Chesapeake Semester

Is it still possible to make a voyage of discovery here in Maryland, the nation's fifth most densely settled state? In The Great Marsh: An Intimate Journey into a Chesapeake Wetland, David W. Harp's vivid photography and Tom Horton's eloquent prose produce a compelling portrait of one such journey in an intriguing and endangered habitat. Into this remarkable territory—whose shrinking dimensions frighten every naturalist and ecologist—Harp and Horton embarked on a canoe trip, exploring, documenting, and photographing the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County. This volume, at its core, is the story of a single crossing of the Blackwater's length, east to west, while the accompanying essays discuss how the marsh functions as a refuge for migrating butterflies, the wetlands sustain a lonely trapper, and the bogs yield archeological treasures—remnants of American Indian hunting forays and colonial boat building. The edges of the Chesapeake Bay offer Americans some of their loveliest (and most sensitive) wetlands. The fertile waters and soggy vegetation provide a home to ducks, geese, eagles, and dozens of other species of birds; muskrats, squirrels, and foxes; and of course insect varieties almost too numerous to count. The environmental importance of the marshes lies in their capacity to filter pollutants, retard erosion, and help maintain a natural balance among the critters.

Tom Wisner When Tom Wisner, the Chesapeake Bay 'Bard' died in April 2010, he'd already given us living treasures: dozens of recorded Chesapeake songs, stories and radio shows. Now, Sara Ebenreck Leeland, co-founder and partner with Tom in the Chestory (Center for the Chesapeake Story) project, has published a book that collects Tom's written reflections on the powerful insights that guided his work. Gather 'round Chesapeake: Tom Wisner's Vision is a collection of Wisner's writing, from short celebratory poems to analysis of how our cultural ways of thinking about 'nature' results in the destruction of our waters-and what an alternative 'Come Full Circle' way of living might be like. www.Chestory.org

Tom Wisner When Tom Wisner, the Chesapeake Bay 'Bard' died in April 2010, he'd already given us living treasures: dozens of recorded Chesapeake songs, stories and radio shows. Now, Sara Ebenreck Leeland, co-founder and partner with Tom in the Chestory (Center for the Chesapeake Story) project, has published a book that collects Tom's written reflections on the powerful insights that guided his work. Gather 'round Chesapeake: Tom Wisner's Vision is a collection of Wisner's writing, from short celebratory poems to analysis of how our cultural ways of thinking about 'nature' results in the destruction of our waters-and what an alternative 'Come Full Circle' way of living might be like. www.Chestory.org

Tom Wisner When Tom Wisner, the Chesapeake Bay 'Bard' died in April 2010, he'd already given us living treasures: dozens of recorded Chesapeake songs, stories and radio shows. Now, Sara Ebenreck Leeland, co-founder and partner with Tom in the Chestory (Center for the Chesapeake Story) project, has published a book that collects Tom's written reflections on the powerful insights that guided his work. Gather 'round Chesapeake: Tom Wisner's Vision is a collection of Wisner's writing, from short celebratory poems to analysis of how our cultural ways of thinking about 'nature' results in the destruction of our waters-and what an alternative 'Come Full Circle' way of living might be like. www.Chestory.org

Davy Crockett, drifting in Tangier Sound near the old ice house

Robert and AJ Lippson Published in 1984, the first edition of Life in the Chesapeake Bay became an instant classic, providing fascinating insights into some of the more than two thousand plants and animals that make their home in America's largest estuary, the Chesapeake Bay. Superbly illustrated and clearly written, this acclaimed field guide described the richly varied habitats found along the mid-Atlantic coast and cataloged more than three hundred species of fish, invertebrates, and aquatic plants commonly found in the Chesapeake Bay and in coastal inlets from Cape Hatteras to Cape Cod. Reflecting a further decade of research, this new edition expands on the Lippsons' discussion of wetland habitats and covers an additional 116 species closely associated with the Chesapeake Bay, including a broad range of birds and several species of insects, reptiles, and mammals. Written to be useful to a variety of readers--year-round residents and summer vacationers, professional biologists and amateur scientists, conservationists and sportsmen-- Life in the Chesapeake Bay is a unique and comprehensive guide to one of this country's most important and beautiful natural resources.

Fred Pommeroy, Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum Folk Festival 2010

Fred Pomeroy

James "Ooker" Eskridge

James “Ooker” Eskridge is a 3rd generation waterman and the mayor of Tangier Island, Virginia. http://www.coastalliving.com/travel/atlantic/explore-virginias-eastern-shore-00414000071880/page10.html

James “Ooker” Eskridge

Mervin A. Savoy is an enrolled member of the Piscataway Conoy Confederacy the largest indigenous tribe residing in the state of Maryland. Mrs. Savoy has held the position as the duly elected Tribal Chairwoman of the tribe since August 1980. Mrs. Savoy has won many honors and has been recognized for her outstanding work in the American Indian community. Some of her more recent honors and awards include the Baltimore Times’ Distinguished Woman Award, Outstanding Citizen Award, Woman of Achievement Award, Cancer Society Volunteer of the Year, Torchbearers Award and Certificate of Recognition for Improving Minority Achievement, to name a few. Mrs. Savoy has had thirty years of experience in managing federal and state grant programs where she is responsible for managing and overseeing the day-to-day activities of these programs. Mrs. Savoy conducts health disparities and cultural competency workshops through out the state of Maryland and nationally. Regional partner University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Mervin A. Savoy is an enrolled member of the Piscataway Conoy Confederacy the largest indigenous tribe residing in the state of Maryland. Mrs. Savoy has held the position as the duly elected Tribal Chairwoman of the tribe since August 1980. Mrs. Savoy has won many honors and has been recognized for her outstanding work in the American Indian community. Some of her more recent honors and awards include the Baltimore Times’ Distinguished Woman Award, Outstanding Citizen Award, Woman of Achievement Award, Cancer Society Volunteer of the Year, Torchbearers Award and Certificate of Recognition for Improving Minority Achievement, to name a few. Mrs. Savoy has had thirty years of experience in managing federal and state grant programs where she is responsible for managing and overseeing the day-to-day activities of these programs. Mrs. Savoy conducts health disparities and cultural competency workshops through out the state of Maryland and nationally. Regional partner University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Mervin A. Savoy is an enrolled member of the Piscataway Conoy Confederacy the largest indigenous tribe residing in the state of Maryland. Mrs. Savoy has held the position as the duly elected Tribal Chairwoman of the tribe since August 1980. Mrs. Savoy has won many honors and has been recognized for her outstanding work in the American Indian community. Some of her more recent honors and awards include the Baltimore Times’ Distinguished Woman Award, Outstanding Citizen Award, Woman of Achievement Award, Cancer Society Volunteer of the Year, Torchbearers Award and Certificate of Recognition for Improving Minority Achievement, to name a few. Mrs. Savoy has had thirty years of experience in managing federal and state grant programs where she is responsible for managing and overseeing the day-to-day activities of these programs. Mrs. Savoy conducts health disparities and cultural competency workshops through out the state of Maryland and nationally. Regional partner University of Maryland School of Medicine.