Beginning June 26, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) in St. Michaels, MD introduces its Explore the Chesapeake Series, an adult education program featuring half-day excursions of the Eastern Shore that include hands-on, behind-the-scenes experiences, historic tours, and on-the-water adventures through September. Advanced registration is needed for all programs, as participation is limited.
“These trips offer an intimate introduction for area newcomers, and locals wanting to reconnect with the people and landscapes that make the Chesapeake region unique,” said CBMM’s Director of Education Kate Livie. “It’s like a field trip for adults. Pack a lunch, bring your camera, and spend a day experiencing the incredible, scenic places off the beaten path on the Eastern Shore.”
On Thursday, June 26 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., CBMM’s Miles River Paddle & Island Exploration with the Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy takes participants to the Miles River’s Rauss Island, a private haven for box turtles, osprey, nesting heron, and other Chesapeake wildlife. Participants must be physically able to maneuver into and out of a kayak with ease. The cost is $45 per person with a kayak provided, or $30 when you bring your own. A boxed lunch is available for an additional $10 per person, with participants offered to bring their own lunches.
On Friday, June 27 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., CBMM and Morgan State University Historic Preservation Program Chair Dale Glenwood Green will lead a tour of Easton’s “The Hill” neighborhood, exploring the history and architecture of one of the oldest African American communities in the United States. Lunch at the historic Asbury United Methodist Church will be followed by a hands-on afternoon of archaeology fieldwork, where ongoing digs are uncovering how early African Americans lived as a community on The Hill. The cost is $45 per participant and includes lunch.
On Friday, August 8 from 9 a.m.-12noon, participants are invited for a kayak paddle on King’s Creek in Kingston, MD with the Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy’s Choptank Riverkeeper Drew Koslow. A survey conducted by the Smithsonian Institution identified King’s Creek as having one of the Chesapeake Bay’s most important marsh systems, full of spawning fish, nesting waterfowl, and diverse vegetation. Koslow will guide participants as they explore the marshes and coves. Participants must be able to physically maneuver into and out of a kayak with ease. The cost is $30 per person with a kayak provided, or $20 per person when you bring your own.
On Thursday, September 4, from 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m., the Sultana Education Foundation’s Chris Cerino will lead participants on a paddle through the marshes of Chicone Creek, a major tributary to the Nanticoke River near the historic town of Vienna, MD. Chicone was once home to a flourishing Nanticoke Indian community and became one of the first Indian reservations in the United States. The creek contains some of the most pristine marsh habitat on the East Coast. After paddling, and eating a boxed lunch, the group will tour the on-site Handsell House, an 18th century dwelling and a meticulously re-created Nanticoke longhouse. Participants must be able to physically maneuver into and out of a kayak with ease. The cost is $45 per person with a kayak provided. A boxed lunch is available for an additional $10 per person, with participants offered to bring their own lunch.
Participants must provide their own transportation, with meeting locations determined closer to the date of the program. To pre-register for an Explore the Chesapeake program, contact CBMM’s Education Assistant Helen Van Fleet at 410-745-4941. For more information, visit www.cbmm.org or call 410-745-2916.