Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School Teachers, Sara Chaves Beam and Bethany Smith have won the Governor’s Conservation Classroom Challenge issued last year by Governor Terry McAuliffe.  The Conservation Classroom Challenge goal is to engage students in activities of environmental stewardship and conservation of Virginia’s natural heritage and also to develop environmental literacy.  At the Glenns Campus of CBGS, Mrs. Beam’s students have developed and constructed a living shoreline and a restoration oyster reef in Jamison Cove at the Urbanna Town Marina.  Students helped in the planning and execution of these restoration projects and are now monitoring the success of the ecosystem enhancements.   Success can be measured as reduced erosion of the bank at the site of the living shoreline and the growth of salt marsh grasses such that it functions as part of the native ecosystem.  The restored oyster reef has oyster seed growing on the surface and serves as habitat and refuge for other organisms in the creek.  The oysters also remove excess phytoplankton and sediments as they filter the water.  Students gained a firsthand experience in ecosystem restoration, learning about the importance of oyster reefs and salt marshes to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. They will continue to monitor the site to assess the long-term establishment and success of their efforts as part of their Marine and Environmental Science classes at CBGS.

 

CBGS Glenns Students

Caption:  Students and teachers from the Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School- Glenns Campus regularly monitor oyster growth, water quality and living shoreline development in Jamison Cove at the Urbanna Town Marina.  Students attending the Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School Glenns Campus come from Middlesex, Mathews, Gloucester, King and Queen and New Kent County Public Schools.

Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School Teachers, Sara Chaves Beam and Bethany Smith have won the Governor’s Conservation Classroom Challenge issued last year by Governor Terry McAuliffe.  The Conservation Classroom Challenge goal is to engage students in activities of environmental stewardship and conservation of Virginia’s natural heritage and also to develop environmental literacy.  At the Glenns Campus of CBGS, Mrs. Beam’s students have developed and constructed a living shoreline and a restoration oyster reef in Jamison Cove at the Urbanna Town Marina.  Students helped in the planning and execution of these restoration projects and are now monitoring the success of the ecosystem enhancements.   Success can be measured as reduced erosion of the bank at the site of the living shoreline and the growth of salt marsh grasses such that it functions as part of the native ecosystem.  The restored oyster reef has oyster seed growing on the surface and serves as habitat and refuge for other organisms in the creek.  The oysters also remove excess phytoplankton and sediments as they filter the water.  Students gained a firsthand experience in ecosystem restoration, learning about the importance of oyster reefs and salt marshes to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. They will continue to monitor the site to assess the long-term establishment and success of their efforts as part of their Marine and Environmental Science classes at CBGS.

 

CBGS Glenns Students

Caption:  Students and teachers from the Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School- Glenns Campus regularly monitor oyster growth, water quality and living shoreline development in Jamison Cove at the Urbanna Town Marina.  Students attending the Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School Glenns Campus come from Middlesex, Mathews, Gloucester, King and Queen and New Kent County Public Schools.

SCHOOL LOCATIONS

Administration

Dr. Jason Strong, Director
303 Queen Street
Suite C
Tappahannock, VA 22560
Phone: 804-443-0267
Fax: 804-443-4039
Bowling Green Site

16221 Richmond Turnpike
Bowling Green, VA 22427
Phone: 804-633-3406
Fax: 804-633-5579
RCC Glenns Site

12745 College Drive
Glenns, VA 23149
Phone: 804-758-6788
Fax: 804-758-5434
RCC Warsaw Site

52 Campus Drive
Warsaw, VA 22572
Phone: 804-333-1306
Fax: 804-333-1306
The Chesapeake Bay Governor's School is a partnership between the Virginia Department of Education, participating School Divisions and Rappahannock Community College, and a member of NCSSSMST (National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology).
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