Student Field Programs

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CBF Student Field Programs allow students to connect with waterways and habitats across the watershed, including ones in their own communities.

Kyle LaFerriere

For five decades, CBF Education has provided students and teachers throughout the watershed unique outdoor educational experiences in some of the region's most inspiring places.

Join us for Student Field Programs out on islands, in canoes, alongside streams, and aboard boats. Participants conduct research and utilize their critical thinking skills to evaluate the health of ecological systems. They gain a unique perspective of watershed health by combining a variety of academic disciplines including the science, history, English and writing, art, math, civics, economics, and community engagement. Review rates, maximum number of participants, and minimum grade levels for each of our programs below.

Application & Essential Information

Multi-Day Programs

Located in the heart of the Chesapeake Bay, participants spend three days and two nights on-location at one of our residential education centers—allowing for dynamic opportunities to study ecosystems, culture, fisheries, and economics in the largest estuary in the United States.

Application Opens: April for the following school year: fall & spring.
Deadline: May, Friday before Memorial Day.
Confirmation: July

Requests will be accepted on a rolling basis after the deadline.

Program Max Participants
(students, teachers, & chaperones)
Minimum
Grade
School
Rate
Karen Noonan Memorial Environmental Education Program
(Dorchester County, MD)
22 6th $3,000
Port Isobel East Environmental Education Program
(Accomack County, VA)
30 6th $4,000*
Port Isobel West Environmental Education Program
(Accomack County, VA)
22 6th $3,000*
Smith Island Environmental Education Program
(Somerset, MD)
30 6th $4,000*

*Ferry Information & Fees: For Port Isobel and Smith Island: program rates include the round-trip ferry from Crisfield, MD (Eastern Shore). The Smith Point ferry (Reedville, VA) is available between April 15 and October 15. The Onancock, VA ferry is available year round. The round-trip cost for both the Smith Point and Onancock ferries is an additional $400.

Please note: Multi-day program rates do not include food. You are responsible for bringing food for your group plus three CBF educators (sample menus available upon request).

One-Day Boat Programs

CBF's floating classrooms allow students to use scientific data collection and traditional watermen's techniques to discover the health of their local river.

Fall Season

Application Opens: April
Deadline: May, Friday before Memorial Day.
Confirmation: July

Spring Season

Application Opens: October
Deadline: November, Friday before Thanksgiving.
Confirmation: January

Requests will be accepted on a rolling basis after the deadline.

Program Max Participants
(students, teachers, & chaperones)
Minimum
Grade
School
Rate
Maryland
Arthur Sherwood Environmental Education Program
(Annapolis, MD)
30 4th $400
Baltimore Harbor Environmental Education Program
(Baltimore, MD)
28 4th $400
Washington D. C.
Potomac River Environmental Education Program
(Washington, DC)
30 4th $400
Virginia
Hampton Roads Environmental Education Program
(Virginia Beach, VA)
30 4th $400
James River Environmental Education Program
(Hopewell, VA)
28 4th $400

One-Day Canoe & Streamside Programs

CBF's canoe and streamside programs provide participants a unique and exciting perspective to understand their connection to local waterways and wetlands.

Fall Season

Application Opens: April
Deadline: May, Friday before Memorial Day.
Confirmation: July

Spring Season

Application Opens: October
Deadline: November, Friday before Thanksgiving.
Confirmation: January

Requests will be accepted on a rolling basis after the deadline.

Program Max Participants
(students, teachers, & chaperones)
Minimum
Grade
School
Rate
Maryland
Maryland Rivers & Streams
(rivers of Maryland)
26 canoes/
30 stream-based
6th (canoe)/
4th (stream)
$400
Philip Merrill Environmental Education Program
(Annapolis, MD)
30/60 4th $400/$800**
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Rivers & Streams
(rivers of Pennsylvania)
26 canoes/
30 stream-based
6th (canoe)/
4th (stream)
$400
Virginia
Virginia Rivers & Streams East
(rivers of Virginia east of I-95)
26 6th $400
Virginia Rivers & Streams West
(rivers of Virginia west of I-95)
26 6th $400

**Philip Merrill Environmental Education Program may be booked for a single group (max 30) or double group (max 60).

State Funding Support

Contact the following organizations for information on state funding for school groups:

For questions, see the FAQs or contact us at 800-445-5572 or [email protected].

Support the Chesapeake Bay Foundation

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Save the Bay

Founded in 1967, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is the largest independent conservation organization dedicated solely to saving the Bay.

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