What are Friends of Arlington Echo?
Friends of Arlington Echo are people who are involved with Arlington Echo by volunteering their talents to further our mission. There are many opportunities to serve in the many programs that we offer on site and at other locations. A detail of those options is below.
Volunteers are expected to commit 8 hours a month which is scheduled by the volunteer on a monthly basis through the volunteer coordinator. Volunteer must be able to pass a security background test. Arlington Echo supplies volunteers with a shirt to wear during their work time.
Arlington Echo is part of Anne Arundel County Public Schools and is not an openly public facility. All volunteers are required to make arrangements with a staff member before arriving.
Contact Sheen Roos This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Heather Hatfield This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call Arlington Echo at 410-222-3822 to schedule a time to volunteer.
Volunteer Options
Note: Volunteers are able to participate in more than one option if desired.
Option 1: Center of Applied Technology North (CATN)
Option 1. A: Greenhouse - Teaching
Hours vary with school group
Volunteer would be expected to stay with the school
group throughout the visit. Approximate time 3 hours.
Duties: Assist staff with set up and preparation of
activities for the school visit. Teach assigned lesson
to small group 4 times as the students rotate. Instruct
students in performing horticulture activity associated
with the lesson of that day.Assist staff with clean up of
activity of the day. Move plants to greenhouse, sweep,
put away materials etc.
Option 1. B: Greenhouse horticulture
Hours are negotiable: Minimum daily 2 hours – maximum 4 hours.
Duties: assist staff with daily maintenance of
native gardens and greenhouse crops for habitat
projects under the instruction of the staff. These
tasks may include but are not limited to: watering,
transplanting, weeding, fertilizing, sweeping, moving
plants, staging plants for projects.
Option 2: Arlington Echo
Hours vary with the option or school group see below.
Option 2. A: Teaching Canoeing and Seining (Additional training required)
Hours: 1 ½ day commitment scheduled by school group.
Day 1: 9a.m.-5p.m.
Day 2: 9 a.m.-12
Duties: Teach canoeing or seining to school groups. Sessions are 45 min.-1 hr.
Small student groups rotate throughout the day.
Option 2. B: Facilitating Initiative and Confidence Training Course (Course certification required)
Hours: Full day commitment scheduled by school group.
Duties: Work on teambuilding activities with student groups.
Option 2. C: Aquatic collection maintenance
Hours are negotiable: Minimum daily 2 hours
Duties: Assist staff with maintenance of the live collections
At AE including Yellow perch, Terrapins, Eels, Horseshoe
Crabs and other animals.
Option 2. D: Parent Training
Hours: M/Tu. 1:00-2:30 (weekly commitment preferred)
Duties: Assist staff with parent training for teaching activities
Option 2. E: Research vessel (Captains License preferred)
Hours: Full day commitment scheduled by school group.
Duties: Operation and maintenance of Lady Echo Research vessel.
I.e. File float plan with office prior to voyage with school group, secure vessel at dock, communicate with staff concerning mechanical maintenance of vessel etc.
Assist staff with water quality activities with student groups.
Option 2. F: Gardens/ Green roof/ Grow out areas
Hours are negotiable: Minimum daily 2 hours -maximum 4 hours.
Scheduling may be weather dependant in that most tasks are outdoors.
Duties: assist staff with maintenance of AE gardens and crops housed at AE.These tasks may include but are not limited to: watering, transplanting, weeding, pruning, fertilizing, sweeping, moving plants, staging plants for projects, etc.
Option 3: Camp Woodlands-Teaching
Hours: 8 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Duties: Assist staff with set up and preparation of
activities for the school visit. Teach or assist parent
volunteers with waterfront or bee activities as students
rotate through activities. Assist staff with groups’ lunch.
Assist staff with parent training. Assist staff with clean
up of activity of the day. Secure teaching materials in
tee pee, secure boats and waterfront tools. etc.
Option 4: Board of Education Offices- Riva Road Annapolis – Gardening
Note : Hours logged at Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center
Hours: are negotiable. Minimum daily 2 hours.
Scheduling are weather dependant in that all tasks are outdoors.
Duties: assist staff with maintenance of BOE gardens. You may be working with groups of students, staff or alone.
These tasks may include but are not limited to: watering, transplanting, weeding, pruning, fertilizing, sweeping, etc.
Option 5: Habitat Restoration Projects- Locations throughout the county.
Note : Hours logged at Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center
Hours: will vary with each project. Minimum daily 4 hours.
Scheduling is seasonal. Most projects are from April1-June 24. All tasks are outdoors.
Duties: assist staff with set up of restoration projects. Including loading and unloading plants. Placing plants to be planted in projects, planting with school students, mulching, watering and cleanup.
