Open to all educators grades k-12.   
How does climate change and sea level rise impact native Chesapeake Bay bird populations? How do humans impact our aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed? Join us to discover the complex answers to these questions and more over the course of a week on Virginia’s Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula, and Maryland’s Smith Island. Investigate the current environmental conditions to help understand how, why, and which birds are attracted to the varied habitats of the Chesapeake Bay’s watershed and islands and how these habitats have changed over time. We will observe the effects of climate change and sea level rise on birds and other Bay inhabitants, and analyze the impacts on utilization of resources, population dynamics, and migration trends. This course focus will expand beyond birds to include ecological investigations of marshes and beaches, underwater grass meadows, fisheries, oysters, and blue crabs using biotic and abiotic collection methods.
Length: 5 days total
Cost: $50
Credit:  Maryland teachers are eligible for 3 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits from MSDE for successful course completion. Virginia teachers are eligible for documentation of 45 contact hours for successful course completion. Pennsylvania teachers are eligible for 20 Act 48 credits for successful course completion. Graduate credit is available from Virginia Commonwealth University. 
Pre-Course Orientation date coming soon. 

Return to Chesapeake Classrooms calendar

Return to main Chesapeake Classrooms web page