News Release
Annapolis Maritime Museum / 723 Second St / Annapolis, MD 21403
Contact: Jeff Holland / 410-295-0104 / director@amaritime.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Annapolis Maritime Museum launches new ‘Chesapeake Champions’ initiative
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Brooke Hodges presents a $10,000 Bank of America sponsorship for AMM’s new education program, ‘Chesapeake Champions’ to the kids from Eastport Elementary School. AMM’s education director Heather Ersts on the left, next to Eastport teacher Susan Clouse. Eastport teacher Jane Hall is second to right. Ms. Clouse and Ms. Hall are co-site directors for Eastport Elementary’s Title One Extended Day Program. |
The Annapolis Maritime Museum recently completed the first phase of a new education initiative, “Chesapeake Champions,” a year-long Title One Extended Day program launched in October with a $10,000 grant from Bank of America.
Through three six-week sessions, more than 100 students from Eastport Elementary School are connecting to the environment and culture of the Chesapeake Bay through hands-on, life-changing activities that are a direct application of their school curricula in reading, math, and science.
Each week the students measure water temperature, salinity, and clarity; they observe, measure, and document the Museum’s terrapins and oysters; and account for funds they’re raising to support the upkeep of the terrapins.
The first six weeks included a boat ride on the Bay — the first for a third of the children — an in-depth exploration of oysters and terrapins, meeting a working waterman, and writing their own Bay-inspired song with folklorist and song-writer Janie Meneely. The kids sang the song for their parents at a program at the school in December:
“Put your trash into the bin
Good stuff out – bad stuff in
Work together, we’ll find a way
To save our beautiful Chesapeake Bay.”
At the end of each session students record facts and their thoughts in observation logs, which their teachers review and respond to with thought-provoking questions and comments.
“My child has become more excited and interested in the Bay and what it means to the area where he lives,” wrote one Eastport Elementary School parent on an evaluation form.
The next six-week session starts in January 2008.
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Annapolis Maritime Museum |
PO Box 3088 |
Annapolis, MD 21403
410 295-0104
office@amaritime.org
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