Tours & Programs

Student groups include public, private, and home schooled classes as well as camp and scout groups.

Chesapeake Bay Discovery Tour
Ages: 2nd through 12th grades
Tour Duration: 1 ½ hours
Explore the rich heritage of the people who have made the shores of the Chesapeake Bay their home. Learn how this estuary has attracted a diverse population, shaping the lives of early Native Americans to current residents and find out why the Chesapeake Bay plays an important role in our nation’s story. Discover how the Bay provided an avenue for trade, a bountiful food source for a growing country, a site for the fight for independence as well as a popular recreation destination. On this tour walk through a lighthouse that’s over 125 years old, pick up a working decoy, encounter hunting skiffs, stand on a recreated tobacco wharf and much more. Exhibitions visited: Bay History, Waterfowling, Hooper Strait Lighthouse. Possible additions: Steamboat Building, Waterman’s Wharf, Boatyard, At Play on the Bay (beginning June 2005).

Chesapeake Bay Bounty Tour
Ages: 2nd through 12th grades
Tour Duration: 1 ½ hours
In this hands-on program discover what it means to “follow the water” to the many people who work the Bay year-round harvesting crabs, oysters, eels, and fish. At Waterman’s Wharf, step inside a waterman’s shanty and follow his seasonal rounds. Try hand-tonging for oysters, baiting eel pots, and setting a crab pot. Board an oyster dredgeboat and lend a hand raising sail. Imagine yourself part of her crew dredging for oysters on the cold water of the Chesapeake. Visit the waterfowl exhibit and consider how the seasonal influx of migratory waterfowl provided a livelihood for many people in the Chesapeake region.
Please note: The sail raising will take place weather and wind conditions permitting.
Exhibitions visited: Waterman’s Wharf, Floating Fleet, Waterfowling. Possible additions: Oystering on the Chesapeake

Self-guided Tours
We recommend that you register for a guided program in order to get the most out of your visit. However, if you do not wish to do so, you may make a reservation for a self-guided tour. We can provide scavenger hunts for your use while touring the Museum grounds, exhibits, and buildings. Please reserve in advance at (410) 745-2916 x 111 if you would like to book a self-guided tour, or register online.

Program Fees

Guided Tours
Register Online
Register Online (Talbot County Schools)
Register Online (Non-School Group)

Chesapeake Bay Discovery Tour or
Chesapeake Bay Bounty Tour

Maryland Students
$4.00 per student
No charge Talbot County students

Out of State Students
$8.00 per student

All Teachers/Chaperones
$8.00 per adult

Self-Guided Tours
Register Online
Register Online (Non-School Group)

Maryland Students
$2.00 per student
No charge Talbot County students

Out of State Students
$4.00 per student

Planning Your Visit

Reservations: Please make your reservation at least one month in advance. To make a reservation, register online or call Reservations at 410-745-2916 ext.111 between 10:00 am and 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday. If you do not reach someone when you call, please leave your name, your school's name, telephone number, and the best time for your call to be returned.

Chaperones: The Museum requires one designated chaperone for every 6 students. Chaperones are expected to remain with their groups for the duration of the visit. These chaperones will be admitted to the Museum at the group rate.

Behavior: To ensure that all Museum guests enjoy their visit, we ask that you share the following rules with your students and chaperones.

• Considerate behavior is expected of all visitors; teachers and chaperones are responsible for their students’ behavior.

• We reserve the right to ask any disorderly group or individual to leave.

• These rules apply in the Museum Store.

• Please allow a maximum of 12 children in the Store at a time and assign two chaperones with the group. You will be responsible for their behavior while visiting the Store.

Preparation
To make the most of your visit, we encourage you to prepare an activity sheet for your students to complete or provide several challenges for students to meet during their visit. For example, devise questions that require students to interact with the exhibits or ask questions of their Museum guide.

Teacher Resources: Teacher resource packets containing background information for each of the school programs as well as suggestions for pre- and post- visit activities are sent with program confirmations.

Complimentary teacher passes to the Museum may be obtained from the Education Department to help plan group visits. A pre-visit planning trip to the Museum will help you familiarize yourself with the Museum exhibits and grounds; discuss your group visit with a member of the Education Department (please make an appointment in advance); verify the travel time to St. Michaels; prepare additional activities for your class; and browse in the Museum Store for materials to use in the classroom. If you are interested, please contact Youth Programs Coordinator Rachel Dolhanczyk at rdolhanczyk@cbmm.org or (410) 745-2916 x 103

Girl Scout Patch: The Chesapeake Bay Patch
Visiting the Museum will allow you to complete an activity for The Chesapeake Bay Patch. For further information go to the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland website at
www.gscm.org/adults/attachments/ChesapeakeBay.pdf

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