A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS
Scouts BSA is the traditional Scouting experience for youth in the fifth grade through high school. Service, community engagement and leadership development become increasingly important parts of the program as youth lead their own activities and work their way toward earning Scouting's highest rank, Eagle Scout.
Through meadowscaping, participants in our programs become stewards of the Earth and learn to take charge of their future. PURPOSE - Meadowscaping designs and delivers engaging and empowering out-of-school-time with outdoor environmental education programs that help students, grades 2 through 12, experience STEAM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math). MISSION - The mission of Meadowscaping for Biodiversity is to expose youth to STEAM learning while empowering them to address real-world challenges to the environment and our society.
Waltham Land Trust
Founded in 1999, the Waltham Land Trust's mission is to create a legacy of land conservation in Waltham by promoting, protecting, restoring, and acquiring open space. The Land Trust envisions growth in public appreciation of natural resources, preservation and restoration of native habitat, and increased biodiversity to foster a healthier environment.
Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR)
DCR manages state parks and oversees more than 450,000 acres throughout Massachusetts. It protects, promotes, and enhances the state's natural, cultural, and recreational resources. The health and happiness of people across Massachusetts depends on the accessibility and quality of our natural resources, recreational facilities, and great historic landscapes. DCR continues to improve the vital connection between people and the environment.
https://www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-conservation-recreation
Waltham Conservation Commission
The Waltham Conservation Commission is an appointed board of up to 7 local residents whose primary charter is to protect the city's natural resources in a regulatory and advisory manner. The Commission is responsible for locally administering the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 131, section 40). All projects in the city that involve removal, alterations, dredging, or fill within 100 feet of wetlands or intermittent streams or 200 feet from rivers and perennial streams, must come before the Commission for formal review. Alterations are defined in the Wetlands Protection Act Regulations (310 CMR 10) and include, for example, excavation, re-grading, or other ground disturbance; adding impervious area such as pavement or roofed structures; cutting trees or removing more than 10% of their crown; or clearing brush.
CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD, WATERTOWN
The Church of the Good Shepherd is an Episcopal community of joyful believers, where children are full members of the church. We experience Christ in our liturgy,in prayer, in our work for justice and peace, and in each other. We find strength and resilience in the combined abilities of all our members. We strengthen our faith and understanding through formation and community engagement. We take care of one another and our neighbors. We welcome you.
Strawberry Hill Grand Delights is a local confectionery company that manufactures a variety of novelty candies, gourmet chocolates and nuts. Strawberry Hill Grand Delights also manufactures a wonderful selection of maple syrup candy made with real Vermont maple syrup. Highly skilled artisans create beautifully sculpted lollipops and chocolates that are only surpassed in beauty by their delicate and sophisticated taste. Anyone can enjoy Strawberry Hill's gourmet products by visiting www.strawberryhillcandy.com. Custom shaped lollipops and chocolates are available for corporate giveaways, large events and fundraisers. All our products are proudly made fresh to order in the USA.
A message from Strawberry Hill's owner:
"At Strawberry Hill Grand Delights we have an attitude of gratitude towards Mother Nature for all the wonderful gifts she bestows on us. Among those many prized gifts are honey and maple syrup; the sweetest and most wholesome sweeteners.
Maple syrup is derived from sugar maple trees. Sugar made by the leaves in the summer is stored as starch in the roots of the tree. In spring the stored starch is converted back into sugar. Sap is created when the tree mixes ground water with sugar. Incredibly it takes 40 gallons of sap to make just one gallon of maple syrup!
Honey is derived from flower nectar collected by bees in their honey stomach (which is different from their food stomach). Other bees at the hive chew on the nectar until it becomes honey. The honey is thickened by the bees that fan it with their wings. Finally, the diligent bees seal up the honeycomb cells to keep the honey clean.
Not only do bees provide us with wonderful honey, but by going from flower to flower collecting precious honey nectar they perform the essential job of pollinating countless plants including our fruits and vegetables.
Along with other insects and animals pollinators bees are vital to the production of our food crops and medicinal plants.
Sadly, due to the loss of habitat, the overuse of pesticides, diseases as well as other factors the bee population is in sharp decline. Bee colony collapse is impacting not only honey production but also food and medicine production.
The good news is that we all can help the bees, butterflies
and other indispensable pollinators by not using pesticides and chemicals,
planting native gardens and pollinator friendly flowers, providing clean water
and educating our youth on the importance of these amazing creatures that are a
true gift from nature."