Churches hope to explore congregations taking nature back with virtual roundtable Thursday

BALTIMORE, Md. (7News) — Hundreds of faith leaders, environmental groups, grantmakers and philanthropists will gather virtually Thursday for Taking Nature Black, a roundtable to give churches ideas and resources on how to connect its congregation and community to nature.

The Rev. Michael Martin of the Stillmeadow Community Fellowship in Baltimore, Maryland sees the importance of connecting the community with the environment. His church has built a 10-acre forest called "Peace Park" next to the church with trails, a pond and even beehives. At the beginning of March, SillMeadow will open a learning center to help nearby schools like North Bend Elementary/Middle School, Beechfield Elementary and Edmondson High School.

"We have the ability to do experiential learning. Right? And so, we can march them in the building, and then at the appropriate points, march them back out of the building into the 10 acres," Martin said. "We can suit 'em up as we do regularly, in beekeeper's suits and our bee guy can teach them, what the bees are doing and how honey is produced and what that care looks like."

"I have a bird guy and one of the tremendous things that he does is comes over. He catches some birds and he shows the children what an English Wren or Bluejay is about. And one of his tag lines is, 'I didn't bring the birds, I just brought the net', "Martin added.

"And so, these birds, this wildlife, that fox family that's in Stillmeadow Peace Park, they are here and you just need to be aware and see, and experience nature around you. It helps your entire life in so many ways," said Reverend Martin.