Field Trips

Chesapeake Bay is one of the most beautiful estuaries in the world, so while you’re in Annapolis for WSC2022 and ISBW14, we want to make sure you see some of our favorite places. We’re offering several day-long field trip options to sites around the Bay – some remote, some urban. Field trips will take place on 10 August 2022 and depart from the conference hotel at approximately 8:00 am, although times for each may vary. These field trips are included in the price of your registration. Lunch and transportation are provided, but be sure to bring your own sunscreen, hat, and any other items mentioned in the workshop descriptions!

Review the field trip descriptions below so that you can select your preference during registration. Tours are weather dependent and will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

PLEASE NOTE: Most of the field trips are full but we are adding field trips as registration numbers increase to ensure that everyone has an option. The sooner you register, the more options you'll have!

• Poplar Island - Boat and Bus Tour

  Poplar Island is a restored island located in the mid-Chesapeake Bay. Over the centuries, all but a few acres were lost to sea level rise and erosion, spurring the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to lead a large-scale restoration of the island using dredged material collected from the approach channels to the Baltimore Harbor.

  Since its reconstruction began in 1998, Poplar Island has grown to approximately 1500 acres of mixed wetland and upland. The island now provides beneficial use for dredged material while restoring valuable remote island habitat for sensitive species. Construction of wetland habitat has provided a home to a wide variety of birds, including 38 nesting species, such as the American Oystercatcher, Glossy Ibis, Snowy Egret, Least Tern, and Common Tern. Poplar Island also hosts a thriving Diamondback Terrapin population with as many as 1,400 terrapins hatched onsite in a single year. Chesapeake Bay biologists consider Poplar Island's restoration to be a huge success for the diamondback terrapins, a brackish water turtle — and Maryland's “official state reptile.” Terrapins started laying eggs on the island almost as soon as construction workers started building the sand berms and beaches, and the island now hosts the nation's largest terrapin research and propagation project.

  This field trip will include two 30-minute boat rides to and from the Tilghman Island land-base dock to Poplar Island. On-island, participants will enjoy a 2-hour bus tour with stops at points of interest. The tour guide will discuss a variety of topics pertaining to Poplar Island, including the beneficial use of dredged materials for habitat restoration, salt-marsh habitat, SAV habitat, island history, and construction timeline. If the weather cooperates, we'll also take a small-boat excursion to Harbor Cove to visit one of the island's reference SAV monitoring sites. This area generally supports dense beds of Ruppia maritima.

  Following the excursion to Poplar Island, participants will be taken to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in the picturesque town of St. Michaels, MD, where they'll have lunch and an opportunity to roam around the museum for an hour or so before heading back to Annapolis.

  Instructions for Participants:

  • Departure Time from The Graduate: 7:00 AM EDT - Please be at the main entrance to the hotel and ready to board the bus promptly at 7:00 AM EDT.
  • All participants on this trip MUST wear closed-toe shoes. No flip-flops or sandals.
  • Participants are encouraged to bring their own re-usable water bottle, but water will be provided on the bus if needed.
  • Lunch will be provided. Available lunches will be based on the participant's dietary needs indicated on their registration.
  • This trip is scheduled to return to The Graduate by 4:00 PM EDT.

  
• Assateague Island - Kayak Trip

  Join us for a tour of one of Maryland’s most treasured destinations – Assateague Island. Assateague is a 37-mile long barrier island and home to Maryland’s iconic wild horses, which we’ll hope to see during the excursion. The trip will include an approximately 2.5-3 hour long kayak paddle from Assateague Outfitters into Sinepuxent Bay over lovely SAV beds. Aside from its horses, Assateague is also well known for its colonial nesting bird habitats. Consider bringing binoculars along on this trip so that you can see the egrets, brown pelicans, herons, commons terns, and black skimmers that call Assateague home. Participants may also have an opportunity to snorkel, so please bring snorkel gear and wear a swimsuit if you'd like to get in the water. The paddle will be followed by a late-lunch hosted by and at Maryland's Coastal Bays Association in Berlin, MD.

  Instructions for Participants:

  • UPDATE: Departure Time from The Graduate: 7:00 AM EDT - Please be at the main entrance to the hotel and ready to board the bus promptly at 7:30 AM EDT.
  • All participants on this trip should wear a swimsuit or clothing appropriate for getting wet and bring a towel and change of clothes for the bus ride back to the hotel.
  • Participants should bring and wear sunscreen and bug-repellant, and are encouraged to bring binoculars to see the colonial nesting birds and snorkel gear if you'd like to snorkel.
  • Participants are encouraged to bring their own re-usable water bottle, but water will be provided on the bus if needed. Because this is an early departure trip and lunch won't be until 2:30 PM, snacks will be available on the bus on way to Assateague. We encourage you to have breakfast before departure.
  • Lunch will be provided by the MD Coastal Bays Association at their facility a few minutes from the beach in Berlin, MD. Available lunches will be based on the participant's dietary needs indicated on their registration.
  • This trip is scheduled to return to The Graduate by 6:00 PM EDT.

  
• Susquehanna Flats SAV Adventure - Boat and Snorkel Tour

  The Susquehanna Flats are home to one of the largest and most iconic beds of SAV in the Chesapeake Bay. During this field trip, participants will take a bus to Havre de Grace, Maryland, a quaint little town right on the upper Bay. From there, we’ll boat out to the Flats on NorthBay Adventure Camp's Miss Nancy to explore the incredible diversity of freshwater SAV found on the Flats. While the SAV bed is dominated by wild celery (Vallisneria americana), you can find a dozen or more other species in any given area. We’ll discuss the species present, what makes the bed so resilient, and what threats it faces. Participants will have an opportunity to snorkel around and take beautiful pictures of the SAV underwater and the beautiful scenery above water, including the many waterfowl – including ospreys and bald eagles - that call the Susquehanna Flats home. If all goes accordingly, there will also be an opportunity to collect and press plant specimens onboard during the trip.

  Masks and snorkels will be available to use, but you're welcome to bring your own. Wear a swimsuit, skinsuit, old shorts and tank - whatever you're most comfortable in. Just be prepared to get in the water! We recommend bringing a change of clothes, sunscreen, and an underwater camera!

  Instructions for Participants:

  • UPDATE: Departure Time from The Graduate: 7:30 AM EDT - Please be at the main entrance to the hotel and ready to board the bus promptly at 8:00 AM EDT.
  • All participants on this trip should wear a swimsuit or clothing appropriate for getting wet and bring a towel and change of clothes for the bus ride back to the hotel.
  • Participants should bring and wear sunscreen and bug-repellant.
  • Snorkel gear will be available for use but you're welcome to bring your own. We also encourage binoculars and underwater cameras.
  • Participants are encouraged to bring their own re-usable water bottle, but water will be provided on the bus if needed.
  • Lunch will be provided. Available lunches will be based on the participant's dietary needs indicated on their registration.
  • This trip is scheduled to return to The Graduate by 4:30 PM EDT.

  
• Smithsonian Environmental Research Center- Canoe and Hike Trip

  Get outside and explore the 2,600 acres at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center campus! On this excursion, you'll experience both aquatic and terrestrial habitats! You will enjoy a 2-3 hour guided canoe trip in the Chesapeake Bay, viewing various wetland features, native plants, and animals along the way. You will also go on a guided hike along some of the beautiful SERC trails, be introduced to the biodiversity of the area, and hear about various ongoing Smithsonian research endeavors.

  Instructions for Participants:

  • Departure Time from The Graduate: 8:15 AM EDT - Please be at the main entrance to the hotel and ready to board the bus promptly at 8:15 AM EDT.
  • All participants on this trip should wear clothing appropriate for both getting wet and hiking! Hiking-appropriate shoes are a must! We encourage you to bring a towel and change of clothes for the bus ride back to the hotel. There isn't swimming planned, but you never know if you're going to roll your canoe.
  • Participants should bring and wear sunscreen and bug-repellant.
  • Participants are encouraged to bring their own re-usable water bottle, but water will be provided on the bus if needed.
  • Lunch will be provided. Available lunches will be based on the participant's dietary needs indicated on their registration.
  • This trip is scheduled to return to The Graduate by 2:30 PM EDT.

  
• Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center- Kayak and Hike Trip

  The Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center (CBEC) is a 510 acre wildlife preserve that will open your eyes, ears, mind, and heart to the wildlife and historic landscapes that characterize Maryland’s Eastern Shore. During this field trip, participants will alternate between kayaking and hiking. A guided kayak tour will take you through beautiful tidal marshes and over lush beds of SAV. The guided hike will allow participants to explore native woodlands, marshes, and meadows along 4 miles of walking trails.

  Instructions for Participants:

  • Departure Time from The Graduate: 8:30 AM EDT - Please be at the main entrance to the hotel and ready to board the bus promptly at 8:30 AM EDT.
  • All participants on this trip should wear clothing appropriate for both getting wet and hiking! Hiking-appropriate shoes are a must! We encourage you to bring a towel and change of clothes for the bus ride back to the hotel. There isn't swimming planned, but you never know if you're going to roll your kayak.
  • Participants should bring and wear sunscreen and bug-repellant.
  • We encourage binoculars and cameras!
  • Participants are encouraged to bring their own re-usable water bottle, but water will be provided on the bus if needed.
  • Lunch will be provided and eaten during a mid-day break on CBEC's lovely deck on the marsh. Available lunches will be based on the participant's dietary needs indicated on their registration.
  • CBEC has a nice gift shop featuring all sorts of fun sourvenirs, including loads of Brackish Life paraphernalia - stickers, hats, shirts. etc.
  • This trip is scheduled to return to The Graduate by 4:00 PM EDT.

  
• Jug Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve - Boating & Kayak Tour

  Jug Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, on the Patuxent River, is one of three components in the over 6,000-acre Maryland Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (CBNERR). The tidal freshwater marshes and forested wetlands provide a beautiful habitat to a high diversity of fish, invertebrates, mammals and birds such as great blue heron, osprey and sora rail. Rich plant life both above and below the water’s surface form the foundation of the valuable ecosystem. Coontail, hydrilla, pondweeds, star grass and other species can be readily observed, as found during more than a decade of monitoring by the CBNERR staff. Field trip participants will explore Jug Bay’s dense submerged aquatic vegetation beds from a pontoon boat tour and optional kayak paddle provided by Patuxent River Park

  Instructions for Participants:

  • Departure Time from The Graduate: 8:30 AM EDT - Please be at the main entrance to the hotel and ready to board the bus promptly at 8:30 AM EDT.
  • All participants on this trip should wear clothing appropriate for getting wet. We encourage you to bring a towel and change of clothes for the bus ride back to the hotel. There isn't swimming planned, but you never know if you're going to roll your kayak if you take the optional kayak paddle.
  • Participants should bring and wear sunscreen and bug-repellant.
  • We encourage binoculars and cameras!
  • Participants are encouraged to bring their own re-usable water bottle, but water will be provided on the bus if needed.
  • Lunch will be provided. Available lunches will be based on the participant's dietary needs indicated on their registration.
  • This trip is scheduled to return to The Graduate by 4:00 PM EDT.

  
• Mattawoman Creek Kayak Trip

  Mattawoman Creek is a beautiful tributary on Maryland's side of the Potomac River. This trip will include a relaxed kayak paddle with stops in SAV beds where participants can see and enjoy the incredible diversity of freshwater grasses in the area. The trip will be led by Atlantic Kayak and members of NOAA's National Marine Sanctuaries team.

  Instructions for Participants:

  • Departure Time from The Graduate: 8:30 AM EDT - Please be at the main entrance to the hotel and ready to board the bus promptly at 8:30 AM EDT.
  • All participants on this trip should wear clothing appropriate for getting wet! We encourage you to bring a towel and change of clothes for the bus ride back to the hotel. There isn't swimming planned, but you never know if you're going to roll your kayak.
  • Participants should bring and wear sunscreen and bug-repellant.
  • We encourage binoculars and cameras!
  • Participants are encouraged to bring their own re-usable water bottle, but water will be provided on the bus if needed.
  • Lunch will be provided and eaten during a mid-day break at Atlantic Kayak. Available lunches will be based on the participant's dietary needs indicated on their registration.
  • This trip is scheduled to return to The Graduate by 4:30 PM EDT.