First Lady Katie O'Malley Participates in Oyster-Reef Building
Activity with Kids at Assateague Park ASSATEAGUE ISLAND, MD
(August 14, 2009) – Today, First Lady Katie O’Malley visited
with kids at Assateague State Park and helped to build an oyster
reef. Two groups of kids were present at the event – Coast Kids,
an environmental education program sponsored by Assateague
Coastal Trust, and Coastal Stewards, a summer youth employment
program. Both programs encourage in Maryland youth an interest
in and ultimately, increased stewardship of the Atlantic Coastal
Bays. “I am honored to be here today and to join Assateague
State Park, Coast Kids, Coastal Stewards and other Marylanders
across the bay in their efforts to increase the bay’s oyster
population,” said First Lady Katie O’Malley. “We encourage our
children to be inspired through the knowledge of discovering the
ecological importance of oysters to our bay.” The First Lady
helped the kids dig holes in the sand to build a structure
composed of concrete that wi