Fall Conference Sunday Field Trip: Soldiers Delight Serpentine Barrens (Owings Mill)

Registration will open on 9/3. Conference participants do not need to register.

Soldiers Delight serpentine barrens, or oak savanna, is a globally rare ecosystem, hosting over 30 state, federal, and globally rare plant and animal species. Shaped by time, fire, and geology, this site is one of the most biodiverse locations in Maryland. We will hike along the Serpentine trail, exploring the bedrock, exquisite grasslands, and the plants who love them. We'll see the effects of the 30+ year restoration effort and discuss future issues. 1.5 miles with several stops, with the option to complete the 3.1 mile loop.

Leader: Paula Becker

Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Paula Becker has been an ecologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Program for over 30 years. Her duties through the years include volunteer coordination and outreach for the State's non-game and endangered species program, as well as rare species surveys and habitat restoration (which is a whole lot of invasive plant work). Prior to joining Maryland DNR, she served as a naturalist for New Jersey State Parks and Forests, provided integrated pest management at a native plant nursery, and trained as a wildlife rehabilitator in Seattle, Washington. She holds a dual bachelor’s degree in Forest Biology and Resource Management, with concentrations in wildlife biology and plant ecology from the State University of New York - College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry. Go, Mighty Oaks!

Event Co-Hosts: University of Maryland Extension Maryland Native Plants Program and University of Maryland School of Landscape Architecture

ONLINE REGISTRATION IS  REQUIRED. Limited to 14 people.

Directions will be included in registration confirmation.

      

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