Field Studies

Field studies coupled with classroom activities are an integral part of Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences. Find a field study program that gets your students' feet wet and hands dirty.

Find a Program Near You

Begin by choosing the criteria for your search. Matching field study programs will be displayed as pin-points on the map below. Click on a pin-point for details about each program. Be sure to scroll through all your results using the "next" button at the bottom of the page.

If you know of a great field study not included in the Bay Backpack let us know by suggesting a field study.

Create Your Own Field Study

Learn how to create your own field study at a local park or on your school grounds.

All Studies by Location
Records: 20

Theme

Level

Length

Organization

Keywords

Field Studies > Habitats and Critters   > culture and watermen  
1 - 20 of 20

Oystering Tour

In this hands-on program, students explore the history of the ‘greatest oyster factory on Earth’, the Chesapeake Bay, and how the oyster shaped the culture, industry, and environment of the Bay and its people. Students will get to learn about an historical Bay where oysters lay ‘thick as stones’ through maps, activities, and giant oyster shells, hear the tales of the Oyster Wars and an ‘oyster gold rush’ in the cabin of a skipjack, and investigate close-up an oyster nurseries’ crabs, fish, and baby mollusks.

Organization(s): Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
Location: 213 N. Talbot Street St. Michaels, MD 21663 (Map It)
Theme(s): Habitats and Critters, History and Culture, Pollution and Pressures, Restoration
Level(s): Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Program Length(s): Day Trips
Keywords: oyster, culture and watermen, restoration
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Ecology Cruise

In this ecology-based program, students learn about the diverse animals, plants, and environment of the Chesapeake through hands-on activities onboard the Mister Jim, our replica buy boat. Students explore the Bay watershed from large to small, starting with maps of the Chesapeake’s waterways and populations, moving to water quality testing, dredging for oysters, and finishing by examining the animals and organisms that call an oyster reef home.

Organization(s): Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
Location: 213 N. Talbot Street St. Michaels, MD 21663 (Map It)
Theme(s): Habitats and Critters, History and Culture, Pollution and Pressures
Level(s): Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Program Length(s): Day Trips
Keywords: oyster, blue crab, culture and watermen, habitat and niche, wildlife, fish
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Stanley Norman Skipjack Program in St. Michaels

The Stanley Norman, one of the last of the Chesapeake's famous fleet of skipjacks, provides an authentic setting to study the Bay's resources. Originally built in 1902, the Stanley Norman is an unforgettable venue for participants to dredge for oysters, test water quality, and imagine what it was like to work on a 65 wooden sailing vessel. CBF instructors utilize activities to deepen participants’ understanding of local ecosystems and give relevance and depth to the classroom curriculum. Our goal is to actively engage students and promote higher order thinking skills by learning through active experience.

Organization(s): Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Location: 213 North Talbot St. St. Michaels, MD 21663 (Map It)
Theme(s): Habitats and Critters, History and Culture, Pollution and Pressures, Land Use and Agriculture
Level(s): Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Program Length(s): Day Trips
Keywords: boats, canoes and kayaks, pollution, land use, oyster, blue crab, culture and watermen, habitat and niche, water quality, water testing
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Distance Learning Programs

If you can't come to the museum, we can come to you through our Distance Learning Programs. We are very excited to offer these programs to people in our region, across the country and around the globe.

Organization(s): Calvert Marine Museum
Location: 14200 Solomons Island Rd Solomons, MD 20688 (Map It)
Theme(s): Habitats and Critters, History and Culture, Pollution and Pressures, Land Use and Agriculture
Level(s): Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Program Length(s): Day Trips
Keywords: pollution, wetland, land use, watershed, culture and watermen, ecosystem and biomes, erosion, forest, habitat and niche, John Smith and colonial times, Native American, sediment, soil and rocks, wildlife, fish, economics
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Maritime Explorations

The Maritime Explorations program is offered as a 1 1/2-hour, 2 1/2 hour, and a four-hour experience for a fee. In all of the Maritime Explorations programs private schools participate in activities focused on the maritime heritage and ecology of the Bay. During the 2 1/2 hour program, students also visit with a local waterman, who brings his workboat to the docks of the Museum. The four-hour course offers land-based activities, a boat ride on a Watermark Cruise vessel, and a visit with the waterman. Schools are provided with pre-programming materials and a pre- and post-test assessment.

Organization(s): Annapolis Maritime Museum
Location: 723 2nd St Annapolis, MD 21403 (Map It)
Theme(s): Habitats and Critters, History and Culture
Level(s): Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Program Length(s): Day Trips
Keywords: boats, canoes and kayaks, culture and watermen, ecosystem and biomes
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Bay Bound, an Annapolis Community Outreach program

The Museum offers a one-to-two hour outreach educational opportunity to community groups from the Annapolis area. Groups visit the Museum, take a guided tour of the exhibit “Oyster On The Half Shell,” and participate in land-based activities focused on the maritime heritage and ecology of the Bay. The Museum staff are also available to visit schools and community groups to provide one-to-two hours of programming.

Organization(s): Annapolis Maritime Museum
Location: 723 2nd St Annapolis, MD 21403 (Map It)
Theme(s): Habitats and Critters, History and Culture
Level(s): Early Learning, Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Program Length(s): Day Trips
Keywords: oyster, culture and watermen
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The Chesapeake Trades

Chesapeake Trades includes one day of pre-programming in the school where Museum staff lead the students through NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Build A Buoy (BAB) Activity using the scientific method. Then the 8th graders spend a full day outside the school on a field trip during which they visit the Annapolis Maritime Museum to learn about Maryland’s oyster industry and business through hands-on activities at the McNasby Oyster Company, visit with a waterman and participate in an oyster dissection. The students also tour Port Annapolis Marina (a Green Business and Green Marina) to meet professionals whose careers are directly influenced by the Chesapeake Bay, take a one-hour boat ride and participate in a stormwater run-off model demonstration and an environmentally focused community service project at the Back Creek Nature Park. The 8th grade students are assessed on the level of their knowledge about maritime heritage and ecology of the Chesapeake Bay through pre- and post-tests. The 8th grade teachers are provided with curriculum to support pre- and post-teaching in the classrooms. The teachers and students receive evaluations to assess their experience with the program.

Organization(s): Annapolis Maritime Museum
Location: 723 2nd St Annapolis, MD 21403 (Map It)
Theme(s): Habitats and Critters, History and Culture
Level(s): Middle School
Program Length(s): Day Trips
Keywords: watershed, oyster, culture and watermen, ecosystem and biomes
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Interpretive Programs

The park offers 18 miles of hiking trails, the remains of sawmill and grist mill are still present and the spectacular view of the Great Falls.

Organization(s): Valley Falls State Park
Location: Rt. 6 Fairmont, WV 26273 (Map It)
Theme(s): Habitats and Critters, Pollution and Pressures, Land Use and Agriculture
Level(s): Early Learning, Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Program Length(s): Day Trips
Keywords: culture and watermen, forest, habitat and niche, wildlife
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Catch of the Day Program

designed to address Virginia's Standards of Learning for Kindergarten through third graders. Every year, over 1,500 students from our region participate. Each classroom involved receives a pre/post visit activity book to help teachers prepare and reinforce the lessons learned in the program. Once they arrive for their Museum visit, students see and touch live oysters, clams and crabs; learn to identify and sort shellfish by type; tong for oysters; and hear about the methods used locally to gather seafood, from those used by the region's Native Americans to the ones used today. Each student participating receives a take-home activity bag and coupons to return free with family members.

Organization(s): The Watermen's Museum
Location: 309 Water Street Yorktown, VA 23690 (Map It)
Theme(s): Habitats and Critters, History and Culture, Pollution and Pressures
Level(s): Early Learning, Elementary School
Program Length(s): Day Trips
Keywords: watershed, oyster, blue crab, culture and watermen, habitat and niche, John Smith and colonial times, Native American, restoration, water quality, water testing
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Baltimore to the Bay Program

Baltimore to the Bay is a one-day combination boat and canoe program that will accommodate groups of 26 to 52 people. Students will explore the mouths of the Back and Middle Rivers, learning of their connection to the Bay. Through combined use of canoes and workboat, students discover the complex relationship between land and water.

Organization(s): Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Location: 501 E. Pratt St. Baltimore, MD 21202 (Map It)
Theme(s): Habitats and Critters, History and Culture, Pollution and Pressures, Land Use and Agriculture
Level(s): Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Program Length(s): Day Trips
Keywords: boats, canoes and kayaks, pollution, culture and watermen, water quality, water testing
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Stanley Norman Skipjack Program in Annapolis

The Stanley Norman, one of the last of the Chesapeake's famous fleet of skipjacks, provides an authentic setting to study the Bay's resources. Originally built in 1902, the Stanley Norman is an unforgettable venue for participants to dredge for oysters, test water quality, and imagine what it was like to work on a 65 wooden sailing vessel. Programs run out of Annapolis. CBF instructors utilize on-board activities to deepen participants’ understanding of local ecosystems and give relevance and depth to the classroom curriculum. Our goal is to actively engage students and promote higher order thinking skills by learning through active experience.

Organization(s): Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Location: City Dock, Randall Street Annapolis, MD 21401 (Map It)
Theme(s): Habitats and Critters, History and Culture, Pollution and Pressures, Land Use and Agriculture
Level(s): Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Program Length(s): Day Trips
Keywords: boats, canoes and kayaks, pollution, land use, oyster, blue crab, culture and watermen, habitat and niche, water quality, water testing
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Fisheries Management Program

Cruise on the Choptank River and Chesapeake Bay to explore how fish are caught for food and test the water quality and find out why it is important to their health.

Organization(s): Phillips Wharf Environmental Center
Location: 21604 Chicken Point Road Tilghman, MD 21671 (Map It)
Theme(s): Habitats and Critters, History and Culture, Pollution and Pressures
Level(s): Middle School
Program Length(s): Day Trips
Keywords: boats, canoes and kayaks, pollution, culture and watermen, water quality, water testing, fish
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Spatuti - Oyster Education Program

Take a ride on the Skipjack Rebecca to learn about the oyster and what an oyster bar looks like by dredging some up with Captain Wade Murphy. Learn about what oysters eat and how they filter water. Then conduct an oyster experiment to learn how oysters filter the water in the bay and make it cleaner.

Organization(s): Phillips Wharf Environmental Center
Location: 21604 Chicken Point Road Tilghman, MD 21671 (Map It)
Theme(s): Habitats and Critters, History and Culture
Level(s): Elementary School, Middle School
Program Length(s): Day Trips
Keywords: boats, canoes and kayaks, oyster, culture and watermen, water quality
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Crab's Life Program

Try your hand at catching crabs with a Trot Line. Find out where crabs come from. Dress up like a waterman and see what he does to protect himself from the harsh elements, in our White Boot Relay Race. Take a 1-hour cruise out on the waters of the Choptank River and the Chesapeake Bay and watch waterman harvesting the bounty of the Bay.

Organization(s): Phillips Wharf Environmental Center
Location: 21604 Chicken Point Road Tilghman, MD 21671 (Map It)
Theme(s): Habitats and Critters, History and Culture
Level(s): Elementary School, Middle School
Program Length(s): Day Trips
Keywords: boats, canoes and kayaks, blue crab, culture and watermen
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Center Tour and River Cruise

The Delmarva Discovery Center is a cultural and natural heritage center located next to the Pocomoke River and is open to visitors of all ages. Visit the Delmarva Discovery Center's exhibits and take a guided cruise on the Pocomoke River with the Bay Queen. The exhibits include Native American culture, river ecology, an aquarium, touch tanks, early trade, the Steamship era, shipbuilding, market hunting, the history of commercial fishing on the bay, decoy carving and sailing.

Organization(s): Delmarva Discovery Center
Location: 2 Market Street Pocomoke City, DC 21851 (Map It)
Theme(s): Habitats and Critters, History and Culture
Level(s): Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Program Length(s): Day Trips
Keywords: boats, canoes and kayaks, watershed, culture and watermen, ecosystem and biomes, habitat and niche, Native American, wildlife
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Kings Landing Park School Programs

Along the shore of the Patuxent River, King's Landing Park has a history stretching back to Captain John Smith's exploration and earlier. Exhibits teach students about the significance of the Patuxent River and the abundant wildlife that depend on it. Hiking trails allow your students to explore the woods and marsh.

Organization(s): Calvert County Parks
Location: Kings Landing Road Huntingtown, MD 20639 (Map It)
Theme(s): Habitats and Critters, History and Culture
Level(s): Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Program Length(s): Day Trips
Keywords: wetland, culture and watermen, forest, habitat and niche, John Smith and colonial times, wildlife
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Battle Creek Cyprus Swamp School Programs

Battle Creek is home to one of the northernmost stands of Bald Cypress trees in the United States. The "swamp" provides an excellent setting for Calvert County students to learn about animal habitats. In addition to the boardwalk trail through the cypress swamp, other habitats include upland forest areas, open fields and a freshwater pond. Inside the nature center, you can explore more closely the mysteries of the swamp through exhibits that focus on the natural and cultural heritage of the area.

Organization(s): Calvert County Parks
Location: 2880 Grays Rd Prince Frederick, MD 20678 (Map It)
Theme(s): Habitats and Critters, History and Culture
Level(s): Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Program Length(s): Day Trips
Keywords: wetland, culture and watermen, forest, habitat and niche, sediment, soil and rocks, wildlife
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All Programs Offered

Naturalists with the Lancaster County Department of Parks and Recreation can provide customized programs on a wide range of nature, environmental science, and history topics to children and adults.

Organization(s): Lancaster County Environmental Center
Location: 1 Nature's Way Lancaster, PA 17602 (Map It)
Theme(s): Habitats and Critters, History and Culture, Pollution and Pressures, Land Use and Agriculture
Level(s): Early Learning, High School
Program Length(s): Day Trips
Keywords: pollution, wetland, watershed, culture and watermen, ecosystem and biomes, habitat and niche, water quality
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The Bay Way

This program is designed to give students an overall view of the Chesapeake Bay. The history, geography, economic development, and industrial growth of the Bay are all explored through an examination of specialized occupations and artifacts.

Organization(s): Mariners' Museum
Location: 100 Museum Drive Newport News, VA 23606 (Map It)
Theme(s): Habitats and Critters, History and Culture, Pollution and Pressures, Land Use and Agriculture
Level(s): Elementary School, Middle School
Program Length(s): Day Trips
Keywords: pollution, population growth, land use, watershed, development, culture and watermen, erosion, John Smith and colonial times, water quality
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Field Trip to Locust Lake

The park provides curriculum-based program on natural and cultural resource issues.

Organization(s): Locust Lake State Park
Location: Locust Lake State Park c/o Tuscarora Barnesville, PA 18214 (Map It)
Theme(s): Habitats and Critters, History and Culture, Pollution and Pressures, Land Use and Agriculture
Level(s): Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Program Length(s): Day Trips
Keywords: pollution, land use, watershed, culture and watermen, stream study, water quality, water testing, wildlife
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