Join Us
The Friends of Jug Bay depend on the passion, dedication, and gifts of volunteers, members, and donors.
You will be supporting efforts to enhance and preserve Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary and receive great benefits, including free admission to the Sanctuary, lectures, workshops, discounts, and social gatherings.
If you're already a regular visitor and member of the Friends of Jug Bay
Membership and Benefits
Help the Friends Advocate for the Jug Bay Education, Research & Discovery (JBERD) Field Station
The Friends of Jug Bay are asking you to write a letter of support to Anne Arundel County Executive (Steuart Pittman) and Council Members to include the construction of the JBERD Field Station on the County budget.
There are two ways to support this effort:
1. Write a letter to the Anne Arundel County Executive AND your Council Member to express your support for including the Jug Bay Field Station in the County budget. (Download the Template for JBERD letter of support below for for their names and addresses by district.)
2. Participate in any of the public county budget discussions to express (personally) your support for the construction of the Jug Bay Field Station.
About the Board
The business of the Friends is conducted by a Board of Directors made up of 15 members with strong backgrounds and passions in the natural sciences. The Board meets every month to decide how to raise and disperse funds, and to monitor issues that could affect the Sanctuary. The Board of Directors welcomes suggestions from members and encourages them to help with projects and committee activities.
To contact the Board please email info@friendsofjugbay.org

Tor Bjerknes
President

Vacant
Vice President

Elaine Friebele
Secretary

Vacant
Treasurer
What We Support!
The Friends play an active role monitoring local land use changes that may impact the Sanctuary and the Patuxent River watershed. We also work with the local government and third parties to facilitate land preservation or acquisition.
The Friends provide paid internships to qualified university students who are majoring in environmental sciences and related fields. Interns conduct research or develop educational tools and programs under the supervision of a mentor, offering thema valuable opportunity to gain professional experience while contributing to the body of knowledge and resources of the Sanctuary.
Every summer, the Friends provide several scholarships to elementary and middle school students who otherwise would be unable to participate in the science summer camp programs at the Sanctuary.
The Friends assist with transportation costs each year for schools with limited budgets to bring students to the Sanctuary for fun, educational field trips geared toward meaningful outdoor experiences.
The Friends provide financial support for many stewardship programs including maintaining pollinator gardens, river and watershed clean ups, and controlling emerald ash borer and other invasive threats to Jug Bay ecosystems.
Staff and Volunteer Development with this updated one: The Friends of Jug Bay provide financial support for Sanctuary volunteers and staff to participate in workshops and conferences that enhance their professional development and further the mission of the Sanctuary.
The Friends provide scientific and educational equipment (e.g., books, nets, water testing equipment, microscopes) that young school students, research interns, and citizen scientists use to do research and learn about wetland and terrestrial ecology. Equipment funded by the Friends includes books, nets, water testing equipment, microscopes, game cameras, radio telemetry gear, etc.
The Friends have helped fund special projects like renovating a 19th century house on the Glendening Nature Preserve. They have also assisted with financial and operational planning for the Patuxent River Conference and the Explore the Patuxent Teen Paddle.
Annual Reports
The Friends present an annual report at the Friends of Jug Bay Annual Meeting in the spring of each year. In 2020, as a necessary alternative to presenting it at a public gathering, we are making our 2019 annual report available online.