Middle School group takes field trip to study bay

Crabs will lay 2 million eggs but only about five will make it to be an adult.

This fact is among the many things learned by 14 eighth graders from St. Clare Walker (SCW) Middle School during three days at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Environmental Education Center on Port Isobel Island, near Tangier Island in Chesapeake Bay.

With the financial support of the Urbanna Oyster Festival Marine Science Legacy Program, the field trip provided students with a unique opportunity to experience island culture and the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay.

Getting muddy

Students were able to have a hands-on exploration of local wetlands, spend time crabbing and dredging for oysters on the CBF’s research vessel, Walter Ridder, and visited Tangier Island. Students explored the marsh ecosystem in a very hands-on way! They learned the importance of the wetlands to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. “By the end of their very muddy experience they understood how important it is to preserve and restore our wetlands for the health of the watershed,” said McNamee.

Oyster Festival thanked

The Urbanna Oyster Festival Marine Science Legacy Program’s generous sponsorship helped make this hands-on learning experience possible. “This type of real-world exploration is an invaluable supplement to classroom instruction, allowing students to deepen their understanding of the Chesapeake Bay watershed,” said McNamee.

“We are grateful to the Urbanna Oyster Festival Marine Science Legacy Program for their commitment to supporting meaningful education experiences for our students,” McNamee said…