What a great time to bring school age kids along for this special summertime trip to Poplar Island!!!

Learn how the Paul S. Sarbanes Ecosystem Restoration project was implemented to save Poplar Island after it had been eroded down to almost nothing. Today, the island is in the late stages of being restored to a natural habitat. The project has resulted in restoration of almost 400 acres of wetland habitat where more than 400 different species of wildlife have been documented and more than 30 different birds have been confirmed as nesting. See and hear how this was done and learn more about the inhabitants of this small island that has become a world model for its environmental restoration success.

Our trip to Poplar Island will leave from the Maryland Environmental Service Tilghman Island dock (turn left on Chicken Point Road right after crossing the bridge) at 9am and will include of a 30-minute boat ride to the island, a 2-hour bus tour with stops at points of interest, and a 30-minute boat ride back. The tour covers a variety of topics pertaining to Poplar Island including the beneficial use of dredged material for habitat restoration, salt-marsh habitat, island history, and more about the island’s wild inhabitants.

What to Expect:

You will learn about the history of the project, the engineering required to get the job done, the wildlife restoration efforts …and gain an appreciation of the wildlife this project supports. 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:  To make the tour enjoyable for all participants, please take the following into consideration: 

1. Tours run rain or shine; however, the tour may be cancelled in the event of severe weather. Please note that the island weather can be more severe than on the mainland, is unpredictable, and changes quickly. Therefore, if the Poplar Island staff feels it has become unsafe, cancellations can occur the same day as the tour. Chesapeake Forum will notify you as soon as possible if there is a cancellation.
2. Participants must be prepared to board a boat and climb a few steps; however, the amount of walking is minimal.  Closed-toed shoes with appropriate soles such as sneakers or hiking shoes/boots are required. Failure to wear closed-toed shoes will result in getting turned away at the dock.
3. The boat will depart promptly at the above scheduled time. Please make sure to arrive on time so that you are not left behind. Alternative boat transportation to dock on Poplar Island is not allowed. 
4. The tour does not include a designated lunch break but feel free to bring snacks. 
5. Tours can be enjoyed by people of all ages, but keep in mind that some of the topics covered may be advanced for younger visitors. 
6. Binoculars and cameras are encouraged.  Check the weather the night before – a light jacket might be a good idea.

Directions:  

The field trip to Poplar Island will leave from the Maryland Environmental Service Tilghman Island dock (turn left on Chicken Point Road after crossing the bridge) promptly at 9 am.  Please plan on arriving 10-15 minutes early to check in and receive a safety briefing. For your convenience, a portable toilet is available at the land base.

Please note:  Like most of our programming, Maryland Environmental Service provides this program to us for free.  The fee we charge covers a share of our programming expenses for Chesapeake Forum.  School-age kids can be registered free of charge using the code KIDS20 but the must be registered to attend. 

REGISTRATION IS LIMITED TO 24 (including kids).

FIELD TRIP (Meet at the Maryland Environmental Service Tilghman Island dock – directions above) | 1 session | Tuesday | July 16 | 9am – noon | $20