.
• Growing Native - A Potomac-based program on collecting native seeds to help stock nurseries.
• Tree Help.com - A simple guide to growing trees from seed.
• North Carolina State University - Colorful fact sheets about native trees.
• NC State Tree Links - Links to general information on trees and the problems they face.
• Sample Liability Waiver (37 KB PDF file) - For volunteer events.

• Source: Low Impact Development Center
• Rain Barrel Guide - A guide to determining what rain barrel is right for you and installing it.
• Harvest H2O - Good multimedia information on rain barrels and cisterns.
• Texas Manual on Rainwater Harvesting (2.4 MB PDF file) - A lengthy manual on rainwater harvesting.
• Selecting Cisterns (768 KB PDF file) - Information on larger cisterns.
• RainScapes – Montgomery County - A local website on installing and caring for rain barrels and rain gardens.
• Center for Watershed Protection (212 KB PDF file) - A short how-to document on rain gardens and rain barrels.
• Rain barrel vendors
  • Aaron’s Rain Barrels
  • Spruce Creek
  • The Barrel Mill
• Sample Liability Waiver (37 KB PDF file) - For volunteer events.

• Source: Provided by the Maryland DNR
  • Bat Boxes
  • Sources for Bat Roosting Boxes
• Bat Conservation International - One of two organizations dedicated to the conservation of bat species.
• The Organization for Bat Conservation - One of two organizations dedicated to the conservation of bat species.
• Bat Call: Acoustic Call Library and Species Accounts - A site of listening to bat calls and identifying bats by their call.
• Holy Batbox Batman - Information on bats for kids.
• Fly By Night - Research, management and houses for bats.
• Bat Boxes vendors
  • BatCatalog.com
  • Chiroptera Cabin Company
• Sample Liability Waiver (37 KB PDF file) - For volunteer events.

 SUMMER

• Source: POWR – The River Sojourn Organizer’s Guide: Pennsylvania’s Experience, An Introductory Manual to Organizing a Sojourn Event on Your Waterway (12.8 MB PDF file)
• Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay - Information on sojourns from the organization that invented them!
• Delaware River Sojourn - Information on our neighbor to the east's river paddle trip.
• River Sojourn - GreenTreks Network, Inc. - A multimedia website on river sojourns.
• Sample Waiver (13 KB PDF file) - For leading a sojourn.
• Sample Sponsor Letter (4 KB PDF file) - For leading a sojourn.
• Sample Sojourn Evaluation (4 KB PDF file) - For leading a sojourn.
• Sample Risk Management Plan (6 KB PDF file) - For leading a sojourn.
• Sample Press Release (37 KB PDF file) - For leading a sojourn.
• Sample Policies (26 KB PDF file) - For leading a sojourn.
• Sample Equipment List (18 KB PDF file) - For leading a sojourn.
• Sample Daily Planning Sheet (8 KB PDF file) - For leading a sojourn.
• Sample Medical Form (9 KB PDF file) - For leading a sojourn.

• Source: Maryland Native Plant Society
• No Ivy League - A humorous guide to removing English ivy.
• Center for Invasive Plant Management - All sorts of resource on invasive plant management.
• Weeds Gone Wild - An invasives site from the perspective of the National Park Service.
• Invasive Plants at Cornell University - Information on invasives and their control.
• U.S. Department of Agriculture – Invasives Website - Basic information on invasives as well as links to invasive sites by state and subject.
• Virginia Invasive Plant List - A local list of invasive species.
• The Nature Conservancy - A site on invasives from an organization deeply interested in their control.
• Sample Liability Waiver (37 KB PDF file) - For volunteer events.

• Source: Revised from the District of Columbia’s Office of the Clean City Adopt a Block Program
• Adopt a Storm Drain Lesson Plan - A teacher's guide to leading adopt a storm drain work.
• Adopt a Waterway - An innovative national program providing municipalities funds to clean streams from business advertisements.
• Arlington County’s Adopt a Storm Drain Program - A local site on storm drain marking.
• Clean Water Campaign - A list of things you can do at and around your home to reduce water pollution.
• Berkley Adopt a Storm Drain - A guide to cleaning and marking stormdrains.
• Sample Release Form (16 KB PDF file) - For volunteer events.
• Sample Letter of Intent (15 KB PDF file) - For volunteer events.
• Sample Liability Waiver (37 KB PDF file) - For volunteer events.

• Source: Albuquerque's Environmental Story and the Process Manual

• Source: North Carolina State University Wildlife Extension Office (4.5 MB PDF file)
  • Backyard Wildlife - NC State's guide to things you can do in your yard to make wildlife habitat.
• John Sankey (naturalist) - A naturalist's guide to installing a pond.
• Hinterland Who’s Who - A great list of things you can do in your yard to make wildlife habitat.
• Missouri State Department of Conservation -  Pond Management - A site on pond management.
• Pond Hobbyist - A site dedicated to those who love their ponds!
  • Pond Hobbyist Forums - Web forums where you can ask questions and get answers about your pond.
• Wildlife Ponds for Kids - A fun site on what kids can find in ponds and why they are important.
• The Very Small Pond - One person's detailed guide on his backyard pond.
• Sample Liability Waiver (37 KB PDF file) - For volunteer events.

GENERAL RESOURCES

• Source Links