Towne Salute Jim

TOWNE SALUTE

Jim Bogden

Sassafras Environmental Education Center/ Eastern Shore Land Conservancy

By Tom Worgo

Jim Bogden believes strongly in volunteering. He’s done it for more than four decades and it started in 1979 with the Peace Corps in the Marshall Islands. That’s when he first became aware of the effects of global warming. “The local islanders were talking about the increased rate of erosion,” he explains. “It wasn’t long after that

I started reading about climate change and sea-level rise. So, that is something that has been in the forefront of my conscience.”

But for years, Bogden felt hopeless. He didn’t know what to do.

Fast forward to 2020. Bogden joined the Sassafras Environmental Education Center (SEEC), which former U.S. Congressman Wayne Gilchrest founded in 2010 and which operates under the umbrella of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy. Gilchrest has a mission to educate students about the challenges facing the environment and how humans can live compatibly with nature.

Bogden has always been involved in the community. He has volunteered for nine different organizations for more than 40 years. He has found special meaning with SEEC in Kennedyville. The center uses the 1,200 acres of the Sassafras Natural Resource Management Area and the 150-acre Turner Creek County Park for educational tours, maintaining a soon-to-be 11-acre garden and canoe and kayaking outings.

“I would say the most rewarding thing is to be doing something to promote environmental awareness,” says Bogden, who worked most of his career as education project director for the National Association of the

I WOULD SAY THE MOST REWARDING THING IS TO BE DOING SOMETHING TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS”

State Board of Education. “It’s a longstanding frustration of mine that I have finally been able to do something about.”

The 65-year-old Bogden decided to volunteer for SEEC for several reasons, but Gilchrest himself was his main motivation. Bogden, a Chestertown resident, has such an affinity for the place that he passed up two full-time offers, to volunteer at the center about 30 hours a week across five days.

“After he [Gilchrest] left congress, he founded the center to make a reality of what his vision and philosophy were,” Bogden says. “I am a huge fan of his. He is a tremendous guy. I enjoy being around him and learning from him. I see the world in a different and better way because of him.”

Gilchrest describes Bogden as a great, positive addition to the organization.

“Jim cares deeply about environmental issues from soil health to climate change,” Gilchrest says. “He has found a place where he can enhance the awareness, appreciation, and knowledge of children, so they can spend a lifetime being stewards of the earth.”

Gilchrest says Bogden is indispensable. Whatever needs doing around the complex, he’s up for it. That includes cleaning the office, planting vegetables, working extensively in their three-acre garden, moving solar panels around, constantly researching, and briefing officials with articles pertaining to their mission.

“He is willing to do any kind of work,” Gilchrest says. “I can make a long list of things Jim does out here that’s very positive.”

In September, a month after he started volunteering, Bogden took on his favorite task: working with students ages five to 13. He just loves doing it.

Bogden tutors them, helps the kids adjust to remote learning, and takes groups on nature hikes. He was involved with the students three days a week for seven months until they returned to school in April.

“I would say the biggest thing he does is educating the underserved population of Kent County,” SEEC Education Program Manager Kelly-Anne Turner says. “He helps them with their projects and anything they need.”

Bogden also takes pride in assisting with writing grants. Writing comes easy to him since he has authored 16 public school health policy guides in the past 17 years.

“He is not only good at blending his writing expertise and picking out things we might not notice, whether it’s an EPA grant or a Noah grant or USDA grant,” Gilchrest says. “These grants are pretty extensive. He is a great editor.”

Turner calls Bogden the “perfect volunteer.” “When he first started, he would come around every now and again,” she says. “Now, it’s five days a week. He just goes above and beyond. I haven’t met anyone like him. He is just so giving.”

Do you have a volunteer to nominate? Send What's Up? an email to editor@ whatsupmag.com.