| Introduction | Content standards | 

|Logisitics and Flow | Stations |

| Estuary data | Resources | Scheduling |

| Parent/Teacher Training Workshops | Costs |

Estuary Chesapeake is a hands-on program in which

4th through 8th grade students can explore

the living and non-living aspects of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.

What makes this program so popular is its capacity to deliver a comprehensive outdoor experience focused on a sub-estuary of the Chesapeake Bay to large groups of students. Because Estuary Chesapeake involves a series of five teacher/parent led stations, SERC is able to accommodate up to 90 students at a time. SERC provides curriculum and materials, as well as on-site training to help teachers and parents prepare for the field trip. 

To find all Estuary Chesapeake resources and the latest information all in one place, visit the blog, www.estuarychesapeake.wordpress.com. All materials and details are organized in one place, plus videos, articles, lessons, discussions, and much more, all at your fingertips. The blog also features an archive of downloadable data collected by students, which can be used for comparison studies after the trip. Receive email notifications with blog updates by "following" with your email address or a wordpress account. 

REQUEST REGISTRATION

Content Standards

Maryland Content Standards 1.0 Skills & Processes: 1.5.1, 1.5.2, 1.5.4, 1.5.5, 1.5.6, 1.5.7, 1.5.8, 1.5.9, 1.5.11, 1.5.14 2.0 Earth/Space Science: 2.5.12 3.0 Life Science: 3.5.2, 3.5.5, 3.5.6, 3.5.7, 3.5.8, 3.5.9, 3.5.12, 3.5.13 6.0 Environmental Science: 6.5.2, 6.5.3, 6.5.4, 6.5.5 Virginia Standards of Learning Scientific Investigation, Reason & Logic: 4.1, 5.1, 5.6 Living Systems: 4.5 Interrelationships in Earth/Space systems: 4.6. 5.6, 5.7 Resources: 4.8  Return to Top

Logistics and Flow

Estuary Chesapeake is a teacher-led program. SERC will set up the stations before the group's arrival, provide all adults with an updated schedule with times for rotations, assist with initial rotations, and be availabe to facilitate and support at all times, it is the teacher's responsibility to lead the program. New teachers are required to attend a pre-visit training workshop at SERC to learn about the equipment and procedures for each station. The teacher is then responsible for providing a trained station leader for each of the five stations. If possible, extra chaperones are helpful for assisting with group transitions between rotations.  The "For Teachers" section of the Estuary Chesapeake blog is very helpful for the planning stages of the field trip. Return to Top

Stations

Estuary Chesapeake involves a series of five stations at SERC's dock. The class is divided into 5 groups that each rotate through all stations. The five stations of Estuary Chesapeake are: About Crabs Learn ways to catch crabs and study their anatomy and behavior. Water Testing Perform a series of water quality tests that help to understand healthy and unhealthy changes in the river, which affect the plants and animals seen in other stations. Oyster Bar Community Investigating an oyster community to learn about oysters and the habitat oyster shells provide for many kinds of organisms. Investigating Plankton Investigating an oyster community to learn about oysters and the habitat oyster shells provide for many kinds of organisms. Going Fishing Catching fish with a large seine net, identifying several species, and learning about fish anatomy. Stations 1, 2, and 3 are located on the dock on the Rhode River. Station 4 starts on the dock and then moves to the classroom. Station 5 is located on a small beach along the Java History Trail Return to Top

Estuary Data

All data collected on the day of the field trip is archived on the Estuary Chesapeake blog. Open access to this data allows teachers to integrate the data into lessons before and after the field trip. Teachers and students can look at this data before the trip to make predictions about what types of organisms they will see, or after to draw conclusions about the health of the Rhode River. Compare with other field trips to pull out observable patterns. Data is organized by "past school data" and the most recent season. Click the links below to check out the archived data.         Fall 2011                                        Past School Data Return to Top

Scheduling

To schedule a field trip, fill out a "request for registration" form, and send it in an email attachment to Jane Holly to let us know when you would like to come. After we receive the form, education staff will contact you to discuss dates and confirm your field trip.  First-time teachers to SERC must make reservations after August 1 for the coming year; returning teachers may make reservations up to one year in advance.   Return to Top

Parent/Teacher Training Workshops

Estuary Chesapeake pre-trip workshops are for teachers and station leaders. Stations are led by teachers, parents, guardians, and other adults who accompany the field trip. A pre-visit workshop is required for new teachers at least four weeks before the trip. We strongly encourage station leaders to also attend these workshops.  The pre-visit workshops are free and the more prepared the station leaders are, the better the field trip experience for the students.  If it is not possible for parents to attend a workshop, the Parent/Teacher Training Powerpoint Presentation can be downloaded and shown at the school or viewed at home. Visit the blog for all downloadable documents. ESTUARY CHESAPEAKE TRAINING WORKSHOPS Training Dates Spring 2012 Wednesday March 21: 4pm-6pm Thursday March 29: 11am-1pm Tuesday April 10: 11am-1pm Wednesday April 11: 4pm-6pm Thursday April 12: 11am-1pm Saturday April 14: 10am-12pm Wednesday April 18: 4pm-6pm Wednesday May 9: 4pm-6pm     Please contact Jane Holly for more information.    All workshops are held at the Reed Education Center on SERC Campus, located at: 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, MD 21037. At the training workshops, new teachers get a chance to talk logistics with Jane Holly. Training sessions consist of an indoor powerpoint presentation introducing some estuarine ecology, and a demonstrative walk-through of the five stations. At the end of each session parents should have an idea of which station they will lead, and will have all the information and resources needed to be prepared.   Return to Top

Costs

Estuary Chesapeake field trips in 2012 are $12 per student. Please pay when you arrive. There is no charge for teachers and station leaders.The Teacher's Corner has information on available grants that might help cover part of your field trip expenses.   Return to Top