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Meet the Team
our education services
The Port of Baltimore provides environmental education and outreach for learners of all ages throughout the state. Our education team provides in-classroom education, field trips, community outreach, and educational support at no cost to schools or the community.
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Laura Baker
OUTREACH & EDUCATION COORDINATOR
Laura has worked for MES since 2010, and has overseen the tremendous growth of the education team and the TERP Program. She has experience in both formal classroom education and as an environmental educator, and is a MAEOE certified environmental educator. Laura is a MAEOE "Green Leader" and is passionate about helping schools become recognized Green Schools.
katrina jones
MD PORT ADMINISTRATION OUTREACH COORDINATOR
Katrina Jones is the outreach coordinator for the Maryland Port Administration's dredging program where she works to build diverse stakeholder engagement and maintain partnerships for enhancing the public's knowledge and support of the State of Maryland's dredged material management program. Katrina also co-chairs the Baltimore Port Alliance's Education and Outreach Committee. She is a graduate of Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Communications.
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Emily Sperling
SENIOR OUTREACH & EDUCATION SPECIALIST
Mary has worked for MES since 2017. She is the TERP Program coordinator and an experienced environmental educator with more than five years of work teaching on Maryland's Eastern Shore. She is currently working toward a M.S. in Ecological Restoration from the University of Florida. Mary has a special interest in providing valuable outdoor education experiences for students, and in developing creative new education content.
kristina motley
SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST
Kristina has worked for MES since 2018. She is one of the Poplar Island tour coordinators and facilitates onsite tours and education at Poplar Island. Kristina has a background in informal science and environmental education, and is currently working on a graduate program in GIS (geographic information systems) from Pennsylvania State University. Kristina has a special interest in birding, wildlife photography, creating meaningful learning exhibits for Poplar visitors, and developing new education content.
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Beth Ross
OUTREACH &
EDUCATION SPECIALIST
Caitlin has worked for MES since 2018. She has a bachelors degree in environmental studies and graphic design from McDaniel College, and is working on a M.S. in Environmental Science from Johns Hopkins University. Caitlin has a special interest in outdoor field studies and GIS. She has taken additional courses in fish ID, and enjoys leading outdoor activities with kids including seining and water quality assessments.
ryland taylor
ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST
Ryland has worked for MES since 2018. Along with Kristina, she coordinates tour scheduling for Poplar Island and facilitates onsite tours and education. Ryland has a M.S. in Biology from Kansas State University where she wrote her thesis on Striped Bass (aka Rockfish. She has substantial research and field experience in addition to her experience in outdoor and environmental education. Ryland has a special interest in fish, wildlife photography, and bird puns.
poplar island
TALBOT COUNTY, MD
1140 acres of restored remote island habitat in the Chesapeake Bay
Home of the award-winning Paul S. Sarbanes Ecosystem Restoration Project
Tours include boat transportation and driving tours of the island for up to 24 people
hart-miller island
BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD
1140 acres of restored island habitat in the Patapsco River
Home to Hart-Miller Island State Park, which offers a sandy beach, camping, and five miles of trails
Tours include boat transportation and driving tours of the island for up to 20 people
Activity options include seining, field science, nature exploration, and more
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masonville cove
BALTIMORE, MD
52 acres of restored wildlife habitat
Home to the nation's first Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership
Home to renowned trash interceptor Captain Trash Wheel
Tours include opportunities to visit the site education center, do a driving tour of the DMCF, and explore the restored outdoor areas
cox creek
marine terminal tours
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your event or classroom
COMING SOON!
BALTIMORE, MD
THROUGHOUT MARYLAND
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD
Are you unable to visit one of our sites but still interested in learning about the Port and its environmental initiatives? Our educators travel throughout the state, leading lessons, serving as guest speakers, and presenting at exhibits.
We can participate in you community event, bring lessons to your classroom, provide presentations to your community group, and more.
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We work with learners of all ages, and can bring our traveling terrapin ambassadors with us.
11 acres of restored wetlands
Consistently named one of Maryland's top birding "hot spots"
Activity options include fish seining, outdoor field science, birding, nature exploration, and more
Cox Creek is temporarily closed to visitors while the site is under construction-- it will reopen with increased visitor features, including new trails and education opportunities
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Driving tours of the terminal space at one of the nation's most prominent ports
Tours include opportunities to learn about shipping and transportation logistics, careers, and more
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meet the
education team
The environmental education team has more than 25 years of combined experience providing classroom and environmental education about Maryland's ecology and wildlife. We're passionate, creative, committed, and always excited to work with new schools, students, and communities.
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about our
organizations
MES provides education and outreach
on behalf of the Port of Baltimore. Our educators provide lessons about the Port's history, significance, and environmental initiatives throughout Maryland.
Established in 1970, MES is the 25th largest business by revenue in the Baltimore area, operating over 1,000 environmental projects and services across Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region. It employs over 850 teammates. A not-for-profit business unit of the state of Maryland, MES enhances and protects the environment through innovative solutions to the region’s most complex environmental challenges. MES combines public sector commitment with private sector flexibility and responsiveness. MES receives no direct operations funding from the state and does not have regulatory authority.
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MES' environmental services include major projects in recycling, solid waste management, stormwater, water, and waste water treatment, GIS, and dredging and restoration. The dredging and restoration department works with the Port of Baltimore to provide restoration and conservation services as well as day-to-day management at major restoration sites in Maryland. Outreach and education are another major part of MES' work in dredging and restoration, and help to build community support and engagement for the many meaningful restoration projects the Port and MES work on.
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The Port of Baltimore has been a major economic force in Maryland for over three hundred years. Founded in 1706, the Port offers easy access to the Chesapeake Bay via the Patapsco River.
Today, business at the Port of Baltimore generates about 13,650 direct jobs and over 127,000 jobs in Maryland are linked to Port activities. The Port is responsible for nearly $3 billion in personal wages and salary, and it generates $310 million in state and local tax revenue. About 2,000 cargo vessels and cruise ships call on the Port of Baltimore annually, making it one of the nation's busiest ports.
The Maryland Port Administration (MPA) works to ensure that vessels traveling to and from Baltimore have safe, navigable channels. MPA is also committed to environmental stewardship. The sediment dredged from these channels is playing an important part in restoring valuable habitat in the Chesapeake Bay, and MPA promotes environmental literacy through outreach and education efforts across Maryland.