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Enjoying Nature in Southern Maryland

7/21/2021

Leonardtown, Md.
Looking for the perfect get-away without dealing with the airport? You can find it less than two hours from Baltimore, Richmond, and Northern Virginia in beautiful St. Mary’s County, Maryland — where the Chesapeake Bay, the Potomac and Patuxent Rivers meet.

Nearly surrounded by these historic waterways, the county offers a multitude of parks, historic landmarks, fishing spots, seafood restaurants, cultural activities, hotels and two colleges..

I visited Leonardtown this past weekend when the temperature hit 100 degrees. Even on the hottest day, cooling breezes came off the water as I paddled a rented kayak three miles on McIntosh Run from the Port of Leonardtown Winery to the Wharf at Breton Bay. After some cold water and a snack, I explored the craft and food vendor tables in the park, where tourists and locals gather throughout the season.

Visiting St. Mary’s is a chance to combine a nature trip, geology class, a history lesson, and recreation all in one.

A visit to the Point Lookout Lighthouse captures all those experiences. Opened in 1830, it served the shipping community navigating the Chesapeake and the Potomac.

Kayaking on McIntosh Run

A swan floating in the Chesapeake Bay at Pt. Lookout, Md.

A swan paddles in the Chesapeake Bay, Point Lookout, Md.

Turtle sunning on downed tree in McIntosh Run

A turtle in McIntosh Run.

Point Lookout Lighthouse

St. Clements Island.

During the Civil War, the strategically located waterways became a crossroads for troops and supplies. About a half-mile north of the lighthouse is the site of a former Civil War hospital for Union troops, and a prison, cemetery, and monument to Confederate soldiers.

Wildlife abounds. A beautiful white swan floated in the Chesapeake as people fished from the rocky breakwater. At the Leonardtown Wharf, three osprey sat roosting in their nest. Blue herons flew above us, and we caught a glimpse of a Bald Eagle over McIntosh Run. Turtles sat in the sun on downed trees, only to slip into the creek when they heard our paddles hit the water. Other scenic spots include St. Clement’s Island, easily reached by purchasing a seven dollar ticket for the water taxi. The 10 minute open-air ride from the St. Clements Island Museum takes you to nature trails, fishing spots, more picnic areas, and the Blackistone Lighthouse. Across the Potomac, one can see Horse Head Cliffs and Fossil Beach in Westmoreland County, Va.

Hotels and motels are plentiful throughout the area, with the newly renovated Inn at Leonardtown within walking distance of the Wharf, restaurants, shoppes and local history.

That's my most recent adventure. To plan or promote your outdoors excursion or share your story, contact All Seasons PR to start your journey!

Photos © All Seasons PR

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Earth Day 2021 in the Shenandoah

4/26/2021

Well-worn hiking boots.

Until a few days ago, the last time I wore these hiking boots was on February 22. An icy sleet began to cover the sidewalk as I walked my dog. To be safe, I had strapped on my Yaktrax and stayed on the grass near the mailboxes. Suddenly my energetic four-legged buddy lurched to sniff the grass across the sidewalk.

Restraining my 45-pound canine, I stepped onto the ice and came crashing down on my right wrist. Now, two months post-surgery, I’m wearing those boots again to hike on Skyline Drive in Virginia.

Picture Dog near the Pinnacle Overlook on Skyline Drive

Max near the Pinnacle Overlook on Skyline Drive.

Picture View of the famous Blue Ridge Mountains as seen from Skyline Drive.

View of the famous Blue Ridge Mountains as seen from Big Meadows on Skyline Drive.

On April 23, one day after Earth Day, we arrived at Big Meadows on Skyline Drive, part of the Shenandoah National Park. Climate change is a research priority for the U.S. Department of the Interior’s National Park Service (NPS), which manages all the national parks. Research partners from Interior’s U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are studying how the seasonal timing of natural events is shifting due to climate change. The NPS website informs us about ongoing work to monitor and study conditions in the park. These include:

Phenology monitoring, the study of cyclic and seasonal natural phenomena, especially in relation to climate and plant and animal life: These shifts, particularly an earlier start to spring, have already been observed in the park.
Greenhouse gas research: The University of Virginia is collecting data in the Pinnacles area of Shenandoah National Park to learn more about greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor.
Long-term data collection: The Big Meadows area has been contributing important weather information to long-term datasets for a number of years. These datasets allow climate scientists to predict what impacts climate change will have both at Shenandoah National Park and in the region.

We know from the NPS that “scientists at Shenandoah National Park have measured warmer stream temperatures in recent years, which can further stress Shenandoah’s native brook trout. As temperatures and climate conditions change at Shenandoah National Park, plants and animals may no longer be suited to living in the park. The endangered Shenandoah salamander, which is found nowhere else on the planet, is one such animal that may become a climate change casualty."

Picture Solar panels collecting energy for electric vehicle charging stations at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center.

Solar panels collect energy for electric vehicle recharging stations at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, a USGS facility in Maryland.

A stream supports plants and animals on the Appalachian Trail.

It was too early in the season to see any salamanders, but we did find beautiful streams along the forested Appalachian Trail near Big Meadows.
The salamanders lay their eggs in damp logs, moss, or moist crevices in late spring or summer; one would expect a new crop of baby salamanders by fall. Because salamanders are mostly nocturnal creatures, they would be more likely to be out at night.

This species serves several important ecological roles, including “predation on insects and other invertebrates, soil aeration and influence on soil dynamics brought about by burrowing, and they are a food source to other forest animals. Their predation on insects also influences ecosystem processes such as decomposition.”

The NPS is working with partners to better understand the Shenandoah salamander, which is facing extinction. "Monitoring will further describe the species' range and characterize its abundance. Work is also being done to further minimize local human impact on the salamander, such as hiking and camping. In addition, major efforts are being made to understand the potential impacts of climate change on this rare species," the agency reports.

Picture Two hikers on the Appalachian Trail.

Two of the many hikers we met on the Appalachian Trail near Milam Gap south of Big Meadows. One couple reached their 200th mile that evening.

One can think of the Earth as a network of systems, not separate systems. While we want to enjoy hiking in our national parks, it is important to be conscious of the impact we humans have on the environment, tread lightly on it, and give back to restore healthy ecosystems.

How do we do that while addressing climate change? One answer is to look at our energy sources – transitioning from fossil-based to more renewable energy options. It is encouraging to see solar-powered electric charging stations at parks, businesses, and elsewhere because they represent a low carbon future, except for the manufacturing process. That may be changing, too.

President Biden’s plan to reduce greenhouse gasses that add to a warming climate envisions autoworkers building modern, efficient, electric vehicles and the charging infrastructure to support them. It envisions engineers and construction workers expanding carbon capture and green hydrogen to forge cleaner steel and cement; and farmers using cutting-edge tools to make American soil the next frontier of carbon innovation. The goal is to secure U.S. leadership on clean energy technologies while reducing greenhouse gasses.

As the nation and the world transition to lower carbon energy sources, we all have a role in protecting the environment for humans, plant, and animal life, including the little Shenandoah salamander. For some suggestions on what you can do, check out this article in Green America.

Feel free to let us know how you're protecting the planet!

Photos by Marjorie Weisskohl © All Seasons PR

Reflections: Harpers Ferry National Park, Martin Luther King and the 2021 Inauguration

1/18/2021

Picture Jose Abraham hugs his mom, Aracely. Photo: Timothy Bouldry

The B&O Railroad tunnel at Harpers Ferry, WV, connecting Maryland and West Virginia for interstate commerce in the 1890s and renovated in 1931.

During COVID19, people have turned to parks for exercise and escape. Whether visiting local neighborhood parks or state and national parks, Americans are spending more time outdoors, according to the Outdoor Industry Association. Count me as one of those people.

In the past 12 months, I’ve hiked through the Great Falls National Park on both sides of the Potomac River (Maryland and Virginia), as well as the Shenandoah National Park near Front Royal, the Catoctin Mountain Park north of Frederick, and small towns along the Chesapeake Bay and Hudson River. Each time I returned home refreshed.

Eager to visit someplace different on this Martin Luther King Holiday weekend, I chose Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. It sits at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers and offers stunning vistas of the waterways, the vertical rock wall over old B&O railroad tunnel, cobble-stone streets, taverns and most important, history from the Civil War era.

Of all of the things Harpers Ferry is known for, it is perhaps most famous for being the site of abolitionist John Brown’s efforts to inspire a slave rebellion in Virginia by attacking the federal armory in October 1859. As he said to the armory’s watchman, “I came here from Kansas and this is a slave state; I want to free all the negroes in this state; I have possession now of the United States armory, and if the citizens interfere with me, I must only burn the town and have blood.”

Brown’s small army of about 20 people was defeated by U.S. military within days; some of his men died. Brown and others were arrested and executed later that year for the insurrection. Around the corner was the 1860 election, which saw intense debate about slavery. In April 1861 the Civil War officially began at Ft. Sumter, South Carolina.

The iconic St. Peter's Catholic Church at Harpers Ferry overlooks the John Brown monument.

Picture The dump near Jose Abraham's house in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Photo: Timothy Bouldry

Old hardware store and other businesses. Old stone and brick buildings line the town's streets.

The town center includes an old hardware store, clothiers, bookstores, and a museum gift shop.

What struck me this day at Harpers Ferry was not only the physical artifacts of that era – remains of Brown’s fort and the destroyed armory, the restored buildings managed by the National Park Service – but also the legacy of that period we seem to be struggling with as a nation in 2021: freedom, equality, justice and protest.

My visit to Harpers Ferry on this Martin Luther King holiday weekend unleashed some profound thoughts: I went there to hike with my dog, take pictures, and relax. But the violence at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, where our democratic values and duly elected government were under assault, spoke to me of the symbolism these structures provide of our nation’s history and values. They’re not just buildings. They spoke to me as a new president takes office this week. They’re a reminder of both our history and our aspirations for a better future.

The Shenandoah River flowing past Harpers Ferry.

View from the railway bridge overlooking the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers.

Marjorie Weisskohl, APR,
All Seasons PR

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How to enjoy 90 degree heat during COVID19

8/1/2020

It’s the middle of summer 2020 during Covid19. According to NOAA weather data for Washington, D.C., July 2020 ended with 28 days over 90 degrees. So what’s new about that? It’s summer. Here’s the dilemma we all face: stay inside all day every day, or get outside to try to enjoy what Mother Nature gives us?

There’s no choice, really, as I have to walk the dog three or four times a day. At 6:00 a.m. one morning, it was already 80 degrees and 75 percent humidity. But nature called. Then at noon, it was nearly 100. A short walk to the park, then home. In the evening, with thunder rumbling across the sky, we try to get the walk done before the deluge. This is not easy with a dog who scares easily at the distant sound of thunder, which he hears long before I do.

For a break, I’ve managed to get away for short road trips to cooler spots near the water or in the mountains. During short excursions to the Chesapeake Bay and the Hudson Valley, I wore my mask, kept my distance from others, and wore sturdy walking shoes, welcomed breaks from the outdoors heat and indoor confinement. As you can see from my video, however, not everyone was following the recommendations for masks and social distancing.

We're all looking to get outside. If you have a story to share, send it my way and I’ll help you bring it to life. Stay safe!

For my next blog, I’ll be exploring whether lifestyle changes, like decreases in transportation during the pandemic, have had any impact on greenhouse gas emission levels that contribute to climate change and global warming. Are we merely passive recipients of what Mother Nature gives us or are we affecting it?

Fauci to students: The future of science is with you

5/1/2020

FAUCI TO STUDENTS: THE FUTURE OF SCIENCE IS WITH YOU
COVID19 Underscores Need for Science Education

Dr. Anthony Fauci speaks to students at the 2015 X-STEM symposium. Photo: USA Science and Engineering Festival.

The sixth USA Science and Engineering Festival was scheduled to take place in the nation’s capital from April 24-26, 2020. Instead, the Washington Convention Center, where previous festivals took place, will be converted into a field hospital if needed for COVID19 patients in the District of Columbia.

The festival is the largest of its kind in the country, drawing more than 370,000 K-12 students, parents, and teachers from across the nation for three days of engaging exhibits. It offers the opportunity to see rock stars in STEM careers (science, technology, engineering and math) like Bill Nye the Science Guy, astronauts, pilots, oceanographers, doctors and health researchers, inventors of all types, and even robots. I worked at all five previous festivals and was amazed by their size, scope, and enthusiasm levels.

At a related event in 2015, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, spoke to students at the X-STEM festival on “From HIV to Ebola: Always Expect the Unexpected.” Ironically, this year the nation is combating the COVID19 pandemic, Dr. Fauci is now a household name, and we are dealing with the unexpected.

Although the 2020 festival is postponed, it highlights the importance of STEM to our nation’s wellbeing. These examples illustrate why:

Science –Science is the pursuit of understanding of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experimentation. Some science is purely theoretical and cannot be tested through experimentation.
In practical terms related to COVID19, examples of the conduct of science include studying how the virus affects the respiratory system or interacts with the immune system. It includes developing and testing a safe and effective vaccine. Scientists sequenced the COVID19 genome, its genetic code, in January ([i] [ii]), and since then researchers around the world have been digging deeper to learn how COVID19 functions, how to prevent its transmission, and how to treat its symptoms.
Technology – the tools manufactured or used throughout the process. Examples include developing the chemical reagents to process nasal/throat specimens to see if someone tests positive for the coronavirus, the testing equipment itself, the heart/lung monitoring machines, the ventilators used to help patients breathe, and the technology used to conduct genetic sequencing.
Engineering – the foundational designs for the equipment or how it operates. Engineering skills are necessary to design, manufacture, build, and/or operate things. Examples include computer science, electrical, mechanical, or civil engineering. Think of what it takes to build that equipment or field hospitals.

Math – writing, running, and understanding the computer models. The calculations can help project timelines for various phases of the infection. They can help us understand probabilities and what exponential growth means in the spread from one person to thousands, or how population density may affect the virus’ spread. In turn, we can estimate the number of hospital beds that might be needed, or watch for a flattening of the curve.

The purpose of events like the USA SciFest is to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders, and at a minimum, grow a STEM-literate society with critical thinking skills in touch with societal needs. As COVID19 demonstrates, STEM is critical to our wellbeing, and as Dr. Fauci told his young audience, “The future of science is with you.” Maybe one of today’s fifth graders will find the cure for the next big “unexpected” public health crisis.
[i] https://www.asianscientist.com/2020/02/topnews/china-coronavirus-covid-19-study/
[ii] https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30251-8/fulltext

-- Marjorie Weisskohl, All Seasons PR

What's Your Plan? Next Steps in COVID19 Communications for Small Business and Non-Profits

4/17/2020

What is your small business or non-profit doing to survive COVID19? How are you adapting, and are your communications helping you sustain the business? Join Marjorie Weisskohl of All Seasons PR and Brian Williams of StratIQ Consulting for their April 14 webinar on crisis communications for COVID19 and steps you can take to help surmount this daunting challenge. Continue to follow Congressional action on possible additional funds for the Paycheck Protection Act.

COVID19 Communications for Small Business

3/25/2020

We hope that this video on COVID19 Communications will be helpful to any organization trying to manage its communications and operations during the pandemic, especially small businesses and non-profits. It's a collaborative effort between All Seasons PR and StratIQ Consulting. The fact sheet identifies other resources and upcoming webinars. We welcome your feedback.
Best wishes and stay well.

Puppies & Valentines at the Maryland Kennel Club

2/15/2020

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Monique Hetterscheidt and Yeti after winning first place in the Herding Dog category.

West Friendship, Md., Feb. 15, 2020—Well-groomed and well-behaved, they arrived in SUVs, campers, and motor homes. There was Abby, Benjie, Declan, Firefly, Maestro, Marley, Mattie, Spicey, Theo, Yeti, and others. Some were from Maryland, plus towns in Delaware, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New England states. Was this a soccer or basketball game? A political convention? None of the above.

This was the Maryland Kennel Club, hosting an All Breeds Dog Show at the Howard County Fairgrounds over Valentine’s weekend.

And touch our hearts they did, regardless of size, markings, or performance. Some with big, bright eyes, while others had eyes hidden by long fur. Some waited in their crates, while others enjoyed last-minute salon touch ups.

When I arrived, the Basset Hounds were lined up in the ring, ready to be judged. American Kennel Club standards for each breed are applied to individual dogs, evaluating such traits as the dog’s head size and proportion, its muzzle and teeth, neck, eyes, ears, forequarters, hindquarters, tail (if the breed has one), hair length and color, and gait. To me, just an observer, they were all adorable.

The dogs were organized into seven groups: Toys, Terriers, Sporting, Working, Non-Sporting, Hound, and Herding. Strolling around, I met Australian Shepherds, Border Collies, Boxers, Irish Setters, Dachshunds, English Springer Spaniels, French Poodles, German Shepherds, King Charles Cavalier Spaniels, Mastiffs, Newfoundlands, and Terriers. Other breeds included Borzois (Russian Wolf Hounds), Pointers, and Salukis. With more than 1,500 dogs entered on Saturday alone, I may have missed a few breeds.

Dr. Cheryl Stiehl, a veterinarian from Pasadena, Md., showed a beautiful pair of Irish setters, and another vet, Dr. Kate Bremser from Rougemont, near Durham, N.C, showed Firefly, her English Springer Spaniel. I spent some time with dog breeder/trainer Monique Hetterscheidt and her Australian Shepherd named Yeti, from Ruther Glen, Va., who won first place for the owner-handler competition for herding dogs and Best in Show.

Regardless of whether a dog placed 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or further down, a treat awaited each contestant at the end. The top four in each ring received ribbons and a china trophy with the Maryland Kennel Club logo. The Best in Show received an impressive black and gold ribbon mounted in a shadowbox for display.

To encourage the sport of dog shows with the younger generation, this club provides the junior showmanship event for no fee, setting it apart from other clubs.

If you have a chance to attend a dog show, go and enjoy it.

The American Kennel Club website includes a calendar of events, some probably near you: https://www.apps.akc.org/apps/event_calendar/.

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Groundhog's Day at Great Falls National Park

2/4/2020

02/02/2020 -- Groundhog's Day.

There's a long tradition in the little town of Punxsutawney in west-central Pennsylvania, where people in 18th century black top hats and black coats wait for the groundhog to emerge from his burrow. According to Stormfax.com, "when German settlers (Pennsylvania Dutch) arrived in the 1700s, they brought a tradition known as Candlemas Day, which has an early origin in the pagan celebration of Imbolc. It came at the mid-point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox."

The long-awaited prediction this year is for an early spring, as Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow and decided to venture further outdoors on Sunday.

In northern Virginia, the temperature was in the high 40s/lower 50s, sunny with a light breeze. Not one to spend a beautiful day inside, I decided to venture over to Great Falls National Park in Maryland, about 10 miles north of the Maryland/DC line. The good weather was enough to bring other humans out of their dens, too. Despite the previous day's rain, the ground was very walkable. And, it led to a fast flowing Potomac River.

The video below captures a little of my experience that day. I hope it inspires you to get out there and visit a nearby park. Enjoy!

It's January - Get ready for the outdoors!

1/14/2020

Visitors to the Washington Camping RV Expo, Chantilly, Va.

Visitors to the Washington Camping RV Expo walk the red carpet at the Dulles Expo Center, Chantilly, Va.

It’s mid-January 2020 but you wouldn’t know it from the thousands of people exploring campers and motor homes at the Washington Camping and RV show at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Va., from Jan. 10 to 12. Some came to explore, others to buy that dream camper before peak season arrives.

From the pop-up roofs in vans like the Dodge Ram, reminiscent of the VW’s old pop-top bus, to full size, deluxe motor homes, prospective buyers with backpacks, strollers, and walkers had an opportunity to step inside to see how they’re equipped. And equipped they are.

When driving on the highway, I always wonder what the interiors look like. My favorites in terms of appearance are the small ones made by Airstream. They’re compact, have an aerodynamic design, and are furnished comfortably with double beds, bunks, kitchens with cooking areas and refrigerators. Some have built in showers, tubs and toilets.

The larger vehicles can be quote luxurious. Even Mercedes is in the game, in addition to all the other brands one sees on the road. Sleeping for six, nearly full-size kitchens, fold out awnings to protect your outdoor cooking space, and for those who just cannot free themselves from electronics, space for a large flat-screen TV! Fuel efficiency depends on the model and how you use it. According to the manufacturers, many smaller, Class C camper vans can get up to 18-20 mpg.

Not to be overlooked, the campground reps were there in strong numbers, including several from KOA and a few east of Richmond – Jellystone at Gloucester Point, and Bethpage at Urbanna. Both are less than 20 minutes from the Chesapeake Bay. For those able to handle the sleeping bag experience, many of today’s campgrounds have wonderful amenities. Others rent cabins and are dog-friendly.

To borrow a phrase from Irving Berlin, “from the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam,” camping however you do it is a wonderful way to get outdoors to enjoy nature and see the country. Be sure to take in some of it in 2020!

For more information about future shows, see http://www.gsevents.com/rv-shows.cfm. They are sponsored by Good Sam Media & Events, which produces MotorHome and Trailer Life magazines and their companion websites.

Marjorie Weisskohl
CEO, AllSeasonsPR.com
Inspiring people to enjoy and protect the outdoors.