History

Because the commitment begins at home

In 1989, the Gunpowder Valley Conservancy (GVC) began as a grassroots effort to protect the historical and natural resources of the “green triangle” of land between the Big and Little Gunpowder Falls. Our founding members, Ed Stuebing, Mary Frances Shepperd, and Betty Shea Miller incorporated the GVC on December 6, 1989. The simple motto above was created to inspire people to preserve our land and protect our waterways.

GVC’s original logos featured the Jericho Covered Bridge as a nod to our origins and our commitment to connecting people to the Gunpowder Watershed.

Volunteers remain the heart of the GVC. Each year, 2000 volunteers donate their time to improve the health of our forests and waterways.

In honor of the GVC’s 30th anniversary, we assembled timeline posters with highlights from our history. We hope you enjoy seeing how we have grown over the years!

Did you know….

GVC helped create the Gunpowder Rural Legacy Area and Baltimore County Coastal Rural Legacy Area to protect bordering tracts of cultural and natural resources. We also co-founded the Baltimore County Land Trust Alliance in 1997.

GVC’s first volunteer event took place in April 1990, in honor of the 20th Anniversary of Earth Day. 300 volunteers removed 28 tons of trash, including an upside-down Volkswagen car and over 100 tires

GVC volunteers were influential in campaigns to create the Franklinville Historic District and Cromwell Valley Park. If you have ever hiked the trails at Gunpowder Falls State Park, you’ll recognize their distinct hand-drawn maps created by the GVC Trails Committee!

Our Clear Creeks Project has connected over 7,000 neighbors, families, and students to Bay-Wise practices and environmental stewardship activities.