Monday, June 04, 2012 By Sarah Fielder - STAFF CREDIT Advertising Students given opportunity to volunteer, learn about amphibians, reptiles     Snakes. Frogs. Salamanders. Toads. Lizards. Turtles. These are creatures that students at North Harford High School may soon be able to study.     Brian Goodman is a Director of Deer Creek Watershed Association, Susquehannock Wildlife and the Harford County Coordinator for the Department of Natural Resources’ Maryland Amphibian and Reptile Atlas project, or MARA.     This research project would be conducted between 2010 and 2014. MARA is being conducted by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Natural History Society of Maryland. The focus of this project is to document the distribution of all amphibians and reptiles of Maryland. The information gathered would act as a baseline for future research programs. It will also be used for conservation and protection efforts.     In April, Goodman contacted schools across Maryland to offer the opportunity to become a part of MARA. Students would volunteer in a region they chose and would document any reptile or amphibian species in Maryland they found.      “I think he just hopes to use North Harford High School as a pool of volunteers to conduct mapping and distribution,” stated Mrs. Laura O’Leary, North Harford science teacher, about what Goodman hopes to use students for the program.     Students  who will be a part of the project would get involved in wildlife conservation, education, and rehabilitation earlier than most people. They would gain experience in identifying any of the 95 subspecies of amphibian or reptile that live in Maryland.     Students would have the opportunity to complete task as simple as going out and turning over logs and taking pictures of what they find, or as complex as logging GPS coordinates taking temperature readings and identifying species.     “I think it would be awesome. Any time you know something about the environment is a positive thing,” O’Leary stated about the program and the opportunity for students to participate.     Students have already expressed eagerness for the possibility of getting involved with the project.     “I think it would be a very good idea, to see what we can learn about reptiles and everything,” stated senior Michael Perry.     In North Harford there are already several environmental clubs that also focus on wildlife, including Envirothon and LORAX. Both of these clubs are currently run by O’Leary.     For more information on getting involved with MARA visit the website at susquehannockwildlife.org/projects/maryland-amphibian-reptile-atlas/.

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