Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay facts for kids

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay is a special group that works to protect and make the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers healthy again. They are a nonprofit organization, which means they don't work to make money. Their main goal is to bring people together to help the Bay. Their motto is, "Together, we can get the job done!"

What is the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay?

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay helps many local groups that care about rivers. They also hold events, like the Chesapeake Watershed Forum. This is a big meeting for people who work to protect nature and local volunteers.

How Does the Alliance Help?

The Alliance runs programs that connect people to their local rivers. One program is called Project Clean Stream. This is an event where volunteers clean up rivers every year. Another program is River Trends. It helps "citizen scientists" check the quality of water in their area. These volunteers get to help directly with local cleanup efforts.

Where and When Did They Start?

The Alliance was started in 1971. They have offices in Annapolis, Maryland, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, and Richmond, Virginia. The Alliance focuses on three main goals to help the Bay.

Bringing Communities Together

This goal is about getting people involved. The Alliance brings together citizens, local groups, businesses, and governments. They work on projects that teach people about helping the Bay. They also help people talk about important issues and find solutions together.

Connecting People to Rivers

This goal helps people experience the Bay and its rivers firsthand. Programs include volunteer work in streams and forests. People can also help check water quality. Since 1990, the Alliance has hosted "River Sojourns." These are fun and educational trips where people paddle down different rivers. On these trips, they learn about history, nature, and culture. This helps them care more about the environment.

Healing the Land and Water

The Alliance also works on projects to fix damaged land and water. Their BayScapes and River Wise programs teach homeowners and businesses how to create yards that save water. These yards also help stop pollution and provide homes for wildlife. The Alliance has been a leader in creating special gardens called rain gardens. These gardens help soak up rainwater. The Alliance also works with landowners to plant trees along streams. Planting trees is one of the best ways to stop pollution from getting into the Bay. They help with many restoration projects, from planting trees in cities to big river cleanup efforts. They always work with local governments and groups.