Kids Benefit from Grant To the Annapolis Maritime Museum
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by Beth Crabtree
he Annapolis Maritime Museum (AMM) recently received a major grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for its innovative environmental education program, MUDDY FEET. The program focuses on teaching local students about environmental issues and our cultural heritage as they relate to the Bay. MUDDY FEET stands for Maritime Unbounded Damp and Dirty Yucky Fun Environmental Education and Training program. The grant will provide MUDDY FEET with nearly $250,000 over three years. As part of the program, school children have the opportunity to learn about the Bay and its wildlife first hand through boating and other encounters with nature. Students also learn about the people, both past and present, who work to harvest and process crabs, oysters, and other Bay delicacies, and the contributions watermen have made to our culture. “With this grant, we will reach more than 7000 students over the next three years,” says AMM director Jeff Holland. “What makes AMM unique is that we talk not only about environmental issues of the Bay, but also the cultural heritage of the people working on the Bay. It’s the interaction over time that defines who we are. AMM has always been dedicated to educating visitors and residents, and now with the Education Center at the AMM and MUDDY FEET, we are reaching students in public schools in and around the City of Annapolis.” The MUDDY FEET curricula have been developed in partnership with Anne Arundel County School teachers and administrators to assure that they adhere to county and state standards. “These NOAA grants are not easy to get, especially in these tough economic times. As state budgets get thinner, the competition for these grants gets fiercer. The fact that the Annapolis Maritime Museum is receiving this award speaks to the excellence and effectiveness of the MUDDY FEET program,” adds U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Senate Water and Wildlife Subcommittee. The NOAA grant has been matched by grants from the Chesapeake Bay Trust, the Bank of America Foundation, the Carol M. Jacobsohn Foundation, the City of Follow us!
Annapolis, and funds from AMM members. Corporate partners Watermark Cruises and the Annapolis Bus Company provide substantial in-kind services. This past year, 48 volunteers donated more than 2500 hours of their time, talent, and energy to the program. Holland tells SpinSheet that those volunteer hours are doubly important because, in addition to the good work that is accomplished, volunteer hours count toward matching grants. To learn more, visit amaritime.org.
##AMM volunteer Fred Millheiser with Annapolis Middle School kids.
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