School Leaders Environmental Leadership Program
Join CBF for a personal outdoor learning experience and collaborate with school leaders from your district and around the region.
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.
2026 Programs
Registration is now open! The following information applies to all courses. For more information, please contact the Chesapeake Classrooms team, 410-268-8816.
Important Information
Important information for the School Leaders Environmental Leadership Program.
Upon successful course completion, participants may be eligible for continuing education credit or contact hours. See details on the Professional Learning Credits page.
The following programs are designed for principals, administrators, coordinators, and other school leaders. To learn about courses designed specifically for classroom educators, visit the Chesapeake Classroom course list.
A virtual orientation may be hosted in the weeks prior to each course start date. A link will be sent to the email provided during registration.
All cancellation requests must be made in writing. Space is limited. If you register and are unable to attend, please email the Chesapeake Classrooms team as soon as possible, so we are able to fill your spot.
Course registration closes on Monday, June 1, 2026.
Ken Slazyk/CBF StaffWednesday, July 8–Friday, July 10
Environmental Leadership for School Leaders 1
Open to all school leaders in DC, DE, MD, VA, PA, WV.
School leaders from across the watershed are invited to join the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for a three-day immersive exploration of the Bay and the unique waterman’s community of Tangier Island. Through hands-on field experiences, school leaders will investigate the effects that environmental education has on mental health and well-being, student engagement, and the development of twenty-first century skills. Participants will develop a sustainable school program that utilizes and benefits the 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. Please note: this course is offered twice during the Summer 2026 season. The courses schedules will be similar, but the dates and ferry departure locations are unique. Please choose the course that best fits your schedule and
geography.
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. The course will begin and end at Smith Point Marina in Reedville, VA. The course activities will take place on Port Isobel. The ferry departs Reedville, VA at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 8 and returns no later than 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 10.
Cost: There is no fee for participants, thanks to support from the Henry L. and Grace Doherty Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Ken Slazyk/CBF StaffWednesday, July 29–Friday, July 31
Environmental Leadership for School Leaders 2
Open to all school leaders in DC, DE, MD, VA, PA, WV.
School leaders from across the watershed are invited to join the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for a three-day immersive exploration of the Bay and the unique waterman’s community of Tangier Island. Through hands-on field experiences, school leaders will investigate the effects that environmental education has on mental health and wellbeing, student engagement, and the development of twenty-first century skills. Participants will develop a sustainable school program that utilizes and benefits the 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. Please note: this course is offered twice during the Summer 2026 season. The courses schedules will be similar, but the dates and ferry departure locations are unique. Please choose the course that best fits your schedule and
geography.
Length & Location: Three-day, two-night residential experience at CBF’s Port Isobel Environmental Education Center for field-based, whole-group, outdoor investigations. The course will begin and end at Somers Cove Marina in Crisfield, MD. The course activities will take place on Port Isobel. The ferry departs Crisfield, MD at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 29 and returns no later than 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 31.
Cost: There is no fee for participants, thanks to support from the Henry L. and Grace Doherty Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Terry Young/Air AspectsTuesday, August 4
Environmental Leadership for York County CTE Leaders
Open to all York County School Division’s coordinators and administrators working with Courtney Gonzalez- Vega.
Explore our ecosystem and discuss career connections at this one-day professional learning experience with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Study sustainability features at the Brock Environmental Center and investigate the habitats of the Lynnhaven River aboard a CBF research vessel. Learn about the fish, crabs, and oysters that call our waters home. Create connections between careers in green construction and natural resource management and our community through hands-on outdoor investigations.
Length & Location: One-day experience at CBF’s Brock Environmental Center for whole-group, outdoor investigations on Tuesday, August 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: There is no fee for participants, thanks to support from the Henry L. and Grace Doherty Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Kathlean Davis/CBF StaffWednesday, August 5–Friday, August 7
Environmental Leadership for Independent School Leaders
Open to all school and sustainability leaders, coordinators, and administrators in DC, DE, 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 discuss 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 while 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 field-based, whole-group, outdoor investigations. The course will begin and end at Somers Cove Marina in Crisfield, MD. The course activities will take place on Smith Island. The ferry departs Crisfield, MD at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 5 and returns no later than 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 7.
Cost: There is no fee for participants, thanks to support from the Henry L. and Grace Doherty Charitable Foundation, Inc.
