Standout Students & Environmental Youth Summit

Protecting Their Future

Standout Students Organize Environmental Youth Summit

Eleventh graders Maddy and Bella Brianas, students at St. Mary’s High School, and Chloe Gamber, a student at Archbishop Spaulding have been volunteering on environmental projects for the past few years. Their interest led them to participate in the Chesapeake Bay Foundation Student Leadership Program. The Leadership Program teaches students about Chesapeake Bay issues and gives them the skills to lead others to take action on improving water quality in their communities. After participating in a summit on the Eastern Shore, Maddy and Bella decided to organize the Anne Arundel Youth Environmental Action Summit to be held Feb 11 from 11am-3pm at Anne Arundel Community College. The summit is free to all high school students and will include lunch for all participants. At the summit participants will have the opportunity to tour the Environmental Center, listen to a Keynote Speaker and join four different panels where students can learn about career opportunities, volunteer options, student organizers, and meet with environmental innovators. The goal is for students to learn more about the environment community and to organize projects at their school and in their communities. Pre-registration is required. More information is available at aayeas.org.

Revamped Grief Programs

Introducing new programs for grieving family members

Chesapeake Life Center has revamped its grief support programs for children and teens to better suit the schedules of families.

Newly Bereaved Children and Teens

Stepping Stones 6-Week Grief Support Group is for ages 6 to 18, but focuses on newly bereaved children and teens whose loss occurred within the last 12 months. Groups will be divided by age and grade level based on enrollment. The group will focus on normalizing grief reactions, teaching coping skills and providing opportunities to remember the loved ones that have died. A social space for parents and guardians will be available each week. A six-week commitment is required. Families have the option to attend on the Pasadena campus or our Charles County campus, 2505 Davis Road, Waldorf, Maryland. Both groups will meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 15 to April 26. The groups will not meet April 5.

Using Art as an Outlet for Grief

Feb 4, 11am - 1pm with Artsy Partsy. Workshop for children ages 6 to 18 will allow an opportunity for grieving children and teens to come together to socialize and feel supported in their grief. Groups will be divided by age and grade level based on enrollment. Understanding that grief has no timeline, this quarterly program is open to everyone, no matter when your loss took place. No artistic ability or previous experience is required. The workshop will take place on the John & Cathy Belcher Campus, 90 Ritchie Highway in Pasadena, Maryland. The cost is $25 and includes lunch and materials.

CREATIVE PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS OVERCOMING GRIEF

Labyrinth Workshop – Join other grievers for an indoors winter labyrinth walk where you will be invited to reflect on the season of winter and the meaning of the winding path for your personal healing. For those grieving the loss of a special person, the labyrinth can be a metaphor for grief's journey but also a place where the griever can find quietude and calm. The workshop will be held at Brookfield United Methodist Church, 12806 Croom Road, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19. The cost is $10.

Pet Loss Workshop – This is a free program for adults mourning the loss of a beloved pet. It will include a welcome, a time to share individual stories, an introduction to the grief process, an art activity to honor your beloved pet, brainstorming and suggestions for healthy coping. Sponsored by Perfect Pet Resort, held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 23 at their location at 840 W. Bay Front Road, Lothian, Maryland. Registration for this free program is required and can be completed at www.eventbrite.com/e/petloss-workshop-sponsored-by-perfect-petresort-tickets-470642553547

Walking Through Grief -- Join other grievers for a free midwinter slow walk through one of the lovely parks in Prince George's County. This walk will focus on developing awareness of one’s natural surroundings and how this can help in coping with loss. This walk is for all fitness levels on an easy trail. The walk will not take place in inclement weather or temperatures below freezing. Lake Artemesia Park, 8200 55th Ave., College Park, Maryland, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13. Golden Healing Retreat -- For many, grief leaves us feeling shattered and broken. Through grief work and healing after a significant loss, grievers can begin to rebuild and redefine ourselves. During this nurturing yoga and expressive arts retreat, participants will engage in yin yoga followed by the cathartic process of smashing ceramics and using the broken pieces to create something new in the form of a mosaic project. April 1, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 1, 90 Ritchie Highway in Pasadena, Maryland, as well as at the Yoga Barn, 44 W. Earleigh Heights Road, Severna Park, Maryland. The cost is $50. Registration is required and can be completed by calling 888-501-7077 or emailing griefinfo@chesapeakelifecenter. org. Visit www.hospicechesapeake.org/ events for a complete listing of in-person and virtual groups and workshops for adults and children.

Top safety tips for exercising outside during winter

In cold winter months it is important to take safety into consideration when exercising outdoors. Matthew Magnante, an exercise author at FitnessVolt, has compiled a list of his most important safety tips to keep in mind when exercising outdoors during the colder months.

Drink even if you don’t feel thirsty.

Many may not realize this, but we are at an elevated risk of dehydration when exercising in colder temperatures. When it is cold, our blood vessels constrict to reduce the amount of heat lost through our skin, as a way of maintaining our core body temperature. During this process a hormone called plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) that normally signals thirst, is secreted at a lower rate than when exercising in hot weather. This explains why you might find yourself craving water less when exercising in winter. Research has found that exposure to cold weather can reduce our thirst sensation by as much as 40%. To prevent dehydration, continue to drink water as you would during summer and opt for a glass of water before heading out and continue to sip on a drink throughout and after your workout.

Opt for polyester over cotton t-shirts

Cotton is highly absorbent which means that as you sweat the material tends to stay wet rather than drying out. Water conducts heat away from the body up to 25 times faster than air, which means you will lose body heat much more quickly in colder temperatures and increase your risk of developing hyperthermia. Moisture-wicking materials such as polyester or wool will keep you warmer because their fibers absorb less water, and they dry out more quickly. Polyester fibers are designed to insulate you even when wet by trapping a layer of air between the fabric and your skin, while the shape of its fibers are designed to remove water.

Stretch before and after exercise

Stretching before you exercise is particularly important in winter, as your muscles tend to contract to conserve heat, which makes them more prone to injury. Try to incorporate dynamic stretches before you head out for a winter run, to increase your muscles’ internal temperature and reduce the risk of injury. Body weight squats, calf raises, and good old-fashioned jumping jacks are effective dynamic stretches that get the blood flowing and increase your core body temperature, before you head outside. Post workout, you want to perform static stretches, which require you to stretch and hold a muscle group for 15-30 seconds.

Cut your sessions in half

Running and walking on snow and ice engages different muscles than running on dry ground, due to the reduced friction and uneven surfaces. Consequently, you are likely to put yourself at risk of injury if you try to complete your regular distance without first adapting to the new conditions. A good rule of thumb when on icy routes is to halve your regular distance until you have adapted to the slippery or uneven surfaces. Reducing the distance between each step will also help to keep your feet under your center of gravity and allow you to recover more easily should you lose your balance.

Let someone know where you’re going

For iPhone users, you can temporarily enable location sharing on the Find My app which will enable family, friends or your partner to track your location should you slip and injure yourself while exercising on ice or snow. For more tips head to fitnessvolt.com.

Cold-Stunning Threatens Aquatic Wildlife

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources asks visitors to the Chesapeake Bay to be vigilant for marine mammals or sea turtles who show signs of cold-stunning or hypothermia.

Cold-stunning occurs in late autumn and early winter when the Bay’s water temperatures start to fall. The cold water can cause immediate impacts making some species become slow and unresponsive, making them dangerous to themselves and boaters.

Cold-stunning can also be lethal to both marine mammals and sea turtles. Annually, marine animal rescue organizations respond to thousands of cold-stunned animals along the East Coast.

Anyone who sees an unresponsive or lethargic sea turtle or marine animal in Maryland waters or on shore should call the Maryland Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline at 800-628-9944. The hotline is manned 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.

“While cold-stunning is a natural occurrence, reporting incidents can help protect these animals and the public,” said Amanda Weschler, coordinator of Maryland’s Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding Response Program,

As a reminder, marine mammals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act while sea turtles are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Harassment, feeding, or collecting these species can result in fines, imprisonment, or the seizure of vessels and personal property.