The School Leaders Environmental Leadership Program provides high-quality professional learning that meets the evolving needs of school leaders. Through hands-on experiences, content training, resource sharing, and collegial discussion leaders learn how to design a school program that both utilizes and benefits their local environment. Participants gain firsthand experience on the Chesapeake Bay while strengthening their leadership capacity in environmental education. Take advantage of this exceptional opportunity to network with fellow leaders, learn from experts, and explore active inquiry-based instruction. Meet and collaborate with peers while forging a connection between your school community and the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
2025 Summer Courses for School Leaders
Registration for next summer will open in January 2025. Please check back then or sign up to receive CBF Education emails. To get a feel for the types of summer professional development courses that we offer to principals, administrators and other school leaders, see the 2024 program list below.
Important Information
Course Credit
Upon successful course completion, participants may be eligible for continuing education credit or contact hours. See details on the Professional Learning Credits page.
Cancellation Policy
All cancellation requests must be made in writing. Space is limited. If you register and are unable to attend, please email the Chesapeake Classrooms team as soon as possible, so we are able to fill your spot.
Registration Deadline
Course registration will close two weeks prior to the course start date.
Wednesday, July 10–Friday, July 12
Virginia Environmental Leadership for School Leaders
Open to all school leaders in the VA public school system.
School leaders, administrators, and coordinators from Virginia are invited to join CBF for a three-day immersive exploration of the Chesapeake Bay and the unique waterman community of Tangier Island. Through hands-on experiences, school leaders will explore the positive effects that environmental education has on mental health and well-being, student engagement, and the development of twenty-first century skills. Participants will design a successful environmental literacy plan that is systemic, equitable, and sustainable while utilizing and benefiting the local environment. Join us on the Chesapeake Bay to network and collaborate with other education leaders from the Virginia public school system to develop environmental literacy plans.
Length & Location: Three-day, two-night residential experience at CBF's Port Isobel Island Environmental Education Center for field-based, whole-group, outdoor investigations. The ferry departs Reedville, VA at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10 and returns no later than 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 12.
Cost: There is no fee, thanks to support from the Henry L. and Grace Doherty Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Join the Waitlist
Thursday, July 11
Pennsylvania Environmental Leadership for School Leaders
Open to all school leaders in the PA public school system.
School administrators and leaders in Pennsylvania are invited to join CBF for an immersive exploration. Come and explore the joy of the watershed, network with similar professionals, and learn about the resources CBF has to offer while paddling in the Capital Area. This is a beginner canoe paddle, and no prior experience is needed. Through this hands-on experience, school leaders will explore the positive effects that environmental education has on mental health and well-being, while simultaneously supporting environmental literacy and PA STEELS standards. Participants will engage in discussion about the unique opportunities that immersing in the local environment provides to schools and consider how to collaborate to design successful school programs that utilize and benefit their local environment and promote environmental literacy. Leave with a goody bag of resources to take back to your school.
Length & Location: One full day of field-based, whole-group, outdoor investigations from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. The program will take place in the Harrisburg/Mechanicsburg area. Detailed location information will be shared closer to the event date.
Cost: There is no cost due to the partnership between the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education & Training (B-WET) Program and Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Register Now
Wednesday, July 17–Friday, July 19
Virginia Environmental Leadership for School Leaders
Open to all school leaders in the VA public school system.
School leaders, administrators, and coordinators from Virginia are invited to join CBF for a three-day immersive exploration of the Chesapeake Bay and the unique waterman community of Tangier Island. Through hands-on experiences, school leaders will explore the positive effects that environmental education has on mental health and well-being, student engagement, and the development of twenty-first century skills. Participants will design a successful environmental literacy plan that is systemic, equitable, and sustainable while utilizing and benefiting the local environment. Join us on the Chesapeake Bay to network and collaborate with other education leaders from the Virginia public school system to develop environmental literacy plans.
Length & Location: Three-day, two-night residential experience at CBF's Port Isobel Island Environmental Education Center for field-based, whole-group, outdoor investigations. The ferry departs Reedville, VA at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 17 and returns no later than 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 19.
Cost: There is no fee, thanks to support from the Henry L. and Grace Doherty Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Join the Waitlist
Wednesday, July 24–Friday, July 26
Environmental Leadership for Independent School Leaders
Open to all school and sustainability leaders, coordinators, and administrators in DC, MD, VA, PA, WV.
Individuals in independent school sustainability leadership roles across the watershed are invited to join the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for a three-day immersive exploration of the Bay and the unique waterman community of Tangier Island. CBF is partnering with AIMS, AISGW, VAIS, The Gunston School and The Country School to offer a course specifically tailored to independent school environmental sustainability leaders. Through hands-on experiences, course participants will consider how a school's "environmental mission statement" impacts school culture; explore how organizational structures can support and enhance a school's environmental mission; and how a school can most effectively design and implement high-impact environmental curriculum and programming to benefit their local environment, promote environmental literacy, and boost academic achievement. In addition, participants will learn how a school's campus and facilities can serve as an integrating context for environmental teaching and learning while boosting student mental health and well-being. Join us on the Bay to network and collaborate with other independent school sustainability leaders from around the watershed.
Length & Location: Three-day, two-night residential experience at CBF's Port Isobel Island Environmental Education Center for field-based, whole-group, outdoor investigations. The ferry departs Crisfield, MD at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24 and returns no later than 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 26.
Cost: There is no fee, thanks to support from the Henry L. and Grace Doherty Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Join the Waitlist
Wednesday, July 31–Friday, August 2
School Leaders Explore Sustainability
Open to all school leaders and administrators in DC, MD, VA, PA, WV.
School leaders across the watershed are invited to join the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for a three-day exploration of the Bay and the unique waterman’s community of Tangier Island. Through hands-on field experiences, school leaders will investigate the effects that environmental education has on mental health and wellbeing, student engagement, and the development of twenty-first century skills. Participants will begin planning a school program that utilizes and benefits their local environment, promotes environmental literacy, and boosts academic achievement. Join us on the Bay to network and collaborate with other education leaders from around the watershed.
Length & Location: Three-day, two-night residential experience at CBF's Port Isobel Island Environmental Education Center for field-based, whole-group, outdoor investigations. The ferry departs Crisfield, MD at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31 and returns no later than 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 2.
Cost: There is no fee, thanks to support from the Henry L. and Grace Doherty Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Join the Waitlist
