August 2018 Outdoor Education Opportunities at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center

Photo courtesy of Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center

The Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center (CBEC) in Grasonville, MD is offering the following outdoor educational programs this August!

Guided Hikes
Ecology of the Property
August 9th at 10am and 25th at 1pm

Join us for a guided hike on CBEC’s 510 acre peninsula for this unique opportunity to discover some of the natural features and treasures found on our property. A docent will lead participants on a journey to explore topics of Hummock Succession, Oyster Reef Ecology, Salt Marsh Plants, Lake Knapp Bird Residents, Tree Identification, Resident Raptors and many other topics. Most hikes will experience walking a 1.5 mile flat path around the center of our 510 acre peninsula. Many hikes will have a rest stop with restroom accessibility. Participants are encouraged to dress for weather and bring along a water bottle, small snack, and binoculars. Duration is approximately 2 hours. Trips are subject to cancellation due to weather or low enrollment. Check-in and hike begin at the Visitor Center. See the upcoming 2018 schedule to find a topic of interest for you. Check back for udpates on hikes that do not list a topic yet!

Cost is FREE to CBEC Members, $5 for Non Members

Pre-Registration is required as there is a minimum and maximum for this trip: https://www.bayrestoration.org/hiking/

American Canoe Association Level 2
ACA_Close Crop
Flatwater Safety and Rescue Instruction Course
August 10th 10 am – 5 pm

Course Overview: This workshop introduces essential flatwater safety practices and rescue techniques that can be performed with a minimum of equipment, in the first few minutes of an emergency.

Course Content: Pre-Paddling Preparation, Safety and Rescue Equipment Overview , Self and Assist Rescue Maneuvers

Course Setting: Class size minimum of 5 and maximum of 15, 2 hours of dryland instruction, 3 hours of on-water instruction on calm, flat water, Certified ACA Kayak Instructors at a ratio of 5 to 1.

Course Cost: Skills Course: $65 For CBEC Members (Includes use of our Kayaks and Equipment)*, $70 For Non CBEC Members*

Kayak and Equipment Rental Fee: $20

REGISTER HERE: https://www.bayrestoration.org/american-canoe-association-kayak-instruction-programs/

Guided Kayak Trips
August 16th at 5:30pm and August 19th at 1pm

Kayak_Front
An ACA Certified Kayak Instructor and Certfied Interpretive Guide will guide you through basic kayak instruction and then lead you on a paddle to explore the watershed of Marshy Creek. While kayaking, you may encounter wading birds, waterfowl, and migratory raptors hunting the marshlands. Other common sightings include otter, muskrat, terrapin turtles, mating cownose stingrays, schooling silversides, undulating jellyfish and slithery water snakes! If nothing else, the ebb and flow of the tide through gently swaying marsh grass is the sure remedy for nature-deficit disorder! Guided trips are offered two times a month from May through October during the 2018 season. These trips are for beginner to intermediate kayakers and include instruction on equipment, paddling/safety techniques, and loading and unloading the vessels. The experience will give you up to two hours of paddling time with a self-provided snack break at the halfway point.

Pre-registration is required by completing the form: https://www.bayrestoration.org/guided-kayak-tours/

For questions contact: Courtney Leigh at cleigh@bayrestoration.org.

Creepy Crawlers: Pre-School Gardening Program
“Fruits of Labor”
August 20th 10am
Fruit or Vege

It’s harvest time! What can we make with our bounty? Let’s find out!

Cost is $3 to CBEC Members, $5 for Non Members

Pre-Registration is required as there is a minimum and maximum for this program:
https://www.bayrestoration.org/calendar-of-events/creepy-crawler-gardening-class-9/

Learn more and register for any of these programs here.