ANNAPOLIS — Organizations throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed are hosting activities during the 11th annual Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week from June 6-14, 2026.
The Chesapeake Bay Commission established the week in partnership with legislators in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia to encourage residents to engage with the nation’s largest estuary. Events focus on the Bay’s natural features, cultural heritage and ongoing restoration efforts.
Sample activities include a Racing Boats Guided Tour at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in Annapolis on June 6, a family-friendly kayaking trip along the Conestoga River near Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, on June 7, and a guided hike with birding bingo at Shenandoah River State Park in Bentonville, Virginia, on June 8.
Additional events feature Hiking Histories at Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood, Maryland, on June 9, an invasive species removal workshop on Warm Springs Run in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, on June 10, a guided owl hike at Douthat State Park in Millboro, Virginia, on June 11, rain garden care instruction at Bright Side Baptist Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on June 12, an adventurous boat tour on the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C., with the Anacostia Watershed Society on June 13, and the annual Patuxent River Wade-In at Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum in Calvert County, Maryland, on June 14.
The Chesapeake Bay Program offers a social media toolkit with sample posts and a photo gallery, along with an events calendar to help residents find nearby activities. Partners include the Chesapeake Conservancy, Maryland Sea Grant, Virginia Sea Grant, Pennsylvania Sea Grant, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage, Maryland Department of the Environment, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Virginia Conservation Network and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.
Dan Coogan, director of the Chesapeake Bay Program Office at EPA Region III, said the week celebrates decades of restoration success from partnerships across government, advocacy groups, researchers, farmers, watermen and recreational users. He noted it also reminds participants of the need to maintain momentum for future generations.
Susan Shingledecker, chief executive officer of the Chesapeake Conservancy, said the organization is proud to use science, data and community partnerships to defend watershed resources.
Mona Behl, director of Virginia Sea Grant, said the Bay is the vital heartbeat of the region, nourished by rivers and streams that begin in local backyards. She emphasized that local stewardship builds a resilient watershed.
Jenni Pompi, chair of the Chesapeake Bay and Water Resources Policy Committee at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and councilmember for the City of Greenbelt, Maryland, said forests, wetlands, streams and shorelines shape the waterways residents rely on. She encouraged learning about local waters and caring for natural systems that support communities.
Serena McIlwain, secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment, said the Bay is the region’s legacy and that partnerships have upgraded wastewater plants, supported farm cover crops and planted 1.5 million native trees. She noted progress toward 2025 targets for sediment and phosphorus, with nitrogen goals nearly met.
Fredrika Moser, director of Maryland Sea Grant, said waterways, marshes, underwater grasses and oyster beds contribute to the Bay’s health. She highlighted innovation through nature-based solutions, workforce development and scientific research.
Heath Kelsey, director of the Integration and Application Network at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, said everything done on the land affects the Bay. He encouraged careful use of trash, fertilizer and water, along with keeping sediment, oil and grease out of streams.
Sarah Whitney, director of Pennsylvania Sea Grant, said a wide variety of wildlife lives in the 64,000-square-mile watershed. She noted that native species like oysters and Bay grass play positive roles, while non-native invasive species like the flathead catfish threaten native populations. She urged residents never to release non-native species, including turtles, fish or leftover bait, into any waterbody.
The Patuxent River Wade-In in Calvert County on June 14 allows participants to assess Bay health directly in Southern Maryland waters. The Patuxent flows through Calvert and St. Mary’s counties and supports local recreation, fishing and communities.
Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week provides opportunities for residents across Southern Maryland and the broader watershed to connect with local waters and support restoration. The Chesapeake Bay Program encourages participation through its website and social media using the hashtag #BayAwarenessWeek.
