Chesapeake Connections:

Bay Experiences

The 8th graders were able to visit several places on or near the Bay. We enjoyed our visits and learned a lot about the Bay. In some places we met people who have lived on the Bay for many years. We enjoyed meeting these people and interviewed them. Please click on the pictures of the places below for a virtual visit.

 

Smith Island

Fox Island

Mr. Beaver visits Smith Island

Reflections on My Bay Experiences.....

Chesapeake Connections

Eating Crabs

by Brad C., 9/98

After playing in the mud for a while, we went back to the house. Captain Dallas and Dave were preparing the crabs. After everybody got cleaned up we ate the crabs. They were the best crabs I have ever eaten. There were so many crabs that both tables had a plate about two feet long and a foot wide stacked up with crabs. Cleaning the crabs was pretty cool. To clean the crabs, you had to rip it's claws off, break the shell of the claw and pull out the meat. When you are finished with both of the claws, tear the shell off and clean out all of the nasty guts. Then take the filters off. After that you do that you break it in half so you have two lumps. Cut the two lumps in half, pull out the meat and enjoy.more Reflections

Hunting Arrowheads

by Nicholas K., 9/98

On our second day at Fox we went looking for arrowheads. We left in high hopes and came back with nothing more then bits of clay and parts of pots. On the island, we started looking for arrowheads. We found lots of stuff, but we only found one arrowhead and that arrowhead was found by the educator, Bart. My friends and I went wandering far looking for arrowheads, but didn't find anything. Then all of a sudden without any warning I became a foot shorter. When I looked down I saw that my legs were swallowed up by mud. I was stuck! I was covered in mud up to my waist. I couldn't even lift my foot a little. I just waited while Bart told me what to do. These are the steps if you ever fall waist deep in mud :
  1. Push your toe as far down as possible.
  2. Get something to hold onto.
  3. Lift with all your might!
Falling in the mud is no fun. Especially when you don't have a sign that says no flash photography. Overall I would recommend going to Fox Island while you still can. It's only going to be there for 10 more years. If you do go, say hi to "Unckie" Davy and Bart for us. That's the story of searching for the arrowheads.more Reflections

Canoeing With a Meatball --- Fox Island

by Daniel K., 9/98

The first day we were there we went canoeing. We canoed around a few small Islands. I was in a canoe with Nick in the rear, Jon in the middle (and we called him the Meatball.) I, Daniel, was in the front. We were doing all right, beside the fact that Jon was taking a break every two minutes, and Nick... well I don't even think Nick knew where we were supposed to be going. When we reached the first island we were pretty far behind the lead canoe. So to make up time we decided to take a short cut on a little path of water through the middle of the island. Of course, I was the one who had to pull when we got stuck in the sand because the water was too shallow. Of course, I was the one who fell in the water when there was a sudden five foot drop, and as the oxygen in my lungs faded away, I made one last shot for the top of the water. As I reached the top and grabbed the canoe all I could see was Nick and Jon laughing hysterically at me. Then as I slowly climbed back in, Jon was able to come out of his trance just enough to help me back into the canoe. I turned and looked at them and said, "Why didn't you guys help me out?" They said all at once, "Because it was funny!" Then they laughed again. Then we continued canoeing and as I turned to see the place that had almost finished my life, I realized that Mrs. Coutt's gang was taking the same route. I told Jon and Nick and we all stopped and watched Mrs. Coutts fall into the exact same hole and we all started laughing. Even though I got wet, I had a great time. I'd do it again in a minute.more Reflections

Crabbing at Fox Island

by Eric P., 9/98

After we got to Fox Island on the first day we went out to set up the crab pots. First we had to load each pot with dead, smelly fish. The fish were frozen and would tear in your hand. It was pretty nasty, but it was a learning experience. We learned to let others handle the fish. The "natives" had a ritual with setting out the crab pots. The last fish put in the pot had to be kissed by a person. Joe took that duty. When you throw a pot in the water you would have to scream, "Go get 'em!!!" The biggest sacred ritual was the throwing in of the "Golden Pot." The Golden Pot was the last pot to be thrown in the water. Instead of being a regular, metal color it was bright yellow. We all had to put a hand on the "Golden Pot" and sing a chant to the Crab Gods. Then we all threw the pot in and yelled, "Flying Squirrels." Tomorrow we will collect the pots and see what we caught.

The next afternoon we went scraping. We took out the big boat for this. She was the Aunt Allie. First Bart and Dave showed us how it was done. We hooked up a big net to the back to the boat and then when Captain Dallas gave the sign we had to pull them up into the boat. We got many crabs, but we could only keep the ones that were peelers, soft shelled, or over 5 inches. Most of the stuff we pulled up was grass, however. We also found fish and shrimp in the net.

Later that afternoon we collected the crab pots. We got pretty good results. Most of the pots had about 5 or 6 crabs in them. The only pot that didn't have any crabs was the "Golden Pot." I was devastated.more Reflections

Fun at Fox

by Jessica B., 10/98

On Tuesday the twentieth of October, 1998 we left for Crisfield, Maryland. It took us almost three hours to get to the dock. All we listened to was "Hey, Hey, We're the Monkees! " When we got there Davy and Bart came to the boat on the skiff in bellhop suits. We went canoeing, for me it was the first time. Since our canoe didn't have a name we titled it the S.S. Horvath. Mrs. Horvath and I paddled all the way to Clump Island. We went seining on the shore near the island. We caught many different things to put in our TV, "the aquarium". On the way back our boat tipped over. Luckily, we tipped over some SAVs (submerged aquatic vegetation). These SAVs are important to the wildlife that thrives here. The islands, the marsh, and the SAVs make up a habitat for the animals. We also set crab pots and watched the sunset.
On Wednesday the twenty - first we went marsh mucking and most of the twenty - one of us got stuck after following Davy on our hands and knees through the marsh. Davy and Bart went head first into the mud. When Davy came out he started coming after us and he attacked me and rubbed the mud all over me. We then went to Watts Island and we discovered why it was called Watts Island... there where light bulbs all over it !!! !!!! When we came back to the lodge we took a swim in the water and changed our clothes . We then got ready to go back out to get the crab pots. We caught a little over a bushel of crabs and now the cook crew is preparing it. Who knows what tomorrow will bring ? Until next time, see you all later !!!more Reflections

Sunrise on the Bay

by Kip E., 10/98

It was still dark when Captain Dallas came down the hall yelling something about getting awake, and Bart and Dave were barking. This was hard at first since it was so early, and still dark, but when I realized that we were getting up to see the sunrise we got up right away. I got a sweat shirt on and slapped on my sandals and ran outside.
When I got out on the deck I went up to the Crows' Nest on top of the roof with Jake, Nick and, Jon. This was an amazing site already. The horizon was a orangey-red color, and this was only the beginning. After about 15 minutes in the cold windy air, and complete silence, (partly because it was an awesome site and partly because we were so tired,) the sun made its first appearance. Everyone started clapping and taking pictures...... and then silence again. Everyone was astonished by it. The sun was moving rather quickly so that once the sun got half way up, its light was reflecting off the bay water and it looked like two suns. The few clouds that were above us turned a pinkish-cotton candy color. At this point everyone was completely overtaken by the sun's beauty, and Captain Dallas responded with, "Now tell me there aint a God after that." This is truly something I'll remember forever!more Reflections

Canoeing

by Meredith L., 10/98

A great first trip to Fox Island. Even though this is only the beginning of the second day we have had lots of fun. One thing we did that was fun was to go canoeing. I remember it as though it was this morning. The violent current throwing our canoe to and fro. It seemed the students had a little more luck than one of the teachers that shall remain nameless. That teacher and one student tipped over on our way back from Clump Island. We had fun by pulling the string at the end of the boat of one of the other boats. On the way to Clump Island we went under the house and almost collided with the well pipes. Also on the way there most people started either a water fight or a canoe race. The canoe I was in had both, even though we lost both boat races it was still fun. We took a different route on the way back so that we didn't run in to the well pipes. more Reflections

What's Important?

by Michael S. 10/98

At Fox Island the most important thing is not to think. Sure you have to think about what your guide says and where you are going, but when you are out in the mud or in the rain or on the beach you don't have to think. You are not supposed to think. You should just jump in and have some fun. Remember this while you are here and you will have a great time.more Reflections

My Wacky, Out Of This World, Muskrat Mud Adventure at Fox island

by Joe B., 9/98

One evening, at about evening time (in Fox Time), Bart, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation educator, told us to put on our mucking clothes. Then we walked down the walkway to the boot shed. We were all a tad confused until Bart opened the back of the shed and jumped into the cold waters of the Chesapeake Bay.
I happened to be in the front of the line so I jumped in right after him (Bart.) As the freezing waters enveloped the lower half of me I uttered a yell of joy. This was insane. As I began to walk west to Big Island I turned to look back. I saw a line of people jumping into the cold water like lemmings even though all the people before them were yelling like madmen. We all followed Bart without hesitation.
When we all reached Big Island Bart informed us that we were to play follow the leader in muskrat style. Bart would imitate a muskrat going through a marsh and we were to follow.
"Will we get messy?" asks Ms. Martin.
"Oh, no." replies Bart.
We started running toward the heart of the island until, Bart seemingly tripped and fell into a small stream. It was about three feet wide and extremely muddy. But to our surprise, Bart started crawling down the stream and beckoned us to follow.
Now we stopped to question his judgment, but in the end we all got in. Now, the thing you need to know about marsh mud is that it is almost liquid. In the stream the water was about one foot high. But we sunk in about two more feet. To keep from sinking we had to walk on our hands and let our bodies float. The mud was black and smelly but I loved it. Bart moved along at a quick pace and we had to try hard not to kick mud onto the person behind us.
After about 100 yards Bart got out of the muck and ran along a path. He was covered in black mud. We all got up followed him glad to be out of the warm slimy mud. Bart jumped all of a sudden. Strange, I thought as I suddenly realized that he had missed the three foot deep hole I was falling into. I quickly got out as the next person plummeted down. A few yards ahead Bart hurled himself into a pond of blackish water.
"NO WAY!" I yelled but did it anyway.
Everyone followed no matter how revolted they were. Bart began to lather himself in the funky mud. Bart then took it upon himself to instruct us in the landing procedure of a black duck. He took a running start and did a flying incredibly amazing scary belly flop (to be exact.) Then I got out and jumped in straight like a pencil. I sunk in the mud up to my waist. Steven and Eric had to pull me out. Then I decided to become a black duck. Bart held up a mud pile in the center of the pond. This, was my target. I ran and did a belly flop right on target. My whole body went under. I was enveloped by mud.
After a Group cannon ball with Brad, Eric, Steven, Kip, and I, we decided to sit and watch the sunset from the marsh. After that we went back. On the way I fell in the hole again. Our bodies were covered in a layer of muck. All white clothes turned grayish, brownish, black. My white shoes couldn't be identified.
We walked back in the water toward the canoe dock through the water. It cleaned us all off. I could see my shoes again. After drying off we had a delicious crab dinner.
THAT WAS MY WACKY OUT OF THIS WORLD MUSKRAT MUD ADVENTURE AT FOX ISLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
more Reflections

The House on Fox Island

by Bobby O., 9/98

At Fox Island we stayed in a cool house. The house we stayed at was solar powered. In the front of the house there was a rack of shoes. If you needed any you could take them, because we got pretty muddy. The house is supported by stilts right above the water. The house had a big front porch with furniture. When you walk into the house it looks like a long hall with doors to your left and right. The first room to your right was the living room. The living room had many small little things. On the ceiling there was a dead mouse hanging. It was there to scare all the other mice from coming. There were also many skeletons of animals. There was artwork from other people that visited Fox Island before. There was also our so called "TV." It was really an aquarium with many living animals that we found. It was some form of entertainment. In our dinning room we had tables to eat off of. In the kitchen there was a bicycle that was just for pumping the water for the sink. If you went up to a certain speed the pipes would blow. There were also gas powered stoves and a solar powered refrigerator. At Fox Island there is really no where to throw your trash, so we had to eat every single crumb off our plates. There are girls and boys bedrooms. At the end of the hall there was the Clivus, or the bathroom. The toilet looked like a trash can. There was no flush also. The waste went in a container in the bottom of the toilet. Then the waste stays there for three years and is made into fertilizer. On the top of the house on the roof, there was a place you could climb up to and get a good view of the island. It is called the crow's nest. Outside of the house there was a shed that held all the sailing equipment. For a house built in the 1920s, the house is in good shape.more Reflections

Our Closing Poem

composite thoughts on leaving Fox Island, Bart J., scribe, 9/98

Ahh! The marsh and the blue crabs.
The millions of stars we never knew existed.
We learned from the muskrat and from the sunrise.
Taking home the stinky smell and the taste of the Bay.
A messy bunch exploded like cannonballs in the mud.

Foxes produces yet again-
Scraping was a hit; the hard and lonely oyster gave us a lesson
and the green man gave us a chill.
Conservation learned-
A strict, stern slop cop taught us clean ways.
Constant chatter from the many birds
and the crimson sun and pink dawn sky
reminds us forever.
The fun, the canoeing, the international silent football league, oh boy!.
And don't forget the toeless sea fox.

Stories abound as "Unckie" Davey is flying like a squirrel........
...........and landing like a duck.
The excitement in new eyes upon a fresh batch of 

SAV's,
	crabs, 
		shrimps, 
			and all.

Lessons learned at Fox teach more to heart, soul, and essence
as we have now become an integral part of what we learn about.
Feel the spirit and learn to teach others with your new gained
heart, soul, and essence.

Forest Oak Flying Squirrels
9.22.98

more Reflections

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This site is created and maintained by Holly Geddes.
Last updated on March 21, 2003