Adults only

The Calvert County Natural Resources Division is partnering with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and the North American Orchid Conservation Center to document orchid species found in Calvert County for the purpose of conserving native orchids found in the U.S. and Canada. (Read more about this project)

The Calvert Stewards volunteers will identify locations of orchids so that trained collectors can obtain photographs, viable seeds, fruits, leaf samples, and root samples with the aim of conserving North American orchid species. In special situations whole plants will be collected for voucher specimens to be stored in the Botany Department of the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

We'll also spend time looking for other spring flowers to map via iNaturalist.

Location: Ward Farm Recreation and Nature Park 

If you cannot attend this orientation, send in your volunteer application and we'll contact you about other times to learn about the program.

To prepare for the training, please bring a fully charged smart phone with the iNaturalist app installed (or a fully charged digital camera). You may set up your own iNaturalist account, or we will provide you with the Calvert Orchids log in information at the workshop.

To download the app:

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.inaturalist.android

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/inaturalist/id421397028?mt=8

Dress for the weather and wear comfortable hiking shoes. Bring a water bottle and trail snacks. A handlens can be helpful. Even with a small chance of rain, this workshop will still be held. Bring your rain coat!

There are only port-a-pots at Ward Farm, and no water. If you wish to use "modern" facilities, you may stop at the WaWa at Rte. 4 and Ward Road. Plan for time to travel to Ward Farm.

Who are Calvert Stewards? They are the volunteer corps of the Calvert Nature Society and the Calvert County Natural Resources Division. More information can be found on the Calvert Stewards Volunteer Page.