National Collegiate Honors Council

Stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay

This NCHC Civic Seminar explores the Chesapeake Bay’s environmental and social challenges. Over ten days, students will engage with local stakeholders and visit key sites to study issues like climate change, coastal resiliency, and the fate of key species. The seminar helps students develop solutions for complex civic issues in their own communities.

	5/31/2025 to 6/9/2025
When:	May 31, 2025 - June 9, 2025
Where:	Chesapeake Bay United States
Contact:	NCHC Office hello@nchchonors.org (402) 472-9150

Online registration is available until: 2/1/2025

« Go to Upcoming Event List

NCHC Civic Seminar: Integrative Learning on the Chesapeake Bay

This NCHC Civic Seminar offers students a unique perspective into the complex issues surrounding North America’s largest estuary system. An economic engine for the region as well as a critical ecosystem in danger of collapse, the Chesapeake Bay provides the perfect classroom for confronting challenging civic issues such as climate change, social justice, and diminishing natural resources.

During this ten-day field seminar, participants will discover the rich culture and history of the Chesapeake Bay watershed by traveling to remote islands facing sea-level rise, learning from watermen struggling to make a living, and engaging with farmers, industrialists, scientists, natural resource professionals, local officials, recreational users and tourists, and other citizen stakeholders invested in the Chesapeake Bay. Exploration of protected areas, historical sites, museums, and habitat restoration projects allows for the investigation and analysis of the current health and status of the Bay ecosystem.

This exciting course will challenge participants to consider numerous contentious issues facing the Bay region, including climate change, coastal resiliency, and the fates of three keystone species: menhaden, oysters, and blue crabs. Participants will engage in place-based learning and consider these complex civic issues from multiple disciplinary perspectives. The consideration of Chesapeake Bay issues will serve as a model for students to understand how to critically evaluate and formulate solutions to contentious public issues in their local communities.

Course Details

This NCHC Civic Seminar is open to students of all majors.

Course Credit

Participants may enroll for three credits through Longwood University’s Professional Studies program. The cost for the three-credit course is $750 for Virginia residents and $1,050 for other students. Participants may elect to coordinate with their home campus to enroll in an appropriate course option. Those participants who plan to apply financial aid resources to the course registration expenses are encouraged to pursue an option on their home campus.

Prerequisites

Students are expected to have taken a course in introductory biology, chemistry, or environmental science and also a course in introductory social science (e.g., sociology, anthropology, psychology, etc.).

Costs

Member price: $1,500 (includes $350 non-refundable deposit)

Nonmember price: $3,000 (includes $350 non-refundable deposit)

The program registration fee includes a non-refundable $50 administrative fee. That will cover all transportation for the field program, lodging during the field experience, meals, and activities.

Participants will pay for their travel to and from Richmond as well as overnight accommodations in Richmond, if needed. Participants also will pay tuition for the credits they earn either through Longwood or through their home institution.

Application Deadline

The deadline to apply for this summer civic seminar is February 1, 2025.

Stay tuned for additional details.

Other Important Notes

This course involves multiple experiences on the water utilizing various types of watercraft, and participants should have a level of comfort being on the water. Vegetarian options will be available. The remote nature of course field sites may present challenges for some dietary needs. Please inquire about options. A full packing list will be provided; no special gear will be needed.

Brief Itinerary

May 24 – May 30

Online asynchronous pre-travel preparation. Engage with readings, documentaries, short lectures, and brief assignments and reflections.

May 31 - June 9

Saturday, May 31
Arrive in Richmond, Virginia, in advance of the travel portion of the course. A block of hotel rooms will be available for those students needing overnight accommodations. Students close enough to the Richmond departure location may choose to stay overnight at the hotel or arrive on Sunday morning prior to our scheduled departure time.

Sunday, June 1
Depart Richmond via bus for Longwood University’s Baliles Environmental Center on Virginia’s Northern Neck. Settle into accommodations at the Baliles Center and begin explorations of the Chesapeake region.

Monday, June 2
Embark on an excursion across the Northern Neck of Virginia to the historic maritime town of Reedville where we will tour Omega Protein, one of the largest reduction fisheries in the United States. Explore the Reedville Fisherman’s Museum as well as Baywatch Oyster Seeds before returning to the Baliles Center for evening activities and overnight accommodations.

Tuesday, June 3
Travel to the coastal village of Lottsburg to board the Bay Quest, a traditional Chesapeake deadrise vessel, for an educational charter with an expert Captain. Learn about Chesapeake oysters, blue crabs, rock fish, long lines, pound nets, and the traditional life of a waterman. The day also includes a stop at Cowart’s Seafood processing facility. Return to the Baliles Center for evening activities and overnight accommodations.

Wednesday, June 4
Depart the Baliles Center for Buzzard Point Marina and board the Chesapeake Breeze, a passenger ferry traveling to Tangier Island, Virginia, in the middle of Chesapeake Bay. Upon arrival, check in at the Brigadune Inn and then engage with this isolated maritime community through Place as Text explorations and other activities. Enjoy free time to explore on your own before a traditional seafood dinner at a local establishment followed by a sunset bonfire on Tangier Beach.

Thursday, June 5
Continue explorations on Tangier Island with activities to include a visit to the Tangier History Museum, meetings with local leaders, data collection for a research project, and exploring Tangier waters by kayak and motor boat. End the day with a cook-out and evening reflection time on Tangier Beach.

Friday, June 6
Board a local ferry bound for Smith Island, Maryland, and check in at Island Time B&B. Settle in and enjoy free time before beginning explorations of this historic island community. Activities include Place as Text excursions, research project data collection, and the Smith Island Cultural Center. Debrief and reflect on the day’s activities following dinner at The Bayside Inn.

Saturday, June 7
Continue explorations on Smith Island with activities to include a visit to a crab shanty to learn from a lifelong Smith Island waterman, research project data collection, lunch at Harborside Restaurant, and engagements with the island’s shops and townspeople. Later in the afternoon enjoy free time activities such as biking, canoeing, or kayaking.

Sunday, June 8
Board a charter and return to Tangier Island. After lunch on Tangier and final souvenir shopping, board the Chesapeake Breeze ferry back to the Virginia mainland. Return to the Richmond area hotel with dinner en route. Students who originally arrived to Richmond by car could depart for home around 8:00 PM or opt to stay overnight in the hotel.

Monday, June 9

Departure from Richmond.

June 9 – June 15

Completion of online asynchronous post-travel assignments.

Questions

For questions about field sites, course credit, etc., please contact the faculty program directors.

Dr. Mark Fink: finkml@longwood.edu
Dr. Melissa Rhoten: rhotenmc@longwood.edu

For questions about paying the NCHC registration fee, access to the application, etc., please contact the NCHC Office at hello@nchchonors.org

Export to Your Calendar

Time not importing correctly?