CAMBRIDGE — On June 18, more than 20 volunteers gathered at Waugh Chapel United Methodist Church in Cambridge to install a 200-square-foot rain garden. The Waugh Chapel rain garden will divert rainwater running off a portion of the church’s roof. Volunteers planted 173 plants, including blueberry bushes, black-eyed Susans, and 13 other native species. A rain garden contains native plants as part of an attractive landscape element installed in a slight depression in the ground. The garden collects and filters rainwater from impervious surfaces like roofs, driveways, walkways, and parking lots, absorbing it into the ground and preventing it from running into streets or storm drains. Rain gardens reduce runoff, which improves water quality in nearby waterways by reducing erosion, water pollution, flooding, and diminished groundwater. The Waugh Chapel project was funded by Chesapeake Bay Trust and Royal Bank of Canada. Other project partners included Wye Gardens, Kelly’s Excavating, Environmental Concern, the Cambridge Community Garden, and Waugh Chapel. Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the restoration, protection, and celebration of the waterways that comprise the Choptank River, Eastern Bay, Miles River, and Wye River watersheds. For those who would like to get involved in another project in the Cambridge community, there will be a planting at St. Luke United Methodist Church on July 18 beginning at 8:30 am. For more informationrmation or to volunteer, please contact MRC’s Elizabeth Brown at 443-385-0511 or elizabeth@midshoreriverkeeper.org. UPCOMING EVENTS • Rain Garden Planting, July 18, 8:30am St. Luke United Methodist Church, 712 Bradley Ave., Cambridge To volunteer or get more information, contact Elizabeth Brown at elizabeth@midshoreriverkeeper.org • Tour the Shore Paddle Series, Bolingbroke Creek, July 22, 5-7:30pm Explore beautiful Bolingbroke Creek off of the Choptank River and walk the wooded trails of the Izaak Walton League’sBolingbroke Nature Area. The Choptank River has been named a National Habitat Focus Area for its vital habitat. Learn more about this initiative and MRC’s role in protecting this Midshore treasure. • Tour the Shore Paddle Series: Wye Island, Aug. 18, 10am-1pm Paddle up the meandering inlets along Wye Island and hike through the old growth trails. Keep an eye out for wading birds and learn about the history of the Wye River and Wye Island. • Tour the Shore Paddle Series: Robins Creek, Sept. 16, 4-6:30pm Flowing next to the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy’s Lynch Preserve, Robins Creek is a peaceful creek lush with aquatic vegetation. After the paddle feel free to explore the Lynch Preserve walking trails. • Sept. 18, 8am-3pm ~ Ride for Clean Rivers (formerly Tour de Talbot) Start and finish at Chesapeake College, Wye Mills. Cycle on beautiful back roads. Routes include 62-mile metric century, 35-mile ride, and 20-mile ride. All rides are supported with food and drink at rest stops and SAG support. Food, drink and music at the finish line. More information: sarah@midshoreriverkeeper.org • Nov. 11 ~ Wild & Scenic Film Festival in Cambridge (venue TBD) More information: sarah@midshoreriverkeeper.org • Nov. 18 ~ Wild & Scenic Film Festival in Avalon Theatre, Easton More information: sarah@midshoreriverkeeper.org and more information available at midshoreriverkeeper.org.