"Remember the excitement you felt, the love, and all the great energy. Take these and incorporate them into your teaching. And don't ever forget these experiences." That's what one teacher wrote to herself in a postcard from a CBF Chesapeake Classrooms experience in recent years.
Every summer, hundreds of teachers, principals, and administrators participate in a CBF five-day professional development immersion course along the Bay and its rivers and streams. In between testing water quality, setting crab pots, and learning lessons to bring back to the classroom, participants write and illustrate colorful postcards to themselves, reminding their future selves of the lessons learned and moments shared out on the Bay.
These were some of the meaningful anecdotes that hit teachers' mailboxes across the watershed a few years ago:
"I will never forget coming eyeball to eyeball with tiny menhaden fish."
"As with every trip, I always remember the calmness of the water, the sunsets, and the incredible starry nights."
"Dear Laura, Thank you for giving me this experience. This trip with CBF reminded me that I love science and all things connected to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed . . . don't forget to sign up next year."
"Every creature/living organism in and out of the bay is connected."
" . . . when we can help others to love the Bay, their education will become more meaningful and we will act on the love in our hearts."
Chesapeake Classrooms is a high-quality professional learning program that meets the evolving needs of teachers and schools across the watershed. Our program enables teachers and school administrators to involve the entire school community in outdoor learning experiences that are aligned with local school system standards. Want to take home a meaningful Chesapeake experience like the ones above—while earning credit? We're still taking applications for this summer! Register now.
