Putting a "big picture" focus on why we do environmental education and organizing a vision for institutional-level work—not just individual lessons on the environment, but systemic prioritization of the work at the principal and/or Board of Trustee level.
The School Leaders Environmental Leadership Program provides high-quality professional learning that meets the evolving needs of school leaders. Through hands-on experiences, content training, resource sharing, and collegial discussion leaders learn how to design a school program that both utilizes and benefits their local environment. Participants gain firsthand experience on the Chesapeake Bay while strengthening their leadership capacity in environmental education. Take advantage of this exceptional opportunity to network with fellow leaders, learn from experts, and explore active inquiry-based instruction. Meet and collaborate with peers while forging a connection between your school community and the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
For more information, please contact chesapeakeclassrooms@cbf.org or call 410-268-8816.
2023 Summer Courses for School Leaders
Wednesday, June 28–Friday, June 30
Virginia School Leaders Explore Whole School Sustainability
Open to all school leaders in the VA public school system.
School leaders, administrators, and coordinators from Virginia are invited to join CBF for a three-day immersive exploration of the Chesapeake Bay and the unique waterman community of Tangier Island. Through hands-on experiences, school leaders will explore the positive effects that environmental education has on mental health and well-being, student engagement, and the development of twenty-first century skills. Participants will design a successful school program that utilizes and benefits the local environment, promotes environmental literacy, and boosts academic achievement. Join us on the Chesapeake Bay to network and collaborate with other education leaders from the Virginia public school system.
Length & Location: Three-day, two-night residential experience at CBF's Port Isobel Environmental Education Center for consecutive days of field-based, whole-group, outdoor investigations. Ferry departs Reedville, VA at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, and returns no later than 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 30, 2023.
Cost: No fee due to support from the Doherty Foundation.
Credit: Upon successful course completion, participants are eligible for continuing education credit or contact hours. See details on the Professional Learning Credits page.
Orientation: A virtual orientation will be hosted one week prior to the course start; link will be provided.
Registration Deadline: June 19, 2023
Register Now
Wednesday, July 19–Friday, July 21
Environmental Leadership for Independent School Leaders
Open to all school and sustainability leaders, coordinators, and administrators in DC, MD, VA, PA, WV.
Individuals in independent school sustainability leadership roles across the watershed are invited to join the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for a three-day immersive exploration of the Bay and the unique waterman community of Smith Island. CBF is partnering with AIMS, AISGW, VAIS, The Gunston School and The Country School to offer a course specifically tailored to independent school environmental sustainability leaders. Through hands-on experiences, course participants will consider how a school’s “environmental mission statement” impacts school culture; explore how organizational structures can support and enhance a school’s environmental mission; and how a school can most effectively design and implement high-impact environmental curriculum and programming to benefit their local environment, promote environmental literacy, and boost academic achievement. In addition, participants will learn how a school’s campus and facilities can serve as an integrating context for environmental teaching and learning, boosting student mental health and well-being. Join us on the Bay to network and collaborate with other independent school sustainability leaders from around the watershed.
Length & Location: Three-day, two-night residential experience at CBF's Smith Island Environmental Education Center for consecutive days of field-based, whole-group, outdoor investigations. Ferry departs Crisfield, MD at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, and returns no later than 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 21, 2023.
Cost: No fee due to support from the Doherty Foundation.
Credit: Upon successful course completion, participants are eligible for continuing education credit or contact hours. See details on the Professional Learning Credits page.
Orientation: A virtual orientation will be hosted one week prior to the course start; link will be provided.
Registration Deadline: July 10, 2023
Register Now
Monday, July 24–Wednesday, July 26
School Leaders Explore Sustainability
Open to all school leaders and administrators in DC, MD, VA, PA, WV.
School leaders across the watershed are invited to join the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for a three-day immersive exploration of the Bay and the unique waterman community of Smith Island. Through hands-on experiences, school leaders will explore the positive effects that environmental education has on mental health and wellbeing, student engagement, and the development of twenty-first century skills. Participants will design a successful school program that utilizes and benefits their local environment, promotes environmental literacy, and boosts academic achievement. Join us on the Bay to network and collaborate with other education leaders from around the watershed.
Length & Location: Three-day, two-night residential experience at CBF's Smith Island Environmental Education Center for consecutive days of field-based, whole-group, outdoor investigations. Ferry departs Crisfield, MD at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, July 24, 2023, and returns no later than 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.
Cost: No fee due to support from the Doherty Foundation.
Credit: Upon successful course completion, participants are eligible for continuing education credit or contact hours. See details on the Professional Learning Credits page.
Orientation: A virtual orientation will be hosted one week prior to the course start; link will be provided.
Registration Deadline: July 17, 2023
Register Now
Wednesday, August 2–Friday, August 4
Arlington School Leaders Explore Whole School Sustainability
Open to school leaders in the Arlington, VA public school system.
School leaders, administrators, and coordinators from Arlington Public Schools are invited to join CBF for a three-day immersive exploration of the Chesapeake Bay and the unique waterman community of Tangier Island. Through hands-on experiences, school leaders will explore the positive effects that environmental education has on mental health and well-being, student engagement, and the development of twenty-first century skills. Participants will design a successful school program that utilizes and benefits the local environment, promotes environmental literacy, and boosts academic achievement. Join us on the Chesapeake Bay to network and collaborate with other education leaders from the Arlington Public Schools system.
Length & Location: Three-day, two-night residential experience at CBF's Port Isobel Environmental Education Center for consecutive days of field-based, whole-group, outdoor investigations. Ferry departs Reedville, VA at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, and returns no later than 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 4, 2023.
Cost: No fee due to support from the Doherty Foundation.
Credit: Upon successful course completion, participants are eligible for continuing education credit or contact hours. See details on the Professional Learning Credits page.
Orientation: A virtual orientation will be hosted one week prior to the course start; link will be provided.
Registration Deadline: July 7, 2023
Register Now
Thank you so much for the opportunity to attend this three-day conference. I took away a ton from CBF, the leaders of the conference, and those who attended. It will be something I will never forget and has motivated me to make Chesapeake studies a priority for studies in my own course.
CBF's School Leaders Environmental Leadership Program is supported in part by the Henry L. and Grace Doherty Charitable Foundation, Inc.
