Students and faculty kicked off the fifth installment of the Stewardship of Public Waterways Brock Experience over Labor Day weekend. The course, CTZN 327 (Stewardship of Public Waterways), focuses on important civic issues related to the Chesapeake Bay and it's communities.
On their first day, students learned about the historical uses of the Bay and practiced their skills on "reading" public spaces. Following their overnight stay at the Baliles Center at Hull Springs, the group traveled to Smith Island. Here, students explored the Smith Island Cultural Center, learned about one of the keystone species (the blue crab), practiced Place as Text with local watermen, and collected important cultural data about the island's people. Their island adventures wrapped up with a day in Crisfield, MD at the Chesapeake Cowboys Extreme Boat Docking event to explore recreational uses of the Bay.
Over the next month, the course will continue to investigate more about the unique cultural aspects of the Chesapeake Bay communities, how climate change is affecting them, and conservation efforts related to oysters, blue crabs, and menhaden. Stay tuned for the next adventure in October!