With Your Family
Explore fun, hands-on ways your family can connect with nature and care for the Chesapeake Bay. From local events and museum visits to backyard adventures and sustainable choices, every action helps build a cleaner, healthier future—for the Bay and for your family.
The Chesapeake Bay’s future depends on all of us—and families play a powerful role. Through simple, joyful experiences, your family can help restore the Bay and inspire the next generation of environmental leaders.
Whether you’re paddling with your kids, planting native flowers, or watching birds from your kitchen window, each moment offers a chance to learn, bond, and make a difference.
Family-Friendly Activities
Make lasting memories while helping protect the Chesapeake Bay. From museum visits and nature play to volunteering and eating local, these family-friendly activities offer fun, learning, and a deeper connection to the Bay and its rivers and streams.
Discover the Chesapeake Bay’s vibrant history, ecology, and culture through hands-on exhibits and immersive experiences. Visit the Chesapeake Children’s Museum and Calvert Marine Museum in Maryland, Virginia’s Nauticus and the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, Delaware’s Overfalls Maritime Museum, D.C.’s Smithsonian National Zoo, and Pennsylvania’s State Museum. These destinations inspire curiosity and connect families to the Bay’s story.
Nurture your child’s love for the outdoors with simple tools like bug boxes and magnifiers, and let them lead the way on nature walks. Try leaf-matching games, backyard campfires (with safe supervision), birdwatching, and outdoor challenges with fun rewards. These moments spark wonder and build a lasting connection to the natural world.
Make a difference together through family-friendly volunteer opportunities and events. Calculate your Bay footprint, paddle a scenic water trail, or support clean water by eating local—buying from nearby farmers helps protect land and promote regenerative agriculture.
Save the Bay at Home
Protecting the Chesapeake Bay starts at home. From reducing pollution and conserving energy to supporting local farms and managing stormwater, these simple actions help your family live more sustainably and make a lasting impact on our waterways.
Air pollution from vehicles is a major contributor to nitrogen pollution in the Bay. You can help by combining errands, limiting unnecessary trips, opting for public transit when possible, and choosing fuel-efficient or low-emission vehicles.
Stormwater runoff carries pollution into local waterways, but simple changes at home can make a big difference. Replace hard surfaces with pervious pavement to allow rain to soak into the ground, and install rain barrels to collect water from your roof for garden use. These steps reduce flooding and improve water quality.
Buying food from nearby farms reduces transportation emissions and helps keep local agriculture thriving. Visit farmers’ markets, join a CSA like CBF’s Clagett Farm, or buy oysters directly from local growers. Supporting regenerative agriculture protects Bay lands and promotes cleaner water.
Coal-burning power plants release dangerous pollution that impacts both air and water quality. Reduce your electricity use at home by turning off unused lights, upgrading appliances, and scheduling a home energy audit.
Household items like oils, paint, cleaners, and medications should never be poured down the drain. These substances can contaminate water supplies and harm aquatic life. Check with your local waste management service to find out how to safely dispose of hazardous materials.
