Project Birdland is fueling the next generation of thinkers, doers, and makers through design-based environmental education & action. The collaborative effort is being led by Mahan Rykiel Associates and a committed group of anchor partners to build a vibrant future for Baltimore's children and communities.

WHAT: Mahan Rykiel’s Social Impact Studio is launching an initiative for Baltimore City Schools at Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle School (FSK). The event is a community build day for an outdoor habitat lab, a place to reconnect and teach kids about their relationship with nature. Joined by the Mayor, community volunteers and members of the school’s parent teacher organization will be planting trees, shrubs and installing birdhouses on the school campus, rain or shine.

The new schoolyard design at FSK is being built along Fort Avenue in Locust Point. The outdoor educational and learning space will integrate an array of landscape elements that tie into the STEM curriculum objectives, Next Generation Science Standards, modules from the Baltimore Ecosystem Study’s science education program, and a tree lab that investigates soil microbial ecology and tree vitality. As part of this process, students were challenged to study bird habitat and fabricate birdhouse prototypes through the guidance of Baltimore’s Gutierrez Studio and The Foundry. Three concepts were chosen by a panel to be fabricated by Gutierrez Studio and will be permanently installed into the outdoor habitat lab.

The Project Birdland Habitat lab was funded through private contributions, donated services of the project partners, funds raised by the parent teacher organization and innovative use of “Fee-in-lieu” mitigation fees for trees and vegetation lost during the development process of Anthem House Apartments, just a few blocks from the FSK. Project Birdland plans to showcase this project as a precedent to scale the initiative throughout city schools.

Here’s a three minute video on how the initiative came to be:

https://www.projectbirdland.org/

WHEN: Sunday, August 27, 2017 8:30am – 3pm

Sunday Activities 8:30am-3pm:

9 am: Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh and Councilman Eric Costello are confirmed to speak along with School Officials and Project Birdland team members for the Kick off of the event. – Photo Opportunity

Throughout Day

Planting perennials

Installing signage

3pm-3:30 Installing birdhouses and closing ceremony.

Overseeing volunteers doing the above

Following will be a team effort of planting, installing birdhouses and a closing ceremony at 3pm.

WHERE: Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle School (Outdoor event at front of building)

WE NEED: Volunteers

Here is a link to the project website and volunteer sign-up page.

Project Birdland Partners:

• Mahan Rykiel Associates
• Francis Scott Key and PTO Community
• Blue Water Baltimore
• Baltimore Ecosystem Study
• Audubon
• Gutierrez Studios
• The Foundery
• OE Custom Design & Build

Support Partners:

• Baltimore City Recreation and Parks
• Legg Mason
• Bozzuto
• Anthem House
• Solstice Partners