News and Events
Mockhorn Island
September 13-14, 2009
The Chesapeake Semester has begun its maiden voyage. Moving in a clockwise direction around the Bay, students have started exploring the Chesapeake Bay watershed, analyzing landscapes, waterscapes, local history, and unique ecosystems as they begin to develop a sense of place. For the first leg of the journey, the group overnighted in Cape Charles to rise early following day to explore the geomorphology of nearby Mockhorn Island, one of the oldest Atlantic coastal islands, with archaeologist Darrin Lowery.
Click to enlarge photos by Mike Hardesty '05.
Students put in at Oyster, VA.
The local economy is supported by waterman and their harvests of oysters, clams, and other seafood.
At low tide Oyster Bars can be seen jutting up through the water in abundance.
Kelsey Hallowell '12 and Laura Carman '12 on shore mucking through bay grass, Spartina patens.
Liz Shandor '11
Program Manager, Mike Hardesty '05 mucking around for intertidal creatures.
An intertidal creature, the fiddler crab.
Laura Lazenby '11 takes on the muddy ascent from a tidal creek drop off as Danielle Bellezza '11 and Brittany Hulbert '11 prepare to follow suit.
Brittany Hulbert '11 "This silted mud feels exhilarating on my feet!"
Danielle Bellezza '11: "I love this class!"
Kelsey Hallowell: "I think the intertidal zones of the Atlantic coastal islands are fascinating. I wish I had known about them earlier!"
Laura Lazenby '11 and Danielle Bellezza '11
Dan Danko '12 holds a rock crab
Darrin Lowery, of Washington College and the Smithsonian, examines soils and peat marsh for evidence of ancient landscapes and sea level rise.
Students explore the textural characteristics of the soil sample
Mockhorn Island
Benji Duke '10
With energy left over, students partake in a little foot race. Mike Hardesty '05 reasons "high knees" were the key for his undefeated record.
Students cap the day with an authentic Eastern Shore, VA feast from the world-famous roadside restaurant, Sting Rays.