Chesapeake Bay Studies - The Gunston School

By using the Chesapeake Bay as a microcosm, Chesapeake Bay Studies (Bay Studies) increases awareness of the Chesapeake Bay and our relationship and responsibility to the natural environment. Students develop a deep sense of history and understanding of economic and social issues.

Bay Studies incorporates all disciplines in its exploration of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay. A week long program, Bay Studies draws on both outside agencies such as Outward Bound, Echo Hill Outdoor School, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and the Sultana Foundation, as well as Gunston's own faculty to explore the various components of life in and around the Bay including environmental studies, history, and social and cultural influences. Primarily experiential, Bay Studies incorporates field trips, analysis of primary sources, in-depth study of specific topics, discussion, journal writing, lab work, computer analysis, and lots and lots of fun.

Curriculum

First and second year students begin with foundational learning experiences that provide direct contact with the Chesapeake Bay. Students then progress into immersive experiences with a specific curriculum focus. Third and fourth year students participate in seminar-style programs that reach beyond the Bay and connect with professional disciplines.

Foundational (Bay 201)

Oysters for the Bay

This program, led in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, takes students to study and stay on Tangier Island where students research and experience the Bay first hand. Day trips on Wednesday and Thursday further explore the role of oysters in restoring the Bay.

Program Information & Forms to complete and return. View Here

Day Trips: Wed. & Thurs. | Away Overnight: Sun. – Tues.

Difficulty: 3

Comfort: 3

Chesapeake Heritage

How have boats been used to travel and fish the Bay? What is the state of the Chester River watershed? With the past as perspective, students will explore Chesapeake’s natural/human history and culture during a four-night stay on board the Annie D. and the skipjack Elsworth.

Program Information & Forms to complete and return. View here

Away overnight Mon. – Fri.

Difficulty: 2

Comfort: 4

The Bay Report Card

Learn and experience the Chesapeake Bay through a variety of day trips in the region. Students will sail on CBF’s skipjack, paddle with Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, and complete a service project on the Eastern Shore. Students finish the week understanding how the health of the Bay is assessed.

Program Information & Forms to complete and return. View here

Day Trips: Mon. – Fri.

Difficulty: 2

Comfort: 1

Watershed in Miniature

Explore the Delmarva Peninsula and its quiet and scenic waterways by canoe as you paddle key stretches of the Chester River. Students finish the week understanding how the health of the Bay is assessed and experience the Bay firsthand.

Program Information & Forms to complete and return. View Here

Day Trips: Mon. – Fri.

Difficulty: 2

Comfort: 2/3

Forests for the Bay

Led in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, this program will take students to Bishops Head in Maryland’s Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge to learn about the natural history and ecology of this remote area. Day trips on Monday and Tuesday will introduce students to the parameters by which Bay health is measured and the importance of forest in protecting the Bay.

Program Information & Forms to complete and return. View here

Away overnight Wed. – Fri.

Difficulty: 3

Comfort: 3

Experiential Deep Dives

Iron Chef, Chesapeake

Iron Chef, Chesapeake—Food production and farming are critical parts of our local environment. This year’s focus is on the culinary side of the farm to table trend. Be ready to tromp through fields and carry the harvest to the kitchen! Through this experience, students will learn basic cooking skills, cook on a daily basis, and focus on local farms and restaurants around the Chesapeake.

Program Information & Forms to complete and return. View Here

Day Trips

Difficulty: 1/2

Comfort: 1

Green Engineering

In this course students will learn to apply the engineering design process to environmental issues. Students will design and build miniature power generating stations and experience the pros and cons of wind, solar, nuclear, and hydroelectric power. Students will design, build, and launch rockets with cameras to explore our local environment from the sky. They will also have an opportunity to build ROVs (remotely operated vehicles) with sensors to explore the underwater environment. Together, these three projects are intended to inspire students to put their engineering skills to work exploring and preserving the environment.

Program Information & Forms to complete and return. View Here

Day Trips

Difficulty: 1

Comfort: 1

Make/Do, books and the written word

The Eastern Shore is home to a thriving artisan community that is deeply connected to the Chesapeake Bay. During this week students will visit several makerspaces and have the opportunity to explore bookbinding, printmaking, and the written word while completing an innovative portfolio.

Program Information & Forms to complete and return. View Here

Day Trips

Difficulty: 1

Comfort: 1

Fish Biology

Offered in partnership with Sultana Education Foundation, this course will examine past and present fisheries management practices and investigate future strategies for sustainable resource use. The week offers students who love to fish the opportunity to learn more about the science that underlies current regulations. Students will travel to UMCES to learn about sturgeon recover program, participate in citizen science research tagging rockfish, and have the opportunity to camp and paddle near Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.

Program Information & Forms to complete and return. View Here

Away Overnight: Wed. – Fri.

Difficulty: 3

Comfort: 5

Investigating Land Conservation in the Headwaters

This four-night overnight trip explores the western headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay near Shenandoah National Park. Students will backpack from campsite to campsite, carrying all necessary gear and engaging in strenuous hiking. Sleep under the stars, cook your own food, and discover a new perspective on the Chesapeake—from the mountains of Virginia.

Program Information & Forms to complete and return. View Here

Away Overnight: Sun. – Thurs.

Difficulty: 5

Comfort: 5

African American History

African Americans have played a vital role in the history and development of the Chesapeake Bay and the Eastern Shore. Through visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C, The Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center, and various historical places in Annapolis, students will come to a closer understanding of the importance of African Americans in the development of the region and the struggles they faced. A culminating project will focus on local African American history.

Program Information & Forms to complete and return. View Here

Day trips

Difficulty: 1

Comfort: 1

Advanced & Comparative

Capturing Our Sense of Place

Learn how to use audio recording equipment to capture the sounds of the Chesapeake, from oral histories to the quiet sounds of nature. This course will balance time in the field and time in the studio and result in the completion of a semi-professional podcast.

Program Information & Forms to complete and return. View here

Day Trips

Difficulty: 2

Comfort: 1

Islands Out of Time

Offered in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and based on Tangier or Smith Island, students will investigate the threat of sea-level rise tied to climate change. From glacial rebound to the impact of a meteor strike millions of years ago to melting glaciers, factors affecting water levels in the Chesapeake Bay are complex and dynamic. Students will engage in hands-on investigations, real-world simulations, and utilize digital mapping software to understand the impact of sea-level change.

Program Information & Forms to complete and return. View here

Away Overnight: Tues. – Thurs.

Difficulty: 3

Comfort: 4

Climate Change in Urban Environments

Investigate how climate change is affecting urban environments on this hands-on course. Students will measure and monitor the urban “heat island”, explore the impacts of increased frequency and volume of rainfall events on impervious surfaces, and explore the urban jungle. Day trips to Ellicot City, Baltimore, and Annapolis.

Program Information & Forms to complete and return. View here

Day Trips: Mon. – Fri

Difficulty: 2-3

Comfort: 1-2

Comparative Watershed Trips

OBX - Increased Frequency and Severity of Storms -A barrier island system that shares many similarities with the Delmarva Peninsula but has been subjected to a greater frequency of severe storms will provide the backdrop for the group’s study of climate science. The week will include an overnight kayak camping trip, visits to lighthouses, and community service in the storm-affected areas. Away overnight Sunday-Friday. Difficulty: 4-5, Comfort: 3-4

Maine - Explore Coastal Maine’s wetlands and rocky intertidal ecosystems by foot and kayak in this science-focused exploration of the changing coastal environment. The group will fly to Portland and explore Wells and Schoodic Peninsula, in partnership with the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Schoodic Institute. Away overnight Sunday-Friday Difficulty: 3-4 Comfort: 3

OBX & Maine Away Overnight: Sun. – Friday

OBX Difficulty: 4-5 | Maine Difficulty 3-4

OBX Comfort: 3-4 | Maine Comfort: 3

Difficulty Rating

1

2

3

4

5

Day trips, minimal physical activity

Day or short overnight trips, walking/standing for 1-2 hours

Overnight trip, standing/walking for 4-5 hours daily

Overnight trip, standing/walking/climbing/paddling for 5-6 hours daily

Overnight backcountry trip with standing/walking/paddling/climbing for 6-8 hours daily

Comfort Rating

1	2	3	4	5
Day Trips	Day or short overnight trips, hotel, flush toilets and showers	Overnight trip with guest house/motel accommodations	Overnight trip with bunkhouse accommodations, composting toilets, no showers.	Overnight trip with tent/backcountry accommodations & primitive bathroom facilities (or lack thereof)