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High School
Chesapeake Bay – Sea Kayak & Environmental Service
An 8 day expedition for ages 16 to 18
Paddle through the largest estuary in the United States, where rivers meet the ocean and every stroke puts you deeper into one of the country’s most important ecosystems.
Travel by sea kayak, camp along the shoreline, and take part in hands on service that helps protect the Chesapeake Bay.
Scholarships
Frequently Asked Questions
Open 
Maryland/West Virginia
About This Course
Activity
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Kayaking -
Service Projects
Setting & Location
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Coastal -
Course Start Location: Baltimore -
Course End Location: Baltimore
Students Can Earn
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College Credit
Session Details
1 session are available for this course
What You’ll Learn
Strengthen decision making, communication, and teamwork in a dynamic environment where conditions change daily. Learn how estuaries and watersheds function and why they are vital to both people and wildlife. Return home more confident, more independent, and ready for what’s next.
What You'll Do
Travel the Chesapeake Bay by sea kayak, navigating tidal waters and changing conditions as a team. Each day, you will paddle, set up camp, cook meals, and take on leadership roles within your crew. You will learn navigation, paddling technique, and how to read tides. You will also complete environmental service projects that directly support the health of the Bay.
Where You'll Be
Explore the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States, where a 64,000 square mile watershed meets the Atlantic Ocean. Paddle through tributaries like the Nanticoke River, a 64 mile tidal river with more than 50,000 acres of wetlands that support wildlife from blue crabs to bald eagles. These waterways are alive with movement, shaped by tides, weather, and the constant flow between land and sea.
Why It Matters
The Chesapeake Bay supports millions of people and thousands of species, but it depends on ongoing protection to stay healthy. On this course, you will see that impact firsthand, from restored wildlife populations to the challenges facing coastal ecosystems. You will leave knowing how places like this work, why they matter, and how your actions can make a difference.
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Ready For Anything
What if you learned how to develop strong communities with peers while confidently forging your own sense of self?
One Week Courses for Ages 16-18
Try exciting things and practice new ways of being in a connected group. You and your crew will value each other’s unique gifts as you together and find success! This is a space to ask, “who am I?” and to learn the answer through an unforgettable adventure.
Us. But Better.
You and your crew will learn how to support each other’s success, boldly tackling challenges and persevering together through epic adventures! Our skilled instructors protect the time and space your need to both recognize your strengths and consider the strengths of others.
Prepare to Launch!
Whether you’re getting ready for a big life transition or you have another year or two before you turn the page into a new chapter, you will leave your Outward Bound course having practiced important life skills to help you be successful in both this adventure and the next!
Reflective Relationship Building
This is an opportunity for you and your crew to focus on being thoughtful about your actions, words, and the impact of each on other people. You’ll work together and on your own to practice new reflection skills that’ll help you make sense of the world and build dynamic relationships within your active crew, and beyond.
Life on Course
Explore the historic and ecological wonder of the Chesapeake Bay - witness vital marshlands and natural storm buffers all from the hull of a kayak.
As you move through stunning natural landscapes and encounter physical, mental and emotional obstacles, you’ll discover the importance of perseverance – and identify and refine the leadership skills you already possess. Camp and cook under the stars each night, sleep in a tent big enough for you but small enough to fit in your kayak, and enjoy access to protected lands that enhance your knowledge of the local area and encourage stewardship of the region.
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Sample Itinerary
Here’s an example of what your course itinerary might look like. The actual plan will depend on permits, weather, group skills, and instructor evaluation.
Swipe on table below to view more.
8-Day Course
| Day 1 | Course start, introductory lessons in sea kayaking and water safety, begin paddling |
| Day 2-5 | Kayaking, lessons in advanced paddling techniques and Chesapeake Bay ecology |
| Day 6 | Kayaking final challenge, solo |
| Day 7 | Return to base, clean and de-issue gear, service project |
| Day 8 | Graduation, depart from base camp |
FAQs
What will be happening on the expedition?
In addition to the physical activities of an outdoor overnight expedition, Outward Bound’s Educational Framework uses challenge and adventure to allow students to learn through experience. A supportive environment of peers and instructors make it easier to try new things, speak your mind, listen, and to be heard – all elements of today’s most successful leaders. We value and teach compassion, integrity, excellence in craft, inclusion, and diversity. Each student will return having practiced the skills of a leader and they will be more aware of their personal strengths and abilities
Where do students sleep?
Students on expedition will not be in cabins or permanent buildings, but will sleep outdoors in tents or tent like structures. Sleep groups will be determined by students’ gender. Crews will be moving to multiple camping locations during the duration of their expedition.
Will students have their cellphones while on course?
When students depart from our Baltimore basecamp, their phones will be left in a secure area on base and returned to them on the last day of the course.
Is it safe?
Outward Bound courses take place outdoors and include activities that present risks that can be managed but not eliminated. Running our courses safely is central to our educational goals and our safety record is excellent. Our instructors not only identify and reduce risks but also teach students to assess and address hazards with preparation and care, rather than fear and avoidance. Students and their families participate in our safety systems by familiarizing students with the course description prior to the course and by filling out our application and medical forms completely. We regularly review our safety training systems with our peers and other industry experts and continually seek to create or adopt the most effective practices. Every course is equipped with the ability to get help in an emergency. For more information, visit our Safety & Risk Management page.
What should I do if there is an emergency?
Please understand that you will not be able to speak with your child while they are on course. You will be provided with an emergency phone number for questions, concerns, or if there is a family emergency during the expedition. This phone is available strictly for true emergencies, and is monitored 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
