Join us for a five-day professional learning adventure on the Chesapeake Bay or one of its tributaries in summer 2019. CBF is offering more than 30 courses that will explore the mountains of Virginia, the rivers of Pennsylvania, the islands of the Bay, and many places in between. Learn how to integrate the environment into your classroom and to help your students achieve environmental literacy success.
Registration for 2019 courses is now open.
June Courses | July Courses | August Courses
The following Chesapeake Classrooms courses still have availability:
Mapping our World: Using GIS Tools to Facilitate Meaningful Student Investigations
July 29 - August 2, 2019
Open to educators watershed wide.
Among the world's diverse ecosystems, the Chesapeake Bay estuary is one of the most dynamic and complex. Decades of data collection and improvements in measuring capabilities have made it possible for physical and chemical changes to be documented and understood geospatially. Through the process of Geo-Inquiry, you and your colleagues will get hands-on with one of the latest and most powerful technologies that is on the forefront of these advances—Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Using software that is freely available to all professional educators, we will use GIS mapping software to connect observations we make outdoors to real world applications. Participants will leave with knowledge of ways to incorporate GIS in watershed education and student MWEEs, how to access and use free interactive GIS resources for students and educators, and tackle seemingly complex learning objectives with more powerful observation tools with your students
Length & Location: 5 days total; 5 days/4 nights at CBF's Karen Noonan Environmental Education Center.
Cost: $50. This course is supported by funding from the National Geographic Society.
Credit: Maryland teachers are eligible for 3 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits from MSDE for successful course completion. MSDE Course Title: Chesapeake Classrooms Field Course; MSDE/CPD Number: 15-66-07
To Register: Register online | Register by mail/fax
Pre-Course Orientation will be held on June 15th from 6:00-7:00pm via Zoom.
Chesapeake Gold: Investigating the Eastern Oyster's influence in Virginia
July 15-19, 2019
Open to educators watershed wide.
Imagine the Gold Rush in the “Wild West” during the mid-1800's, but in place of men mining gold, picture watermen on low-decked boats, harvesting mucky bivalves from towering reefs. These watermen deemed the Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) “Chesapeake Gold.” Since the golden age of the Chesapeake's oysters, the watermen's culture hasn't changed much, but the oyster population may never be the same. During this course, the oyster will be the lens through which we investigate the historical, cultural, and technological changes of the Chesapeake region. Between Virginia's Historic Triangle and the Bay's islands, our investigation will include: water-quality data collection, oyster restoration efforts, encounters with watermen communities, and artistic connections.
Length & Location: 5 days total; 2 local investigation days within Hampton Roads, 3 days/2 nights at CBF's Fox Island Environmental Education Center
Cost: $150
Credit: Virginia teachers are eligible for documentation of 45 contact hours for successful course completion. Graduate credit is available from Mary Baldwin University.
To Register: Register online | Register by mail/fax
Pre-Course Orientation will be held on May 22nd from 5:00-6:00pm via Zoom.
Where Does Your Water Go? A Closer Look at Stormwater Impacts on Harrisburg Communities
July 24, 25, 26, 2019
Open to Pennsylvania educators, grades k-12.
Have you ever wondered where the water from your house or even our storm events goes? Join the Chesapeake Bay Foundation on a three-day workshop that explores the issues related to stormwater and our sewer systems. Participants will engage in activities that allow them to explore where their local water goes and how that impacts their overall quality of life, and leave with the skills to empower students to make decisions that will improve the quality of their local water resources and make a positive impact. All participants will engage in situated, field-based investigations and cover current topics in storm water and storm water controls. By focusing on these topics, we will explore local water issues first hand as we meet with local experts. Participants will use maps and charts to gain a place-based understanding of their local community while conducting daily water-quality investigations. Through data collection and analysis, participants will discuss current topics in conservation and management while making connections back to the classroom. We will explore the cause-and-effect relationships between the choices our students make with respect to Chesapeake ecosystems, focusing on ways we can work to reduce environmental impact, encourage sustainability, and foster environmental literacy. This course will empower teachers to connect their school and community with local water issues and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay.
Length & Location: 3 local investigation days within South Central Pennsylvania, Capital Area IU.
Cost: $0
Credit: Pennsylvania teachers are eligible for 30 Act 48 credits for successful course completion.
To Register: Register online | Register by mail/fax
Pre-Course Orientation will be held on June 5th from 4:30am-5:30pm via Zoom.
The 3 R's Revisited: Rain, Riparians, and Recreation
July 29, 30, 31, 2019
Open to Pennsylvania educators grades k-12.
Join the Chesapeake Bay Foundation on a three-day workshop that explores the relationship between Pennsylvania's efforts to manage water from rain events, the use and effectiveness of riparian buffers, and the recreational opportunities that our abundant waterways offer. Leave with the skills to empower your students to make decisions that will improve their local water quality resources and make a positive impact. All participants will engage in situated, field-based investigations and cover current topics in conservation and management. By focusing on recreation, we will experience the natural history and ecology of the Lancaster/Lebanon County area first hand as we paddle and meet with local experts. Participants will use maps and charts to gain a place-based understanding of their local community while conducting daily water quality investigations. Through data collection and analysis, participants will discuss current topics in conservation and management while making connections back to the classroom. We will explore the cause-and-effect relationships between the choices our students make with respect to Chesapeake ecosystems, focusing on ways we can work to reduce environmental impact, encourage sustainability, and foster environmental literacy. This course will empower teachers to connect their school and community with local streams, rivers, and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay.
Length & Location: 3 local investigation days within the Lancaster/Lebanon IU 13 area.
Cost: $0
Credit: Pennsylvania teachers are eligible for 30 Act 48 credits for successful course completion.
To Register: Register online | Register by mail/fax
Pre-Course Orientation will be held on June 11th from 4:30-5:30pm via Zoom.
Environmental Literacy Through Place-Based Learning: Developing a Sense of Place for Independent School Teachers
July 29 - August 2, 2019
Open to Independent School Educators watershed wide.
Independent school educators across the watershed are using the environment to initiate powerful learning experiences within their communities. Immerse yourself in the distinct sense of place that is the Chesapeake Bay while collaborating on innovative ways to use the local environment as a context for learning. This five-day professional learning course models field-based investigations that foster student environmental literacy.
Length & Location: 5 days total; 2 days/2 nights at Christchurch School in Christchurch, Virginia and 3 days/2 nights at CBF's Port Isobel Environmental Education Center.
Cost: $50 resource fee. Through generous support from our members and funders, CBF is able to offer this $1200 per-person course to teachers for the significantly reduced fee of $50 and commitment to complete the final project
Credit: Upon successful completion of all course requirements, Maryland teachers are eligible for 3 MSDE Continuing Professional Development credits (MSDE/CPD Number 15-66-07), Virginia and Washington, D.C. teachers are eligible for documentation of 45 contact hours Pennsylvania teachers are eligible for 50 Act 48 professional development hours. Graduate credit is available from Mary Baldwin University.
To Register: Register online | Register by mail/fax
Pre-Course Orientation will be held on May 13th from 4:30-5:30pm via Zoom.
Theory into Practice—Activating Student Actions Projects
August 5-9, 2019
Open to educators grades k-12.
Students will change the world! Join us for a five-day exploration of local environmental challenges, as we link them to student learning objectives and PGCPS resources. This course will focus on how PGCPS teachers can support student led investigations and culminating action projects, to make a greener, healthier Prince George's County.
Length & Location: 5 local investigation days within Prince George's County, MD.
Cost: $50 resource fee.
Credit: Maryland teachers are eligible for 3 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits from MSDE for successful course completion. MSDE Course Title: Chesapeake Classrooms Field Course; MSDE/CPD Number: 15-66-07
To Register: Register online | Register by mail/fax
Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences from Baltimore to the Bay
August 5-9, 2019
Designed for Baltimore area educators.
How does the quality of water in the urban Patapsco River differ from that of Chesapeake Bay? How do activities in Baltimore communities and the Port of Baltimore impact communities that live downstream? Investigate these and other questions as this course takes you to explore places from Baltimore out to beautiful Smith Island. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) model by participating in hands-on field-based activities that you can take back to your classroom. Learn how to engage students in environmental issues and empower them to take action in their school and community!
Length & Location: 5 days total; 2 local investigation days, 3 days/2 nights at CBF's Smith Island Environmental Education Center.
Cost: $50 refundable registration fee.
Credit: Maryland teachers are eligible for 3 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits from MSDE for successful course completion. MSDE Course Title: Chesapeake Classrooms Field Course; MSDE/CPD Number: 15-66-07
To Register: Register online | Register by mail/fax
Systemic Solutions Susquehanna: Understanding B-WET and Crafting Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs)
August 5-9, 2019
The participants in this course have been recruited by the Pennsylvania Education Outreach Coordinator, the Student Leadership Coordinator, and former Cohort participants. This course has been designed to support curriculum-writers, administrators, formal education providers, and non-formal education providers, and other individuals who may provide leadership in implementing Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) for K-12 students in the Pennsylvania watershed.
Participants in this course will learn the intricacies of designing MWEEs to support student investigation of environmental topics both locally and globally that are of interest to them. Additionally, participants will gain resources and materials to help students identify actions to address these issues and understand the value those actions have in protecting and restoring their local watershed and the greater Chesapeake Bay watershed. This course will focus on developing teacher and administrator skills and knowledge of their local watershed, as well as the practices of field-based environmental education. All participants will engage in hands-on, field-based investigations into subjects of natural history and ecology, while issues of biodiversity, sustainability, and responsible management of natural resources are examined in the context of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Length & Location: 5 local investigation days within central Pennsylvania.
Cost: $0
Credit: Pennsylvania teachers are eligible for 50 Act 48 credits for successful course completion.
For additional information regarding the requirements for participant info, please contact Tarrea Potter at tpotter@cbf.org
Pre-Course Orientation will be held on June 26th from 4:00-5:00pm via Zoom.
