Education Programs - Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

This winter, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum invites audiences to hear from authors, scholars, and community members exploring topics illuminating the past, present, and future of life on the Bay. (Photo by George Sass)

ST. MICHAELS, Md., Jan. 6, 2026 – Kicking off the new year, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is pleased to share an exciting lineup of Speaker Events in the Van Lennep Auditorium, and available virtually, featuring presenters highlighting the region’s rich history, environment, and culture.

These programs invite audiences to hear from authors, scholars, and community members exploring topics that illuminate the past, present, and future of life on the Bay. They are supported by the Upper Shore Regional Folklife Center under the Maryland Traditions program of the Maryland State Arts Council.

The suggested ticket cost is $8 per program. To sign up, and get more information, visit cbmm.org/SpeakerSeries.

The winter series begins this Thursday, Jan. 8, at 5:30pm, with a program celebrating America’s 250^th anniversary featuring author and historian Richard Bell.

Bell will highlight the global impacts of the American Revolution explored in his new book, “The American Revolution and the Fate of the World.” Through the stories of the diverse people displaced, empowered, or destroyed by the war, he offers a bold new framework for understanding the Revolution as a complex, international struggle that redrew maps and toppled hierarchies across six continents.

Stay tuned for more news on events and programming celebrating America250 and the region’s connections to America’s story throughout 2026.

CBMM held its first Watermen's Story Swap in 2024.

A capacity crowd filled the Van Lennep Auditorium for CBMM’s first Watermen’s Story Swap in January 2024.

On Thursday, Jan. 29, at 5:30pm, CBMM will host its latest Watermen’s Story Swap, gathering a panel of watermen from across the region for a lively evening of storytelling from their working life on the Bay. Local author and historian Brent Lewis will lead a free-flowing conversation highlighting unique tales and universal themes that’s sure to be equal parts enlightening, humorous, and profound.

Coming on Friday, Feb. 13, at 5:30pm, “Ecomyopia on the Chesapeake: Social and Cultural Barriers to Climate-Induced Managed Retreat” features Cultural Anthropology Professors Aaron Lampman (Washington College) and David Casagrande (Lehigh University). The pair will present their research into ecomyopia—the ignoring of environmental information to protect identity—on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and how deep-seated local narratives and social dynamics cause widespread denial of climate risk, ultimately preventing rational long-term solutions.

Up next, “Women at the Helm: Navigating Fear and Risk in the Storm” on Monday, Feb. 23, at 5:30pm, offers a celebratory send-off for CBMM’s Her Helm special exhibition, which closes at the end of February.

Folklorist Amy Skillman will share highlights from her oral history project documenting women at the helm, including Bay captains. She will focus on storm stories, which are more often tales of communion with, rather than conquest of, the sea.

Also, mark your calendar for “The Apprenticeship That Saved My Life: An Evening with Cory McCray” on Thursday, April 30, at 5:30pm.

A journeyman electrician and Maryland state senator, McCray details how mentorship, skilled trades, and second chances create powerful pathways to success for individuals and communities in his debut book, “The Apprenticeship That Saved My Life.” During National Apprenticeship Week, CBMM is proud to host Sen. McCray for an in-depth conversation on building stronger foundations for the next generation of workers and leaders, followed by a book signing.

Additional speakers and programming will be announced in the coming months. Find more information about all CBMM’s upcoming events at cbmm.org/Events.

Registration for CBMM Summer Camp opens on Dec. 3, with a two-week exclusive sign-up period for CBMM members. (Photo by Sharon Thorpe)

(Dec. 2 update: Due to technical difficulties, CBMM Summer Camp registration has been delayed until next Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 9am. Registration opens with a two-week sign-up period exclusively for CBMM members. Open registration will begin on Wednesday, Dec. 24, and continue until camps are filled. We apologize for any inconvenience.)

ST. MICHAELS, Md., Nov. 19, 2025 – The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is excited to share a summer of adventure and learning on its waterfront campus with the return of CBMM Summer Camp for children ages 4-15.

Registration for these weeklong camps that highlight the wonders of the Bay through hands-on activities, creative projects, games, on-the-water experiences, and more summer fun, is set to open on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 9am, with a two-week sign-up period exclusively for CBMM members. Open registration will begin on Wednesday, Dec. 24, and continue until camps are filled.

In 2026, CBMM will offer eight weeks of camps, beginning June 22, with a variety of offerings and themes to fit the interests and needs of our community. These camps include Sea Squirts (ages 4-6), Terrapins (grades 1-3), Summer Workshop (grades 4-6 & 6-9), and Museum Masters (grades 4-6).

Camp registration is opening about a month earlier than last year to allow the camp experience to be gifted for the holidays. Capacity is limited, so early sign-up is encouraged. Learn more about all the fun ahead and get registration details by clicking here.

The full-day camps cost $390 per week, while the half-day Sea Squirts camp cost is $175 per week. (Note: There is special pricing for the week of Fourth of July at $316 and $140, respectively, because there is no camp on July 3.) CBMM members enjoy a 15% discount on tuition. Scholarships are available for campers with financial need.

CBMM is opening summer camp registration in time for the camp experience to be gifted for the holidays. (Photo courtesy CBMM)

New this year, CBMM will offer a limited-capacity aftercare program, allowing the camp day for full-day campers to be extended until 5pm with supervised care. This add-on option is $45 per week, with a 15% discount for CBMM members.

To become a CBMM member and access early registration as well as the tuition discount, visit cbmm.org/membership or contact Membership Services Coordinator Debbie Ruzicka at 410-745-4991 or druzicka@cbmm.org.

This year, camper registration will be handled through CBMM’s ACME Ticketing registration platform, just like most of its other programming. When sign-ups begin, registration links for each camp will appear on the CBMM Summer Camp webpage. After submitting payment, there will be instructions for completing the registration process in the Campwise platform.

Over eight weeks, CBMM summer campers will explore the Bay through hands-on activities, creative projects, games, on-the-water experiences, and more summer fun.

CBMM summer campers spend a week immersed in the Bay’s people, animals, traditions, and environment through age-appropriate lesson plans in a small-group setting. The programs are designed to blend fun and learning while taking full advantage of CBMM’s 18-acre campus along the Miles River to create a memorable camp experience.

Open to children 4-6 years old, the Sea Squirts camp will be offered on a weekly schedule throughout the summer from 9am-noon Monday-Friday, while the full-day Terrapins camp, for children entering grades 1-3, runs from 9am-4pm.

Both camps will follow a different theme weekly, including Bay Scientists (June 22-26), Red, White, & Bay (June 29-July 2), Feathers, Fins, and Furs (July 6-10), Adventure on the Bay (July 13-17), History Hunters (July 20-24), Watershed Wonders (July 27-31), Inspiration Chesapeake (Aug. 3-7), and Chesapeake Critters (Aug. 10-14).

Geared toward older campers, the Summer Workshops offer an expansion of CBMM’s Rising Tide after-school program by mixing traditional camp fun and workshop-based projects.

Running Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm, this program will be offered for campers in grades 4-6 all eight weeks, and grades 6-9 during the weeks of June 22, July 13, and Aug. 3. Don’t miss cardboard boat building during the week of July 13 and the Inspiration Chesapeake art camp running the week of Aug. 3.

The Museum Masters camp offers a behind-the-scenes pass to CBMM to learn all that goes into a museum and its exhibitions. Offered the week of July 20 for grades 4-6, this camp presents a unique opportunity to explore CBMM’s collection and help create a special group exhibit.

Contact registration@cbmm.org with further questions about this year’s camp offerings or to get registration support.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yn4tqTX0lmE

CBMM is hosting a screening and discussion of “Resurrecting Poplar Island” on Thursday, April 10, at 5:30pm, in the Van Lennep Auditorium as part of the Chesapeake Bay week Film Festival. (Photo courtesy Maryland Public Television)

ST. MICHAELS, Md., March 26, 2025 – The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is proud to partner withMaryland Public Television(MPT) to host the second annual Chesapeake Bay Week Film Festival with a series of four screening events in the Van Lennep Auditorium next month.

This edition of the film festival will feature a family-friendly screening, a film-inspired tasting event, and showings of two films premiering on MPT during this year’s Chesapeake Bay Week.

In sharing these films alongside panel discussions, expert talks, and related programming, the events are designed to offer a deeper look at these important Bay stories while inspiring a passion for this treasured waterway. All five featured films will be shown during MPT’s 21^st annual Chesapeake Bay Week, which runs April 20-26.

To learn more and buy tickets, including a package ticket option that offers a $5 savings, visit cbmm.org/SpeakerSeries.

“We are delighted to continue our partnership with Maryland Public Television to celebrate Chesapeake Bay Week” CBMM’s Vice President of Education & Interpretation Jill Ferris said. “We had a great response from our community last spring. We’ve grown the film festival to four events this time, and we’re excited to share some new ways to experience and explore these tremendous films.”

The second annual Chesapeake Bay Week Film Festival concludes Wednesday, April 16, at 5:30pm with a showing of the new film “Chesapeake Rhythms” followed by a discussion with the filmmakers. (Photo courtesy Dave Harp)

The Chesapeake Bay Week Film Festival begins Saturday, April 5, at 2pm with a family screening of the MPT documentary “Creatures of the Chesapeake.”

This fast-paced, half-hour film offers an intimate look at some of the most fascinating species in the Bay, making it a must-see for kids, adults, and anyone with an innate curiosity about life in the deep. After the film, guests will get an up-close look at some Miles River oysters and the critters that live with them.

This event is free for CBMM members and general admission guests. Learn more and register at cbmm.org/CreaturesOfTheChesapeake.

On Monday, April 7, at 5:30pm, Chesapeake cuisine will be in the spotlight during the “Eatin’ the Chesapeake” Film Screenings and Tasting. Participants will watch MPT’s films “Eatin’ Blue Catfish: Chesapeake Style” and “Eatin’ the Chesapeake: The Five Feasts” while enjoying a film-inspired tasting plate from local caterers Garden & Garnish.

It’s a chance to explore new and time-honored Chesapeake food traditions on screen and on your plate with a tasty menu that includes Oysters Rockefeller Dip with French bread croutons, baked blue catfish cakes with okra, scallions, & roasted red peppers, and ham rolls stuffed with cabbage, kale & onions.

The cost is $45 per participant with a 20% discount for CBMM members. Learn more and buy tickets at cbmm.org/ChesapeakeTasting. The Chesapeake Bay Week Film Festival continues Thursday, April 10, at 5:30pm, with a “Resurrecting Poplar Island” film screening and discussion with MPT Producer/Director Sarah Sampson and scientists from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.

Poplar Island, like so many other islands in the Chesapeake Bay, was steadily sinking into ever-rising water before its resurrection through an ambitious environmental engineering project involving extraordinary collaboration among state and federal agencies.

This new film, which has its MPT premiere on Sunday, April 20, at 7:30pm, explores the island’s past and present—and what its successful restoration could mean for the future of the other disappearing islands in the Bay and beyond.

The cost to join the screening and discussion is $10. Learn more and register at cbmm.org/ResurrectingPoplarIsland.

The festival wraps Wednesday, April 16, at 5:30pm, with a “Chesapeake Rhythms” film screening and discussion with filmmakers Tom Horton, Dave Harp, and Sandy Cannon-Brown.

“Chesapeake Rhythms” conveys the beauty and mystery of the Bay by chronicling its essential rhythm: wind, tides, and migrations of tundra swans, monarch butterflies, shorebirds, and eels. After the screening, the celebrated filmmakers will share the inspirations for their latest project and offer insight into its production.

The cost is $10 per participant to join screening and discussion of “Chesapeake Rhythms,” which debuts on MPT on Tuesday, April 22, at 8pm. Learn more and register at cbmm.org/ChesapeakeRhythms.

With its Chesapeake Bay Week, MPT invites viewers to discover the unique ecosystems and culture of our nation’s largest estuary. CBMM has long supported MPT in the creation of this programming by sharing its campus, collections, and staff expertise.

This year, Chesapeake Bay Week features more than 18 hours of Bay-focused programming, with even more compelling content available for streaming through the free PBS App. There are four new programs in total debuting during this edition. More information, including a full schedule, is available at mpt.org/bayweek.

For the latest on upcoming CBMM programming, stay tuned to the calendar at cbmm.org/events.

Aided by state grant funding, CBMM plans to rehabilitate a historic structure on its campus that previously housed its Museum Store and rename it the Coulbourne & Jewett Education Center.

ST. MICHAELS, Md., Feb. 6, 2025 – The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is pleased to announce plans to rehabilitate a historic structure on its campus and rename it the Coulbourne & Jewett Education Center with the support of a grant from the state of Maryland through its African American Heritage Preservation Program (AAHPP).

In preserving and enhancing the simple Victorian residence that most recently served as its Museum Store, CBMM aims to share the history and celebrate the legacy of the Black-owned Coulbourne & Jewett Seafood Packing Company, which was once the largest employer in St. Michaels. In the early 20^th century, entrepreneur lived in the home on Navy Point, a short walk from the innovative firm he owned with business partner Frederick Jewett.

Awarded last month by the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture and the Maryland Historical Trust, the AAHP grant funding will go toward the exterior renovation of the building, which was constructed circa 1875 as the miller’s residence for an adjacent sawmill.

This phase of the project includes the repair or replacement of the building’s siding, single-pane windows, and roof, with the work expected to begin later this year. Later phases will focus on interior renovations to accommodate its repurposing as an education space.

“This is an exciting next step for our campus,” CBMM’s President & CEO Kristen L. Greenaway said. “We are thrilled to be able to further our mission through the implementation of this new education space while honoring and amplifying the very important historical story of Coulbourne & Jewett. We are grateful to Gov. Wes Moore and his administration for their support to help bring the project to life.”

The opportunity to reimagine and restore the historic structure came with the move of CBMM’s Museum Store across campus into the new Welcome Center, which opened during the fall of 2023.

CBMM completed initial retrofitting to allow its Education Team to begin utilizing the building last summer. In addition to increasing indoor space for summer camp offerings, the new space has been utilized by the Rising Tide after-school program and other youth education initiatives, including field trips and homeschool programming.

The long-term vision is for the Coulbourne & Jewett Education Center to become a vibrant learning hub as CBMM’s primary space for public and student programming with the capacity to accommodate groups larger than a typical classroom.

With the help of grant funding, the next step is to renovate the exterior to maintain its historical integrity while making needed repairs to ensure long term sustainability. The building is among original structures on campus that contribute to the character of the St. Michaels historic district.

With the Coulbourne & Jewett Education Center, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum aims to share the history and celebrate the legacy of the Black-owned Coulbourne & Jewett Seafood Packing Company. In this historic photo, Elwood Jewett of Coulbourne & Jewett Seafood Packing Company is pictured with tins of picked crabmeat, circa 1953. Photo courtesy of Blanche Jewett. Collection of Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, 336.0008.

CBMM is committed to sharing the building’s history, celebrating the remarkable owners of the Coulbourne & Jewett Seafood Packing Company as well as the hundreds of workers who once labored on CBMM’s waterfront campus.

William Coulbourne and Frederick Jewett were among the earliest seafood packers in the region to specialize in crab meat, and they devised a crab meat grading system that is still used by the seafood industry today.

With its recent exhibitions and programming, CBMM has moved to present a more inclusive, human-focused perspective on Chesapeake history.

While the story of the Coulbourne & Jewett Seafood Packing Company is shared elsewhere on CBMM’s campus, its connection to this building’s history has been largely untold. That will change with the addition of outdoor interpretive signage detailing the story of these pioneering entrepreneurs and the laborers who made their living on Navy Point while highlighting historic connections between Black communities and the Bay.

“As we learned more about our former Museum Store, we realized the unique opportunity for us to share a vital piece of local history with our community,” CBMM’s Vice President of Education & Interpretation Jill Ferris said. “We want to honor the legacy of Coulbourne, Jewett, and the many Black packinghouse workers who made a living here with our care of this historic structure and the stories that it will now help us tell.”

The goal of Maryland’s African American Heritage Preservation Program is to identify and preserve buildings, communities and sites of historical and cultural importance to the African American experience in Maryland. In total, the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture and the Maryland Historical Trust awarded 31 AAHPP grants totaling $5,000,000 to benefit projects across the state for FY2025.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is a non-profit educational organization that preserves and explores the history, environment, and culture of the entire Chesapeake Bay region, and makes this resource accessible to all.

Every aspect of fulfilling this mission is driven by CBMM’s values of relevance, authenticity, and stewardship, along with a commitment to providing engaging guest experiences and transformative educational programming, all while serving as a vital community partner. For more information, visit cbmm.org.

Registration for the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s popular summer camps opens on Jan. 2, 2025, with an exclusive sign-up period for CBMM members.

ST. MICHAELS, Md., Dec. 17, 2024 – The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is excited to be a destination for summer fun and exploration with the return of its popular summer camps for children ages 4-15.

Registration for these weeklong camps sharing the magic of the Chesapeake Bay’s people, animals, traditions, and environment is set to open on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, with a two-week sign-up period exclusively for CBMM members. Open registration will begin on Thursday, Jan. 16, and continue until camps are filled.

CBMM will offer eight weeks of camps, beginning June 23, with a variety of offerings and themes to fit the interests and needs of our camp community. These include Sea Squirts (ages 4-6), Terrapins (grades 1-3), Summer Workshop (grades 4-6 & 6-9), Museum Masters (grades 4-6), and Inspiration Chesapeake (grades 6-9) camps.

Capacity is limited for these camps, so early registration is encouraged. Learn more about all the fun planned and how to register at cbmm.org/summercamps.

This year, we’re pleased to share a streamlined registration process via the Campwise platform. CBMM members will receive a registration link and access code via email, and once open registration begins, the link will be posted on the CBMM Summer Camp webpage. Registration FAQs are available here.

The full day camps cost $375 per week, while the half-day Sea Squirts camp cost is $165 per week. (Note: There is special pricing for the week of the Fourth of July of $300 and $130, respectively, because there is no camp on the holiday.) CBMM members enjoy a 20% discount on tuition. Scholarships are available for campers with financial need.

This year, CBMM will offer eight weeks of camps, starting June 23, with a variety of offerings and themes for children ages 4-15.

CBMM summer campers explore Bay-themed topics through age-appropriate lesson plans in a small group setting and experience all that CBMM’s 18-acre waterfront campus has to offer. The programs put an emphasis on creating a fun, hands-on learning environment that includes stories, games, crafts, environmental and on-the-water activities, and creative projects.

The Sea Squirts camp, open to children 4-6 years old, will be offered on a weekly schedule throughout the summer from 9am-noon Monday-Friday, while the full-day Terrapins camp, for children entering grades 1-3, runs from 9am-4pm.

Both camps will follow a different theme weekly, including Chesapeake Critters: Land & Sky (June 23-27), Red, White, & Bay (June 30, July 1-3), Way Back When (July 7-11), Bay Scientists (July 14-18), Feathers, Fins, & Furs (July 21-25), Inspiration Chesapeake (July 28-Aug. 1), Adventure on the Bay (Aug. 4-8) and Chesapeake Critters: Aquatic Animals (Aug. 11-15).

CBMM summer campers explore Bay-themed topics through age-appropriate lesson plans in a small group setting and experience all that CBMM’s 18-acre waterfront campus has to offer.

Geared toward older campers, the Summer Workshops offer an expansion of CBMM’s Rising Tide after-school program by mixing traditional camp fun and workshop-based projects.

This program will be offered for campers in grades 4-6 during the weeks of June 30, July 7, July 14, and July 21, July 28, and Aug. 4, and grades 6-9 during the weeks of June 23 and Aug. 11. These sessions run Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm.

The Museum Masters camp offers a behind-the-scenes pass to CBMM to learn all that goes into a museum and its exhibitions. Open to grades 4-6 the week of June 23, this camp presents a unique opportunity to explore CBMM’s collection and help create a special group exhibit. One project from last summer’s camp is featured in the Sailing to Freedom special exhibition currently running in the Changing Exhibitions Gallery and another remains on display in the Coulbourne & Jewett Education Center.

New this year, the Inspiration Chesapeake art camp runs July 14-18 for grades 6-9. This is an opportunity for campers to immerse themselves in the beauty and culture of our region and reflect their experiences through various art forms.

Contact registration@cbmm.org with further questions about this year’s camp offerings or for registration support.

CBMM’s fall Speaker Event schedule features four events, hosted in the Van Lennep Auditorium and available virtually, exploring the Bay’s rich history, environment, and culture. (Photo by Sharon Thorpe)

ST. MICHAELS, Md., Sept. 10, 2024 – With its fall Speaker Event schedule, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is pleased to spotlight a range of accomplished presenters sharing their unique expertise and storytelling to highlight the region’s rich history, environment, and culture.

Hosted in the Van Lennep Auditorium and available virtually, these programs are designed to spark important conversations while fostering connections between the past, present, and future of the Bay. They are supported by the Upper Shore Regional Folklife Center under the Maryland Traditions program of the Maryland State Arts Council.

The suggested ticket cost is $8 per session. To sign up, and get more information, visit cbmm.org/SpeakerSeries.

“I am looking forward to this whole series of Speaker Events,” CBMM’s Vice President of Education & Interpretation Jill Ferris said. “Bringing individual perspective and historical scholarship, each presenter explores a different aspect of life in the Chesapeake to help us better understand the world around us.”

The fall series begins next Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 5:30pm, with a homecoming via “The 1960s in St. Michaels: An Author Talk with David Guth.” A St. Michaels native, Guth will share an advance reading from his new historical fiction novel “In the Moment” based on his own experiences growing up in the Bay Hundred area in the 1960s that inspired his work.

The spotlight will be on the traditional workboats that line many area harbors on Thursday, Oct. 10, with a presentation from maritime journalist and historian Larry Chowning on Chesapeake Bay Deadrises.

The deadrise and cross-planked bottom style of boatbuilding started on the Bay in the 1880s, when builders of wooden boats began using planks, instead of logs, to create hulls with an unmistakable V-shaped bottom. Chowning will share insights into the history and culture of the deadrise, which grew to be so popular that both Maryland and Virginia have named deadrise vessels as their state boats.

Not far from CBMM’s campus, a team of archaeologists have been searching a remote part of Dorchester County since late 2020 for evidence of Harriet Tubman’s early life, including her birthplace and the 10-acre home site of her father, Ben Ross. On Wednesday, Oct. 30, Dr. Julie Schablitsky will provide a glimpse into the historical research and archaeology that has gone into the effort to locate and interpret these sites with “The Archaeology of Harriet Tubman’s Birthplace.”

On Friday, Dec. 6, CBMM will delve into its newest special exhibition with “Sailing to Freedom: Recovering and Re-centering the Maritime Dimension of the Underground Railroad.”

This program will feature Dr. Timothy Walker, a history professor at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth whose book “Sailing to Freedom” provided the basis for CBMM’s soon-to-open exhibition in the Changing Exhibitions Gallery. Walker will share how his research has expanded understanding of how freedom was achieved by sea and what this journey looked like for untold numbers of African Americans.

More mission-focused Speakers Events are on the horizon in 2025, including a talk with historian Eric Cheezum sharing his scholarly research on Chessie the Chesapeake Bay Sea Monster (Jan. 30) and a program on the future of the Bay watershed (Feb. 6) with Martha Shimkin of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Chesapeake Bay Program Office and Anna Killius of the Chesapeake Bay Commission.

Additional speakers and programming will be announced in the coming months. Find more information about all CBMM’s upcoming events at cbmm.org/events.

The film “Water’s Edge: Black Watermen of the Chesapeake” comes to CBMM’s Van Lennep Auditorium on Thursday, April 18, at 5:30pm, as part of the Chesapeake Bay Week Film Festival. (Photo courtesy MPT)

ST. MICHAELS, Md., April 1, 2024 – The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is partnering with Maryland Public Television for a series of film screenings in the Van Lennep Auditorium later this month in celebration of the 20th anniversary of MPT’s Chesapeake Bay Week.

The Chesapeake Bay Week Film Festival kicks off Saturday, April 13 at 2pm with a showing of the new MPT film “Racing Rivals: Log Canoes of Chesapeake Bay.” Afterward, there will be a panel discussion, moderated by CBMM’s Chief Historian and log canoe racer Pete Lesher, featuring skippers, crew, and log canoe enthusiasts sharing stories of this unique Bay tradition. While this program has reached capacity, you can join a waitlist and get more information at cbmm.org/LogCanoeFilm.

On Thursday, April 18 at 5:30pm, the MPT documentary “Water’s Edge: Black Watermen of the Chesapeake” will be in the spotlight, highlighting stories of bravery and resilience in an industry packed with African American pioneers. Register and learn more at cbmm.org/WatersEdgeFilm.

There is a suggested donation of $10 per guest for these public screenings.

“We are proud to share these special previews of programming for Chesapeake Bay Week,” said Lesher, a regular contributor to MPT’s programming. “We supported MPT in the creation of both of these films on aspects of Chesapeake Bay culture with images from the CBMM archives and with our staff expertise.”

The Chesapeake Bay Week Film Festival begins Saturday, April 13, at 2pm with a showing of the new film “Racing Rivals: Log Canoes of Chesapeake Bay” followed by a panel discussion. (Photo courtesy MPT)

Both films will be featured on MPT during Chesapeake Bay Week, which this year runs April 21-27.

With its annual celebration of our nation’s largest estuary, MPT invites viewers to dive deep into the Bay’s rich history through the inspiring stories of the people who call it home. This edition features more than 22 hours of Bay-focused programming, with even more compelling content available for streaming through the free PBS App. More information, including a full schedule, is available at mpt.org/bayweek.

Premiering on MPT on Monday, April 22 at 8pm and repeating Saturday, April 27 at 8pm, “Racing Rivals: Log Canoes of Chesapeake Bay” introduces the sailors and racing enthusiasts keeping a centuries-old Eastern Shore tradition alive through exhilarating weekend regattas.

“Log canoe racing is a unique Maryland tradition,” Producer/Director Sarah Sampson said. “For those unfamiliar with the sport, the term may evoke an image of crude dugouts; a notion that couldn’t be further from the truth. Chesapeake Bay log canoes are elegant, fast, and–at times–perilous. Maryland Public Television is excited to introduce viewers to this historic fleet of racing sailboats and the people keeping the heritage alive through weekend regattas.”

First broadcast last spring during Chesapeake Bay Week, “Water’s Edge: Black Watermen of the Chesapeake” explores previously untold tales of industry trailblazers, including an ambitious steamboat captain who revolutionized recreation for Black Marylanders in the early 20th century, a pair of renowned sailmakers from Chestertown, and innovative present-day captains who are surviving by shifting their businesses to meet a changing market. This year, the film will air on MPT on Monday, April 22 at 8:30pm and Saturday, April 27 at 10pm.

In total, the Chesapeake Bay Week lineup features eight new programs, including “A Passion for Oysters,” which screened at CBMM, along with a discussion with the filmmakers, in January.

For the latest on upcoming CBMM programming, stay tuned to the calendar at cbmm.org/events.

The cruise boat PATRIOT begins its season on the weekend of April 20-21. Book online now at patriotcruises.com and save. (Photo by Tom McCall)

ST. MICHAELS, Md., March 11, 2024 – Make plans now to join the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum for exploration, relaxation, and family fun on the Miles River in the coming months through Patriot Cruises, log canoe racing charters, and more.

Providing on-the-water experiences is central to CBMM’s mission, and the addition of the cruise boat PATRIOT to the fleet last summer has expanded the offerings available for guests this year.

A St. Michaels tradition dating back to 1969, PATRIOT is a 65-foot, two-level vessel modeled to resemble a Chesapeake Bay steamboat with a capacity to provide tours for up to 149 passengers.

Patriot Cruises begins its season on the weekend of April 20-21 in conjunction with the Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival at CBMM and continues through the end of October.

Narrated Historical Cruises share the beauty and history of the region through stories highlighting the historic homes and wildlife along the route, while weekend Island Music Cocktail Cruises are more laidback with groovy tunes providing the soundtrack for the trip.

Guests can make reservations now and save at patriotcruises.com on cruises throughout the season. Combo tickets, good for a Narrated Historical Cruise and CBMM general admission, are also now available through the Patriot Cruises website and will be sold at the ticket booth during the season.

CBMM members save $4 on cruises booked with an online promo code or at the ticket booth. For opening weekend cruises, everyone can get an online-only deal and use promo code SEAGLASS2024 to save $10 off adult and senior tickets.

In addition, a limited number of season passes are available now for $80, offering access to all regularly scheduled Narrated Historical Cruises and Island Music Cocktail Cruises this year. These passes, which can be purchased at bit.ly/PATRIOTSeasonPass24, are valid for one guest and not transferrable.

On select weekends this summer, CBMM is offering private charters aboard its historic floating fleet vessels to watch log canoe races on the Miles River. (Photo by Sharon Thorpe)

On select weekends this summer, CBMM is also offering private river cruises aboard its historic floating fleet vessels to watch log canoe races on the Miles River.

These two-hour charters, scheduled for June 29 and 30, July 27 and 28, and Sept. 7, 8, 14, and 15, offer a chance for up to six passengers to get an up-close view at a unique Eastern Shore tradition. The cost is $375 per charter, with a 20% discount for CBMM members.

Registration for these cruises is open now at bit.ly/LogCanoeCruises2024, with a three-week sign-up period exclusively for CBMM members before open registration begins April 1. There are a limited number of charters available, and all cruises are dependent on marine conditions.

To become a CBMM member and access early registration as well as the charter discount, PATRIOT discount, and all the other exclusive programming and benefits of membership, visit cbmm.org/memberships or contact Membership Services Coordinator, Debbie Ruzicka at 410-745-4991 or druzicka@cbmm.org.

Races featuring Chesapeake Bay sailing log canoes are staples of the region with competitions held along the Chester, Miles, Choptank, and Tred Avon rivers. Featuring an iconic design featuring long masts and large sails, the log canoes keep upright as they reach speeds of 10 knots or more, thanks to crew members climbing to the ends of 15-foot boards that hang off the side.

Photographers, sailing aficionados, and wooden boat enthusiasts will all find something to enjoy on these action-packed charters led by an experienced captain and crew aboard a traditional Bay vessel in CBMM’s floating fleet.

New for this year, Patriot Cruises will be offering morning log canoe spectator cruises on days there is racing in the Miles River, as well.

Stay tuned to cbmm.org/cruises for the latest information on these offerings and more expected to be added in the coming weeks.

Captains featured in CBMM’s Her Helm special exhibition gathered in the Van Lennep Auditorim last September for photographer Kristin Rutkowski’s opening talk. (Photo by Sharon Thorpe)

Captains featured in CBMM’s Her Helm special exhibition gathered in the Van Lennep Auditorium last September for photographer Kristin Rutkowski’s opening talk. (Photo by Sharon Thorpe)

By Eric Detweiler, Marketing & Communications Manager

ST. MICHAELS, Md., Feb. 15, 2024 – Arriving at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s Van Lennep Auditorium last September for the opening celebration of Her Helm: Portraits of Women on the Chesapeake, Kate Dumhart wasn’t merely excited to see her photo featured on the wall.

The captain of the schooner Sultana was also thrilled to finally meet the other women whose stories are told through Kristin Rutkowski’s Bay-spanning photo project that inspired CBMM’s special exhibition.

Quickly, Dumhart realized she wasn’t alone.

“I felt like the biggest fangirl for everybody else’s experiences,” Dumhart remembered. “It was very disorienting that other people showed up feeling the same way about me.

“What Kristin has done is build a community of women who want to celebrate each other’s successes.”

With Her Helm, Rutkowski sought to challenge gendered stereotypes by highlighting women who captain vessels on the Bay.

The portrait photographer spent two years traveling the region to feature more than 50 women who make their own way on the water. The result is a collection of photos and stories covering all corners of the Bay, types of vessels, and paths to taking the wheel.

Rutkowski has featured these women – recreational power boaters and sailors, charter boat and tug captains, maritime and environmental educators, delivery boat and ferry operators, and more – on her website, social media, and a book published last year. In addition, a selection of them is featured on the walls of Van Lennep Auditorium as part of CBMM’s special exhibition that runs through this summer and in a parallel oral history project led by local writer Jennifer Shea.

For captains like Sarah Lawrence of Tow Jamm Marine and Chesapeake Boating Academy, it’s been invaluable to not just learn these stories but also make connections, and in some cases, friendships with women facing similar challenges and opportunities at the helm on the Bay.

Lawrence will be among a handful of captains coming together to share their unique background and experiences on an upcoming CBMM panel, moderated by Director of Curatorial Affairs & Exhibitions Jen Dolde, on Thursday, Feb. 29, at 5:30pm.

The suggested ticket price is $8 per participant, with both in-person and virtual options available at cbmm.org/HerHelmPanel. The exhibition, event, and oral histories are funded through CBMM’s Regional Folklife Center under the Maryland Traditions program of the Maryland State Arts Council.

“There are so many women involved that we can learn from, draw connections to, and network with,” Lawrence said. “It’s really cool when we can get together to connect those dots and see what other people are doing that’s working, what’s not working, and to be able to prop each other up without judgement or ego.”

Kristin Rutkowski’s Her Helm project has served to connect women who captain vessels across the region.

Rutkowski largely grew the project through word of mouth, allowing for the network to expand in interesting ways.

Dumhart, for instance, met the photographer late in the project through her friend Erica Baugh, who is Chief Operating Officer of the non-profit Upstream Alliance and a licensed 50-ton boat captain.

Gerrie McCottry connected with Rutkowski through friends in the Seafarers Yacht Club of Annapolis and jumped at the chance to be a part of the project.

Years ago, McCottry became comfortable on the water, learning alongside her now-husband off Columbia Beach on the Bay’s western shore in a 14-foot aluminum boat purchased from the Sears-Roebuck catalog. Today, she’s captain of a 37-foot Carver Aft Cabin named Chillin’ and always eager for the next adventure.

Along the way, McCottry has relished the opportunity to be a resource for other women, especially empowering those interested in making the leap to get out on the water for the first time. She has taught her daughters and grandchildren to drive and counseled many others through the yacht club.

“It’s a network that I believe will continue to grow,” said McCottry, who posed for Rutkowski’s camera at Annapolis’ Oyster Harbor in October 2022. “I always say that it gives you a great sense of confidence to be on a boat and know that you know how it works.”

Lawrence grew up on the water before turning her passion and skills into a career. Her latest project, Chesapeake Boating Academy, centers on teaching the next generation to be safe and comfortable at the helm. She’s offered training out of Kent Narrows for the past three years, and she recently expanded operations across the Bay with a new location in Annapolis.

Lawrence has been grateful to have Rutkowski to share her story and connect her with others who can help spread the word and provide insight as her business grows.

“Kristin’s just been phenomenal with the way she selflessly highlights so much talent across the Bay,” Lawrence said. “I don’t think women, especially in the maritime industry, promote themselves as much as they should, so to have another woman helping you share your voice is a powerful thing.”

Rutkowski has brought segments of the group together several times over the past year as she’s promoted the Her Helm project and launched the book. The biggest gathering of captains was at CBMM’s exhibition opening last fall when she delivered a talk about her work with a dozen or so captains in the audience.

The Her Helm community thrives online, too. Rutkowski frequently shares social media posts from the captains, and they are quick to interact with each other in the comments.

When Dumhart posts about a job opening on Sultana, she can count on a group of Her Helm captains to share the posting and expand its reach across the Bay and beyond.

That support is special to Dumhart, who discovered her maritime calling as an adult and took a non-traditional path to her 100-ton captain’s license and career aboard the education-focused tall ship. As she prepares for a return to CBMM to share her story during the Her Helm panel, she’s proud to be part of what Rutkowski has created and eager to do her part to keep growing those connections.

“In this line of work, it is rare to work with other women,” Dumhart said. “The visibility of everybody else’s success isn’t always there. To have a way to see what other people are doing and actually talk to them about those experiences is a really excellent benefit of what Kristin has created.”

CBMM will host a Watermen’s Story Swap on Jan. 11 at 5:30pm in the Van Lennep Auditorium, bringing together local watermen for a lively evening of tales about life working the Bay. (Photo by Karen Sadler)

By Eric Detweiler, Communications Specialist

ST. MICHAELS, Md., Dec. 20, 2023 – The son of a Kent Island waterman, Brent Lewis has been around men and women who make their living on the Chesapeake Bay his entire life.

Lewis said his mother early on shut down any thought that he might follow that path, but over the years, the local author and historian’s appreciation for the demanding work and the characters who keep the industry alive has only increased.

It’s why Lewis is so passionate about offering watermen a platform to share their stories.

“Living here for so long, I just had this idea that a lot of the people in our community don’t really understand the watermen’s life or what they do,” said Lewis, who will host a Watermen’s Story Swap on Thursday, Jan. 11 at 5:30pm in the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s Van Lennep Auditorium.

Lewis has emceed a handful of similar events over the past decade, and he’s realized the power of gathering watermen together to explain their shared experience through enlightening, funny, and often profound tales.

At CBMM, Lewis will lead a panel that features both working and retired watermen hailing from around the Eastern Shore. The suggested ticket price is $8 per participant, with both in-person and virtual options available at cbmm.org/WatermenStorySwap. The event is funded through CBMM’s Regional Folklife Center under the Maryland Traditions program of the Maryland State Arts Council.

Lewis has found certain themes—mentors, bad weather, and unexpected Bay adventures, to name a few—to be universal, but ultimately, it’s the panelists’ unique memories collected over years on the water and the free-flowing format that make these conversations equal parts entertaining and unpredictable.

“You never know where we’re going to end up,” Lewis said. “We don’t have to stick to the topics as long as everyone’s involved and having fun. It kind of runs the gamut between really hearty belly laughs to more emotional storytelling.”

The author of four books with a fifth underway, Lewis has long helmed an oral history project with the Kent Island Heritage Society, and at the first story swap in 2016, held before a standing-room crowd in Grasonville, he brought together eight watermen who he’d interviewed for that project. There have been other iterations, including a couple at Chesapeake College’s Chesapeake Storytelling Festival, but it’s been more than five years since the last one.

Lewis found a partner in CBMM through its Folklife Center to launch the latest Watermen’s Story Swap, this time with the focus expanding beyond Queen Anne’s County. He and videographer Josh Willis are recording an on-going series of oral histories as part of the partnership. The Jan. 11 Speaker Event, bringing together watermen from the mid and lower Eastern Shore, will be documented among that group.

Lewis said working with CBMM’s Director of Curatorial Affairs & Exhibitions Jen Dolde and Vice President of Education & Interpretation Jill Ferris has breathed new life into the project by backing his belief in the importance of capturing these stories—both the ordinary and extraordinary.

“Working with CBMM, their enthusiasm for getting these stories down before they’re gone has helped keep my enthusiasm up,” Lewis said. “I can tell by talking to Jen and Jill that this is something that they feel is positive and beneficial to the community. If we don’t take the opportunity to document these watermen’s stories, once they’re gone, they’re gone.”

As much as anything, Lewis is excited to reach a new audience with this Story Swap. He’s worked hard to assemble a panel that will represent different voices within the industry and bring together watermen from across the Chesapeake.

With the group spanning geography and generations all together on Jan. 11, Lewis will start the conversation and see where it goes.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Lewis said. “If it goes right—and knock on wood I’ve never had one go badly—it’s very entertaining, it’s very informative, and I don’t think the audience members forget it very quickly.

Don’t miss these CBMM Speaker Events this winter

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