Below are descriptions of CBEC's typical education programs.Additional programs are also available!
Simply call CBEC to discuss details to specialize a program for your students and to meet specific curricular objectives.
Birds of Prey Program- Appropriate for all ages, 1-2 hours. Available year-round, on-site & off-site During this program, participants will meet several different species of raptors, and discover the special adaptations of these birds of prey. Through up-close observations and discussions, the participants will learn about the unique visual and auditory adaptations, as well as other features that put these hunters at the pinnacle of the food chain. Special attention will be given to the importance of raptors to an ecosystem, especially the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Finally, participants will conduct a pellet dissection and use identification materials to determine the diet of an owl.
Catch a Bay Critter- Appropriate for Kindergarten-HS, 1-2 hours. Available April-October After hiking down a scenic nature trail, participants will use seining and dip nets, while wading in the bay and tidal pools (depending on tide, students may be walking through water up to their knees). They will catch and identify many different species of animal life to determine the health of the Chesapeake Bay and learn the importance of this spectacular estuary and the surrounding wetland ecosystem!
Guided Kayak Tour- Appropriate for 3rd grade-Adult, 1.5-3 hours. Available May-September By kayak, participants will discover the many habitats that are found at CBEC, as well as examine the restoration efforts currently taking place on the property. In the event of a small craft advisory, students will participate in ECO-STEM programs instead.
Remarkable Oyster- Appropriate for 3rd grade through adults, 1-2 hours. Available April-November Discover the amazing filtering ability of this important mollusk and its effects on Chesapeake Bay water quality. Participants will learn about the life cycle of an oyster and the process of restoring the oyster population that many restoration organizations are currently engaged in. Participants will also explore the importance of oyster reefs so vital to the Bay’s biodiversity by learning different reef structures and configurations and the success of these artificial habitats. Finally, participants will examine live reef shell looking for a myriad of inhabiting organisms that live within the Benthic Community.
Build-a-Buoy (ECO-STEM)- Appropriate for 4th grade to adults, 1-2 hours. Available year-round Participants learn about bay health and research through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) activities. This program incorporates learning the importance of team building, communication and problem solving skills while utilizing and understanding the importance of technology in bay restoration efforts. Teams of students design and construct a buoy monitor, calculate expenses, and compete against other teams to create the most effective buoy.
Geocaching (ECO-STEM)-Appropriate for 4th grade to adults, 1-2 hours. Available year-round Students will learn about applications of GPS technology and how to use Garmin eTrex GPS units. Participants will then use their GPS skills to search for several established "cache" sites around Lake Knapp. During the 1-mile hike, students will explore and learn about several ecosystems on CBEC property. Rotten Log Scavenger Hunt- Appropriate for pK-3rd grade, 1 hour. Available year-round Discover the importance of invertebrates in our pine forest ecosystem by participating in a scavenger hunt. Students will observe the role played by invertebrates in breaking down rotten logs and returning nutrients to the soil.
CBEC Education Programs
Below are descriptions of CBEC's typical education programs. Additional programs are also available!
Simply call CBEC to discuss details to specialize a program for your students and to meet specific curricular objectives.
Birds of Prey Program- Appropriate for all ages, 1-2 hours. Available year-round, on-site & off-site
During this program, participants will meet several different species of raptors, and discover the special adaptations of these birds of prey. Through up-close observations and discussions, the participants will learn about the unique visual and auditory adaptations, as well as other features that put these hunters at the pinnacle of the food chain. Special attention will be given to the importance of raptors to an ecosystem, especially the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Finally, participants will conduct a pellet dissection and use identification materials to determine the diet of an owl.
Catch a Bay Critter- Appropriate for Kindergarten-HS, 1-2 hours. Available April-October
After hiking down a scenic nature trail, participants will use seining and dip nets, while wading in the bay and tidal pools (depending on tide, students may be walking through water up to their knees). They will catch and identify many different species of animal life to determine the health of the Chesapeake Bay and learn the importance of this spectacular estuary and the surrounding wetland ecosystem!
Guided Kayak Tour- Appropriate for 3rd grade-Adult, 1.5-3 hours. Available May-September
By kayak, participants will discover the many habitats that are found at CBEC, as well as examine the restoration efforts currently taking place on the property. In the event of a small craft advisory, students will participate in ECO-STEM programs instead.
Remarkable Oyster- Appropriate for 3rd grade through adults, 1-2 hours. Available April-November
Discover the amazing filtering ability of this important mollusk and its effects on Chesapeake Bay water quality. Participants will learn about the life cycle of an oyster and the process of restoring the oyster population that many restoration organizations are currently engaged in. Participants will also explore the importance of oyster reefs so vital to the Bay’s biodiversity by learning different reef structures and configurations and the success of these artificial habitats. Finally, participants will examine live reef shell looking for a myriad of inhabiting organisms that live within the Benthic Community.
Build-a-Buoy (ECO-STEM)- Appropriate for 4th grade to adults, 1-2 hours. Available year-round
Participants learn about bay health and research through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) activities. This program incorporates learning the importance of team building, communication and problem solving skills while utilizing and understanding the importance of technology in bay restoration efforts. Teams of students design and construct a buoy monitor, calculate expenses, and compete against other teams to create the most effective buoy.
Geocaching (ECO-STEM)- Appropriate for 4th grade to adults, 1-2 hours. Available year-round
Students will learn about applications of GPS technology and how to use Garmin eTrex GPS units. Participants will then use their GPS skills to search for several established "cache" sites around Lake Knapp. During the 1-mile hike, students will explore and learn about several ecosystems on CBEC property.
Rotten Log Scavenger Hunt- Appropriate for pK-3rd grade, 1 hour. Available year-round
Discover the importance of invertebrates in our pine forest ecosystem by participating in a scavenger hunt. Students will observe the role played by invertebrates in breaking down rotten logs and returning nutrients to the soil.