Chesapeake Heritage

Driving Question: How have boats been used to travel and fish the Bay?

In partnership with Echo Hill Outdoors School, live aboard two historic vessels, the skipjack Elsworth and buy boat Annie D while immersed in life on the Chester River. Live along the water while experiencing the Heritage of the Chesapeake Bay. 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 the Chesapeake's natural/human history and culture during a four-night stay aboard the Annie D.  and the Elsworth.

Away Overnight (Sunday - Thursday)  |  Difficulty: 2  | Comfort: 4

Nature Experience with Echo Hill Outdoor School

Driving Question: What kinds of ecosystems can be found along the Chesapeake Bay and how do they function?

During lessons on our adventure/challenge course, in our nature preserve and its freshwater swamp, and around the waterways and fields of rural Kent County, participants will experience a ‘eureka’ moment when their classroom environmental science lessons jump out of the textbook and into real life—the foundation of environmental literacy. This program aims to form a practical understanding of the environment based on hands-on experiences, and through them, to help each student grow their sense of self-reliance, confidence, and independence.

Day Trips (Monday - Thursday)  |  Difficulty: 2  |  Comfort: 2/3

Oysters for the Bay 

Driving Questions: What role do oysters play in restoring the health of the Bay and how are they impacted by climate change?

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

Day trip Monday, Overnight Tuesday - Thursday  |  Difficulty: 3  |  Comfort: 3

Forests for the Bay 

Driving Question: What role do forests play in the health of the Chesapeake Bay and how are forests being impacted by climate change?

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, by getting out on the water and mucking around in the marsh. Day trips on Monday and Friday will introduce students to the parameters by which Bay health is measured and the importance of forest in protecting the Bay. 

Day trip Monday, Overnight Tuesday - Thursday | Difficulty: 3 | Comfort: 3

Early History and Geology of the Bay

Driving Question(s): 

1. How have geological processes shaped the Chesapeake Bay region over thousands of years, and what insights do they offer into its environmental history?
2. What archaeological evidence exists within the Chesapeake Bay area, and how can it help us understand the lives and cultures of early human inhabitants?
3. How do geology and archaeology enhance our understanding of the dynamic relationship between humans and the environment in the Chesapeake Bay region throughout history?

Embark on a captivating journey through time, delving into the geological and archaeological treasures of the Chesapeake Bay. Dive into hands-on experiences as we uncover the ancient secrets hidden beneath the Bay's waters and shores, exploring how its geological formations and archaeological findings offer insight into early human history and environmental changes.

Day trips (Monday - Thursday) | Difficulty: 2 | Comfort: 1    *Open to 9th, 10th, and 11th

Survival on the Upper Chesapeake

Driving Question: How have animals and humans survived in the Chester River watershed? 

Led in partnership with Sultana Education Foundation, explore the Delmarva Peninsula and its quiet and scenic waterways by canoe as you paddle key stretches of the Chester River. Students will learn how animals and humans have survived along the Chester River for thousands of years, mixing ecology with survival skills by gaining hands-on experience with fire and shelter building, knot tying and canoeing. 

Day Trips (Monday - Thursday) | Difficulty 2 | Comfort 2/3

The Ecology of Invasive and Native Species

Driving Question: How do invasive species impact the health of the Chesapeake Bay?

Native and invasive species are an important part of the history, ecology and conservation of the Chesapeake Bay. Join staff in a physically active exploration, deep diving into invasive species and their impact on Bay ecology. You will see how invasives interact  and compete with the native species of the Bay. Every day, you will be hiking, biking, or kayaking in a new location, studying a new species, and making connections along the way. 

Day Trips (Monday - Thursday) | Difficulty 2 | Comfort 2/3

Immersion into the Ecology and History of the Chesapeake Bay

Driving Question: What is the history of resource use on the Delmarva peninsula and what are the current and future strategies for sustainable resource use?

Offered in partnership with Sultana Education Foundation, this course will examine past and present ecological practices and investigate further strategies for sustainable resource use. The week offers students who love to fish and explore the opportunity to learn more about the science and history that underlie the nature of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Students will travel all over the Delmarva peninsula to investigate current and past relationships with fisheries, wildlife and land use. Students will camp, kayak, and explore areas near Blackwater Wildlife Refuge and Janes Island State Park. 

Away overnight (Sunday - Thursday) | Difficulty: 3 | Comfort: 5       

African American History 

Driving Question: Whose history is the history of the Chesapeake Bay? 

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 Starr Center in Chestertown, The Harriet Tubman Museum Underground Railroad National Historic Park, the city of Cambridge, and the Annapolis Maritime Museum, 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 activity will focus on local African American history. 

Day Trips (Monday - Thursday) | Difficulty: 1 | Comfort: 1

From Colonization to Globalization

Driving Question: Why is the Chesapeake Bay region so important to contemporary global history?

Over the past 400 years, the Chesapeake Bay region has been central to the major forces of political, economic, military, agricultural, environmental & climate, and social development on the North American continent and beyond. This trip seeks to explore how the Chesapeake region transitioned from its Native American roots to becoming a ‘global superpower’ by visiting Historic Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg, Norfolk & the Nauticus Museum, Charlottesville (home to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello) and Washington, DC. 

Away overnight (Sunday - Thursday)  |  Difficulty: 3  |  Comfort: 3 *open to 10th, 11th & 12th

Iron Chef, Chesapeake

Driving Question: How is food grown, produced, and served in our region?

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.

Day trips (Monday - Thursday) |  Difficulty: 1  |  Comfort: 1

Book Binding and the Bay

Driving Question: How can the written word convey a sense of place?

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 maker spaces and have the opportunity to explore bookbinding, printmaking, and the written word while completing an innovative portfolio including but not limited to watercolor, sketching, and poetry.

Day trips (Monday - Thursday) |  Difficulty: 1  |  Comfort: 1

Into the Wild: Shenandoah

Driving Question: In what ways is wilderness changing? Is the human perspective on wilderness changing too?

Spend five days immersed in Appalachia as you explore Harpers Ferry and Shenandoah National Park, hiking along major geological features such as Old Rag Mountain and Luray Caverns. Students will hike 4-6 miles per day along the Appalachian Trail and learn about the ever changing values, features, and consequences of wilderness in our Watershed. 

Away Overnight (Monday - Thursday) |  Difficulty: 5  |  Comfort: 5

Climate Innovations: Solutions and Adaptations

Driving Questions: How is climate change impacting the Bay? What are the solutions and adaptations in place to help create more resilient communities? 

Explore the ways that climate change will impact the Bay and the ways that various groups and individuals are planning, mitigating, and adapting to the issues. The trip will include more local explorations of Kent Island and Blackwater to learn about how sea-level rise, flooding, and storm surges are impacting our direct communities. But, this trip will likely include a visit to Ocean City to learn about how a major city on the ocean is planning and designing for flooding and natural disasters. The group will also make site visits to learn about green architecture, design, and engineering. 

Day Trips (Monday - Thursday) |  Difficulty: 2-3  |  Comfort: 1-2

Islands Out of Time

Driving Questions: How are the Bay’s islands impacted by climate change?

Offered in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and based on Tangier, 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.  

Day trip Monday, Overnight Tuesday-Thursday | Difficulty: 3  |  Comfort: 4

Climate Change and Agriculture

Driving Question: How are climate change and agricultural practices connected?

Investigate how climate change is impacting  agriculture in this hands-on course. Agriculture is one of the leading industries on the Eastern Shore and as such is a leading contributor of pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. Yet, agricultural practices and engaging with farmers needs to be part of the solution. Students will visit farms, talk with stakeholders, and make connections between climate science and farming. 

Day trips Monday, -Thursday | Difficulty: 2-3  |  Comfort: 1-2

Eastern Shore of Virginia

Driving Questions: How is the Eastern Shore of Virginia being impacted by climate change and what social and environmental factors exist to make the region more resilient? 

Students who join this trip will explore the very southern reaches of the Delmarva peninsula. This region provides students the opportunity to compare and contrast the Chesapeake Bay with the nearby ocean and barrier island environment. Students will experience paddles, scientific collection, barrier island visits, and historical studies in order to understand the relative level of resilience these areas have against climate change.

Away overnight (Sunday- Friday)  |  Difficulty: 3-4  |  Comfort: 3

Portland, Maine

Driving Question: How is the Gulf of Maine being impacted by climate change and what measures are being taken to combat it? 

Students who join this trip will spend the week in Portland, exploring the ecosystem, culture, and economy of the communities lining the Gulf of Maine, a body of water that is facing extreme rates of warming. Students will paddle in the Casco Bay, experience a Lobster Boat Tour (and eventually eat lobster), explore tidepools and hike along the coast. Through these explorations, the group will consistently see the parallels, but also the differences, between the Casco Bay and the Chesapeake Bay. 

Away overnight (Sunday- Thursday)  |  Difficulty: 3-4  |  Comfort: 4

The Grand Canyon, Arizona

Driving Question: How is the Grand Canyon and Colorado River being impacted by climate change and what measures are being taken to combat it? 

Students participating in this trip will spend a week exploring the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. They will hike daily to study the geology, ecology, and history of the region while actively comparing the impacts of climate change on the Colorado River Basin and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The trip includes a tour of Upper Antelope Canyon, a hike to Horseshoe Bend, and a trek along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon itself. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to learn about the culture and history of the Navajo Nation.

Away overnight (Sunday - Thursday)  |  Difficulty: 3-4  |  Comfort: 3