PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — Calvert County is inviting outdoor enthusiasts to take on the role of citizen scientists by participating in a new time-lapse photography initiative aimed at tracking environmental changes across the county’s parks.
The Department of Parks & Recreation’s Natural Resources Division has installed Chronolog stations at six scenic locations, enabling visitors to capture snapshots of nature’s evolution over time. These stations offer a simple yet powerful way for the public to contribute to long-term environmental monitoring using just a smartphone.
“Chronolog stations are a citizen science tool that helps make gradual environmental changes visible,” according to Visit Calvert County’s website. “By connecting communities with land stewards, Chronolog creates visual records of change in important natural areas.”
The concept is straightforward: hikers and parkgoers are encouraged to stop at the marked Chronolog stations, position their phone horizontally, take a photo aligned with the bracketed view, and upload it via a QR code link that automatically connects to their email. Once submitted, the image becomes part of a growing time-lapse record available to scientists, land managers and the public.
Calvert County currently hosts six Chronolog stations across the following locations:
- Flag Ponds Nature Park in Lusby
- Kings Landing Park in Huntingtown
- Biscoe Gray Heritage Farm in Prince Frederick
- Gatewood Preserve in Prince Frederick (two stations)
- Battle Creek Nature Center in Prince Frederick
“Your photo helps scientists, land managers and the public visualize ecological change over time—whether it’s forest growth, water levels or wildlife habitat,” states a post from Visit Calvert County’s Facebook page. “It’s easy, fun and interactive. Be part of the solution.”
The program supports environmental education and scientific research while fostering public engagement with nature. Photos collected through the stations are compiled into evolving time-lapse videos that show how landscapes transform over months and years.
According to the project website, “Chronolog offers a simple, collaborative solution: crowd-sourced time-lapse photography… The mission is to engage people with nature in an interactive way and to document environmental change for scientific research.”
Each park features unique ecological characteristics and recreational offerings, from fossil hunting at Flag Ponds to exploring the bald cypress swamp at Battle Creek. The time-lapse initiative aims to preserve these natural spaces by increasing awareness and public participation.
To see existing time-lapse videos or learn more about participating, visit: www.visitcalvert.com/3944/Time-Lapse-Stations
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