DNR Celebrates Nine Years Of Raising Horseshoe Crabs In The Classroom
Horseshoe crab release events happening May 11, 23 and 30

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ANNAPOLIS — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Watershed Services Division, in partnership with the Maryland Conservation Corps (MCC), US Fish and Wildlife, Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, Flag Ponds Nature Center and Assateague State Park, is pleased to announce another successful year of the Raising Horseshoe Crabs in the Classroom program. This project is designed to give students hands-on experience that will teach them about a current aquatic natural resource management issue.

“This vital program has taught nearly a decade’s worth of Maryland students to not only respect, but protect our natural resources,” said DNR Secretary John R. Griffin. “Instilling a sense of responsibility toward the Bay on our youth now, will ensure that they will become responsible stewards. We applaud this exceptional classroom program and look forward to its continued success.”

The Field Day Events mark the culmination of months of study for students involved in the Raising Horseshoe Crabs in the Classroom program and is an opportunity to celebrate what they have learned, release horseshoe crabs they have raised, and participate in a host of hands-on activities. At each event, students who were involved in the raising of the horseshoe crabs will visit several stations where they will learn about their life history, how the bio-medical industry uses horseshoe crab blood, the ecological relationship between the crabs and migratory shorebirds, and how to survey and estimate horseshoe crab populations.

The Horseshoe Crab Field Day Events will take place:

May 11, 2007 at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center (Queen Anne’s County) with:

• Annapolis High School (Anne Arundel County)
• River Hill High School (Howard County)
• RICA Baltimore (Baltimore City)
• West Friendship Elementary (Howard County)
• Solley Elementary School (Anne Arundel County)
• Mt. View Middle School (Howard County)

May 23, 2007 at Flag Ponds Nature Center (Calvert County) with:

• Great Mills High School (St. Mary’s County)
• St. Mark School (Baltimore County)

May 30, 2007 at Assateague State Park (Worcester County) with:

• Stephen Decatur Middle School (Worcester County)
  *No horseshoe crabs will be released at this event

Raising Horseshoe Crabs in the Classroom is a DNR program that affords teachers and students the opportunity to better understand the scientific process through the collection of valuable scientific information. Teachers are provided with the raising equipment, an activity guide and horseshoe crab eggs to support the learning of ecological, medical and historical importances of the species. Schools participating in the Raising Horseshoe Crabs in the Classroom project include elementary, middle and high schools in the public and private domain throughout the state of Maryland.

Teachers are required to attend a 6-hour training workshop. At the workshop, they learn about the life history, management, and development of both eggs and juvenile horseshoe crabs. In addition, they will receive horseshoe crab eggs collected by DNR biologists, learn to set up and maintain their aquariums, monitor the environmental and chemical conditions, and review lesson plans. There is still limited room for teachers interested in participating during the 2007-2008 school year! Only 30 new teachers are allowed to participate each year.

For more information on the Raising Horseshoe Crabs in the Classroom project, check out DNR Online http://dnr.maryland.gov/  or contact Janice Hilliard at 410-260-8775 or by email at jhilliard@dnr.state.md.us.

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May 1, 2007

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 446,000 acres of public lands and 18,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov