Center for Environment & Society

The week of July 17-21, the Center for Environment & Society hosted the inaugural Young Environmental Stewards Conference for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Over the week, students explored the local Chester River...

The Applied Ecology class taught by Robin Van Meter heads to Foreman’s Branch Stream that flows into the Chester River. The students submerged leaf packs into the stream and left them for three weeks. On the...

These photos are from the third even in a series of events, “The New Face of Farm to Table: Insects on the Menu.” The series introduced entomophagy, the eating of insects, starting with a global...

Dr. Schindler will lead in the making of cricket tacos on corn tortillas made from scratch for all to entice their taste buds. Dishes include cricket tacos and scones made from cricket flour.

Participants (at least 2 people on a team, with a max of 6 people on a team) design and build a human-powered boat made of corrugated cardboard which is capable of completing a trip around...

The traditional RiverFest is a draw for the WC family and community. Every year, folks take to the shore of the Chester River to enjoy art, education, food, and a cardboard boat race.

Looking beyond short-term yields to regenerative and organic farming. Presentation by Jeff Moyer, executive director Rodale Institute.

In partnership with the Center for Environment & Society, the Chester River Association invites you to join us for the first annual State of the Chester event introducing the 2015 Chester River Report Card, revealing

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Dr. Harry Sears, Ed Fry, and Jay Griswold hosted the second annual Chino Fox Chase at Chino Farms in Queen Anne’s County Maryland on March 13, 2016.  A joint meet with Green Spring Valley and ...

A panel discussion between farmers, environmentalists, and the public.

TED Speaker  Leyla  Acaroglu   dives into the fascinating world of opportunities that is  sustainable design and innovation.

Every year as part of Downrigging Weekend, CES joins the crew of Lady Maryland and the fleet of tall ships for an afternoon sail. 

The first annual Chestertown RiverFest, hosted by the Center for Environment & Society, Chestertown RiverArts, and SANDBOX, took the place of the original Chester River Waterfront Festival during Fall Family Weekend

On Saturday, April 18th, CES led two kayak trips around the Chester River side of Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge. We couldn’t ask for better weather.

The Student Environmental Alliance teamed up with the Center for Environment & Society to coordinate Chestertown Earth Hour, an electricity-free celebration of music, food, games, and a performance by WACappella.

With the landmark Chesapeake Semester, the Center for Environment & Society invites students to undertake unique interdisciplinary studies with the Chesapeake Bay at their core.

In his talk, Tallamy discussed why specialized food relationships determine the stability and complexity of the local food webs that support animal diversity, why it is important to restore life to our residential properties, and...

On Friday, February 6, Rachel Paparone shared her research on the relationship between literature and environmental attitudes in France and in Francophone North America.

Center for Environment & Society organized a kayak trip to Eastern Neck Wildlife Refuge for Washington College students, faculty, staff, and friends. If you missed this trip, keep your eyes and ears open for information ...

Food Day is a national event that inspires Americans to change their diets and our food policies. Every October 24, thousands of events all around the country bring Americans together to celebrate and enjoy real food...

Students, families, and members from all over the community came together Saturday, September 20th to enjoy a number of traditions. Vendors and activities included  pit beef, fish fry, Kilby Cream ice cream, Seaworthy Small Ships model   ...

The Center for Environment & Society hosts the annual Chester River Waterfront Festival at Wilmer Park.

The annual Locavore Lit Fest returned to Chestertown March 27-30 with talks by nationally known writers and regional experts, this year with a focus on youth, nutrition and agriculture. Topics will include “Farm to School”...

As part of the Recipes for Change series, author of Kitchen Literacy  Ann Vileisis spoke about how we lost our way on the road from farm to table, and chart a return to “a ...

Human origins research scientist Briana Pobiner opened the Recipes for Change series. She spoke about what our ancestors ate and how we know.

After Dr. Marcus Eriksen of the 5 Gyres Institute and students trawled in the Chester River for plastic trash, Kathy Thornton ’13 examined some finds under a microscope. Microscopic plastic pollutes oceans and waterways worldwide.

Carl Hershner, Director of the Center for Coastal Resources Management and Associate Professor of Marine Science at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, was recently featured in the Bay Journal discussing adaptive best ...

On October 24, 2013, Washington College took part in it’s first Food Day! Food Day is a nationwide celebration of local and sustainable food, with a mission to get more healthy food in schools and...

During Assistant Professor Robin Van Meter’s on-the-water Introduction to Environmental Studies class, students aboard the College’s research vessel Callinectes used a variety of instruments to measure water quality and weather conditions, and to net, identify, measure,...

The Center for Environment & Society organized a trip for the Student Environmental Alliance to support a day of service at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.

The SANDBOX program launches its first exhibition featuring famed sculptor, John Ruppert.  Faculty, students and community members alike flocked to Kohl Gallery to see the works and get to know a little bit more about...

Pictures from the many events that were “Earth Week 2013” at Washington College!

To kick off Earth Week, Dining Services hosted a cooking competition in which three dishes are prepared without meat or gluten.

This year’s Locavore Lit Fest kicked off at Evergrain bakery with a cheese making demonstration as well as a talk by Jim Weaver, author of Locavore Adventures. There was also a selection of wines and...

Dr. Hazel Barton, world-renowned cave microbiologist, spoke about the epidemic of white nose syndrome in bat populations in the eastern United States. The talk was streamed live ( http://new.livestream.com/washcoll/bats ) and sponsored by the Center ...

Images from the 2013 Burger Night at Unity Nursery. Proceeds from this event go to fund the annual Locavore Lit Fest, which is coming up in March! 

Interns from the Chester River Field Research Station over the years.

Images from the Waterfront Festival and Cardboard Boat Regatta.

Select photos from the Chesapeake Semester 2012!

Volunteers and visitors show off Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge. 

Northern Saw-whet owl banding at Foreman’s Branch Bird Observatory has been extremely successful this fall, with more than 250 birds banded to date. On November 15, several owls were examined and documented.

The  Callinectes , Washington College’s most recently acquired research vessel, offered short tours of the Chester River. Some folks opted for a longer tour aboard the Schooner  Sultana .

The Student Environmental Alliance spent a weekend in the woods volunteering at Camp Tockwogh, a nonprofit summer program geared to help children understand their ecological relationship with the world.

Dr. John Seidel took students from his Marine Archaeology course to visit the USS Constellation in the Inner Harbor of Baltimore. Students were able to walk through the ship from the hull to the deck ...

The Chesapeake Semester team was fortunate to visit Machu Picchu on the 100th anniversary of the re-discovery of this sacred Incan city.

Traversing Peru from West to East: The Chesapeake Semester team left Lima’s arid coastal desert and the ribbon of marine abundance of seals, sea lions and guano birds along its shores for the Amazonian interior....

On their second day in Peru, students enrolled in the Chesapeake Semester boarded a bus and headed south along the coast to Paracas and the Marine-protected Ballestas Islands. They saw the abundance of Peru’s guano...

The Chesapeake Semester returns to Peru for a two week comparative study of the country’s ecosystems and cultures.

C.V Starr Center staffers, along with affiliated students, fellows, and friends, boarded the Pride of Baltimore II , a reproduction 1812 top-sail schooner, to celebrate the kickoff of Downrigging Weekend and the history of ...

As part of the third journey, which concentrates on policy that effects the bay, Chesapeake Semester students visited a variety of farms, including grain farms, a poultry operation, two dairies, and leaders.

With the requisite lectures in the natural sciences under their belt, Chesapeake Semester students started off on their second Journey that would last 10 days and take them from the remote and peaceful forests of...

With the requisite lectures in the natural sciences under their belt, Chesapeake Semester students started off on their second Journey that would last 10 days and take them from the remote and peaceful forests of...

The Center for Environment & Society teamed up with campus and community groups for the annual Waterfront Festival as part of Fall Family Weekend.

Sailing aboard the 18th-century schooner  Sultana , a group of first-year students explored the rich history of the Chesapeake Bay. Organized by Washington College’s C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, this ...

The Chesapeake Semester spent a second day in the Tambopata National Reserve.

Chesapeake Semester continues its journey through the Tambopata National Reserve.

Traversing Peru from West to East: The Chesapeake Semester team has gone from the desert coast at Punta San Juan by bus to the Upper Andes in Cusco by plane, to the Cloud Forests of...

Chesapeake Semester students armed with water bottles and headlamps woke up at 3:30 a.m. to hike up to Machu Picchu to get the limited access passes to Wanya Picchu, the sacred peak above Machu Picchu.

Chesapeake Semester continues their Peruvian adventures by hiking on the Incan Trail.

Students explore the wildlife, culture, and cuisine of The Potato Park.

Students explore the city of Cusco, Peru.

Students spent a second day in the area studying bird behavior.

The Chesapeake Semester travelledd through Punta San Juan, a protected area in southern Peru that is a sanctuary for Humboldt penguins and other wildlife. There, students helped at a biological research station studying birds and...

The Chesapeake Semester team didn’t stay in Lima long. The team was up before day-break and on the road heading south to UPHC-CSA’s biological research station at the Guano Reserve in Punta San Juan. Before...

Chesapeake Semester flew into the Peruvian capital and explored the city.

Sponsored by the Center for Environment and Society, the Office of the Dean, and Massoni Art of Chestertown, Washington College hosted the opening of ‘The Art of the Waterman—The Simison Collection” in conjunction with the ...

As part of the third journey, which concentrates on policy that affects the bay, Chesapeake Semester students traveled to Cambridge, MD to visit Horn Point Lab and the Oyster Recovery Partnership to see how oysters...

As part of the third journey, which concentrates on policy that affects the bay, Chesapeake Semester students visited a variety of farms, including grain farms, a poultry operation, two dairies, and a diversified operation that ...

The Poultry industry drives the economy of the Delmarva. It is the predominant source of agriculture and the primary reason that the relatively small family farms of the Eastern Shore can continue to grow grain...

The Delmarva Peninsula is well known for its beautiful rural working landscapes. Over the course of the next week students would spend time with farmers, academics, environmental watchdogs, lawyers and businessmen learning about how preserving ...

Drew Frank ‘03 and Teris Pantazes ‘03 of  Seven Seas Energy  teamed up with Climate Action Coordinator Briggs Cunningham to install an anemometer atop Roy Kirby, Jr. Stadium. The device will measure and record wind speed to

Students spent a full day at the Chincoteague Island National Wildlife Refuge birding and kayaking through the marshes.

The Chesapeake Semester boarded the Captain Jason in Crisfield, MD for a 40 minute boat ride to the small community of Smith Island to discover Chesapeake culture. The next day, they headed down to ...

Hardened from the cool weather of Shenandoah Valley National Park, the Chesapeake Semester team made their way back eastward across the watershed. They would make many stops along the way, including Great Falls, Blackwater National Wildlife...

After spending the night in the forest, Chesapeake Semester set off through the forest once again. They learned about the Shenandoah River and picked up tips for foraging for naturally-growing food in the region.

With the requisite lectures in the natural sciences under their belt, Chesapeake Semester students started off on their second Journey that would last 10 days and take them from the remote and peaceful forests of...

The final day of Journey 1 would be spent at Conowingo Dam, the Susquehanna State Park and the C&D canal. Built in 1925, the Conowingo Dam is a major milestone in the development of the...

Continuing their Journey northward, C.S. students arrive in the historic port town of the Upper Bay, Havre de Grace. Known around the country for the productive Susquehanna Flats and the abundant waterfowl that would feed ...

Students in the Chesapeake Semester took a sunset cruise on the Skipjack Martha Lewis with special guest Michael Helfrich, the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper, who discussed challenges facing the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

Continuing their tour of the Chesapeake, students enjoyed a rich morning in Historic St. Mary’s City. They explored archaeological sites with Dr. John and Liz Seidel, the re-created town of Maryland’s first capital and its...

Wrapping up an informative few days at Colonial Williamsburg, Chesapeake Semester students progress onward up the James River to one of the few remaining historical plantations that line its shores. They arrive at the Shirley ...

Students spent the first half of the day exploring the many museums, taverns, and interactive exhibits of Colonial Williamsburg. In the afternoon the next day they met on the green of the Governors’ Mansion ...

Chesapeake Semester students hit the road for Journey 1, “Discovering a Sense of Place,” which included a ten-day 842 mile trip circumnavigating the Bay. Students departed from Chestertown and traveled down the Delmarva and up ...

After an amazing canoe paddle from Rolph’s Wharf to Quaker Neck, the students met with Captain Andrew McCown on the skipjack Elsworth for dinner and stories to be told while anchored in the channel. They...

Put in: Rolph’s Warf Bring: Bathing suits, sun screen, fishing gear, lunch Mission: Answer the question: “Can the middle Chester possibly be as fun, rich, and unique as the Upper Chester!?” Itinerary: Paddle, fish, explore, ...

After our orientation to the Chesapeake Semester at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, a skipjack sail and 4 bushel of crabs, students visited Echo Hill Outdoor school for some trust and team building exercises. ...

It’s Fall and the Chesapeake Semester’s back at it! This year’s Orientation week took us to the campus of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD where students received behind the scenes tours...

After a well-rested night back on campus, Chesapeake Semester students headed to Havre de Grace at the north of the Bay for their final day of Voyage 1. They explored the Susquehanna flats and lighthouses...

After a long day exploring Calvert Marine Museum and the Maryland Archeology Conservation Lab, Chesapeake Semester students push forward northward to Historic London Town of Anne Arundel County, located on the South River, to capture...

As the Chesapeake Semester students made their way north through Calvert County along the Western Shore they took the opportunity to explore the Calvert Marine Museum with exhibits capturing the natural and cultural history of...

From Richmond, VA, Chesapeake Semester students entered back into the great state of Maryland via 301 North to arrive in Lexington Park. The following days exploration took them to Historic St. Mary’s City where they...

With the Williamsburg tour wrapped up, students boarded the Chesapeake Semester vans and headed toward Virginia’s capitol, Richmond, before crossing back over into Maryland. In Richmond, students had the opportunity to explore the Civil War...

On their third day in Williamsburg, Chesapeake Semester students were given assignments to explore. What messages about history are portrayed here? How did the life of the free and the enslaved affect each other? ...

Chesapeake Semester students spent their first day in Williamsburg gaining a perspective on the colonial history of the nation’s first Capitol. After exploring the streets before lunch, they visit Williamsburg’s Archeology Lab, developing critical insight...

Historic Jamestowne is America’s birthplace and an essential stop as Chesapeake Semester students explore the nation’s history and widen their breadth of a sense of place. On their first day, the students observed the ...

Continuing their journey southwest, students in the Chesapeake Semester left the Eastern Shore of Virginia and crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel to arrive at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) in Gloucester Point ...

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...

The first week of the Chesapeake Semester included local and regional orientation activities at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, water tours with the Chester and Sassafras River Associations, and team building at Echo Hill Outdoor...

The inaugural class of the Chesapeake Semester met as a group for the first time for a kickoff dinner by the Chester River.

Students in the first-year seminar “Writing On Water” took a sunset cruise on the Elsworth, an historic 40-foot skipjack belonging to the Echo Hill Outdoor School. Captain Andy McCown ‘77, Associate Director of EHOS, entertained ...

Composting is an essential part of Washington College’s culture of sustainability. Learn more about the process involved in each stage outlined below.