Sharing Knowledge, Building Momentum: NDC at the Chesapeake Watershed Forum

At the Neighborhood Design Center, we believe that meaningful change happens when knowledge is shared, tested, and brought back into community practice.

That spirit was on full display as our team members, Micaela Ada and Jenny Smeltzer of our Landscape Design & Environmental Resilience team, presented at the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s Watershed Forum 2025 in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

Their session highlighted a project grounded in both education and real-world application: the Stormwater Management & Green Infrastructure Design Lesson Plans & Toolkit, piloted in Spring 2024 at Central High School with Ms. Anupama Mahajan’s IB Environmental Systems and Society class.

From Classroom to Community Impact

Micaela and Jenny walked attendees through the full arc of the curriculum—from introducing students to watershed concepts to guiding them through a hands-on design process.

The lesson plans go beyond theory, equipping students to think critically about:

What makes this work especially powerful is its accessibility. It invites students not just to learn about environmental resilience—but to see themselves as contributors to it.

Lessons Learned, Momentum Gained

The presentation also created space for reflection. Micaela and Jenny shared key takeaways from piloting the curriculum, including what resonated most with students, where additional support is needed, and how these tools can be adapted for broader use.

Equally valuable was what they brought back.

The Watershed Forum convenes organizations from across the Chesapeake Bay region working at the intersection of environmental protection, education, and community building. Through workshops, conversations, and shared experiences, our team gained insight into:

These learnings directly inform how NDC continues to evolve our own programs— ensuring they remain responsive, collaborative, and grounded in real community needs.

This work would not be possible without the partners and funders who are a part of it, including:

These relationships are essential. They remind us that this work is not done in isolation—it is part of a broader, collective effort to care for our shared environment.

Celebrating 25 Years of Impact

The recent forum also marked a milestone—the 25th anniversary of the Watershed Forum.

The celebration was fittingly rooted in place, featuring oysters (and plenty of shucking) from across three regions of the Chesapeake Bay.

More information: