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For more than 25 years, the eighth grade class has spent three days immersed in the life of the Chesapeake 湾. In addition to canoeing, crabbing, scraping for oysters and sub-aquatic vegetation, night-hiking, and watching the sunrise, the students learn the importance of the Chesapeake 湾 ecosystem.

“Prior to attending this trip, we teach nothing about the 湾,” said 中学 Science Department Head Rick 汤普森. “We want the students to have moments where they have completely new experiences.”

During the trip, students are introduced to the concepts that drive the Chesapeake 湾 and the impact it makes on lives in our own community. 当他们 learned firsthand about caring for the species that live there, such as the life cycle of crabs, they also came to appreciate that ships cross the Chesapeake to carry many products people use on a daily basis.

The students are housed in three different locations for the two nights. “除了 to learning about the 湾, the trip is also a bonding time for the eighth grade,” said 汤普森. “Many graduating seniors say the 湾 Trip was one of their best memories of McDonogh.”

Having visited the 湾 about a month after Hurricane Irene swept through, the students expected to still see some of her aftermath. However, the students found much of the area back to normal.

According to 汤普森, “There was definitely a lot more sediment and it was very muddy in the areas that the students visited. Especially, at the Port Isobel location, there was definitely a lot more debris floating in the water.”

However, at the Karen Noonan Center, the students did a chemical analysis of the water to see if there were any lingering affects from Irene. They tested the water for salinity and oxygen levels, both of which were normal. 学生 at this site also helped with breaking down a vegetable garden and constructing oyster habitats for future visitors.

“Upon returning to campus with lots of fond memories, the continuum of learning begins,” said 汤普森. “McDonogh’s campus streams are all part of the Chesapeake 湾 watershed so the students can stay connected to what they learned during the trip.”

汤普森 is planning on doing water analysis at the stream sites and emphasizing the importance of keeping the streams clean, which will ultimately affect the health of the 湾.