Assateague Living Shoreline Program
Summer on the Eastern Shore is a fantastic time to get outside, learn something new, and get hands on in the watershed. And what better place to do that than on Assateague Island? New for the summer of 2020, in partnership with Assateague State Park, MCBP will provide free-to-the-public tours and seining at the Assateague Living Shoreline. The Living Shoreline is found next to the State Park boat ramp on the north side of the Verrazano Bridge. Living shorelines increase resiliency and stabilization, along with providing a habitat for plants and animals. The tour aspect of the program will take you past a freshwater wetland, through a series of breakwaters, and along the marsh. The breakwaters are a reestablished nesting ground for diamondback terrapins; they dissipate water energy and provide a refuge for juveniles, and it is those juveniles that will be sampled during the seining portion of the program. After a seine net has been pulled parallel to the shore, participants will join MCBP staff in exploring all the amazing critters found in the net. This program is free and open to people of all abilities and ages. Stay tuned for a release of program dates.
OC Estuary Explorers Camp
Calling all students entering 5th and 6th grade! Are you ready for an exciting exploration of our local watershed? This summer, the energetic MCBP staff will be leading hands-on, educational activities in and around our coastal bays. “Explorers” will participate in engaging outdoor investigations, including critter sampling, orienteering, watershed studies, kayaking, forestry and more! This camp offers two unique field trips during the week. One day will be spent kayaking on Ayers Creek, and another adventuring on Assateague Island. In addition to the environmental activities, campers will also partake in team-building exercises. At the end of each week, campers will leave with their brains full, their hands dirty, and the knowledge to become great Coastal Bays stewards.
OC Estuary Explorers Summer Camp
Community Seining Programs
If you happen to be staying at Castaways RV Resort and Campground, you will have the opportunity to engage in one of our seining programs on their beautiful bayside beach. Held every Tuesday and Thursday from 2-3pm throughout the summer, MCBP staff and volunteers will set up shop near the dock on the beach for a free seining program. We invite people of all ages to come down to try their hand at pulling a large seine net, learn how to use a drip net, and get the chance to safely handle one of our many amazing bay creatures.
A similar program is held on the main beach at Sunset Island on 67th street on various weekdays throughout the summer. If you are a resident at Sunset Island, or are planning to stay there on vacation, please check their activity guide for more information.
Visiting Camps and Organizations
Are you a visiting camp or scout troop to the Coastal Bays watershed this summer? Feel free to reach out to Liz Wist at lwist@mdcoastalbays.org about scheduling a program specific to your camp needs.