The Marine Science Legacy Program brings knowledge and understanding for the Chesapeake Bay ecology, history and future to Middlesex County area students.
Oyster Festival Education Day is a day of hands-on learning at the Urbanna Waterfront on the Thursday before the festival. Students learn from experts and through activities like building seine nets, examining oyster spat and other creatures with microscopes, using models to demonstrate shoreline erosion, and hoisting sails on tall ships. Education Day is a cooperative effort that brings the expertise of local environmental groups, universities and historical institutions. The exhibits and visiting ships are open to all festival visitors on Friday and Saturday.
The Marine Science Legacy Program also provides opportunities for exploration with on-the water experiences for over 300 students. These field trips may take place on kayaks in Urbanna Creek, or larger boats on the Rappahannock River. Field trips to archeological sites that reveal the history and geography of the Bay are also planned.
The Marine Science Legacy Program is made possible through the support of the Urbanna Oyster Festival Foundation, the Town of Urbanna, grants, sponsorships, and the work of many volunteers. It advances an appreciation for all the gifts that the water brings to our region, including the oysters and promotes the preservation of the life of the rivers and the Chesapeake Bay.
