The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s Shipyard is the place to be this summer with a variety of hands-on workshops on tap to share traditional skills.

Whether you’re looking to learn something new or grow your experience in the workshop, CBMM’s Apprentice for a Day Program can help with upcoming offerings that highlight marlinspike seamanship, woodworking, half-hull modeling, leatherworking, and decoy carving.

These limited-capacity programs are led by Shipyard staff and experienced guest instructors and offer discounted pricing for CBMM members. To register and get more information about Apprentice for a Day programming, visit cbmm.org/AFAD.

Participant scholarships are available for these workshops through CBMM’s Regional Folklife Center under the Maryland Traditions program of the Maryland State Arts Council. Email Vessel Conservation Manager Sam Hilgartner at [email protected] for more information on scholarship opportunities.

“We’ve worked to put together a diverse schedule of programs that are equal parts challenging, approachable, useful, and fun,” Hilgartner said. “We look forward to a busy and productive summer in our Education Workshop, sharing these programs with our community. If you’ve been considering signing up for your first AFAD workshop, it is a great time to pick a program and join us.”

Up first, Hilgartner will lead an advanced marlinspike seamanship course on the weekend of June 6-8. Participants will construct a wood-bottom, canvas ditty bag, a project requires a range of skills in canvas and rope work that make it an excellent test of competence in marlinspike seamanship and sailmaking.

This class is perfect for those who have attended CBMM’s introductory marlinspike seamanship course, yet accessible enough for beginner students who are up for a challenge. All tools and materials are provided in the cost of registration, which is $300 with a 20% discount for CBMM members.

Jenn Kuhn, CBMM’s former Shipyard Education Programs Manager, will lead a pair of women’s wood-working workshops this summer. In the introductory course on June 28-29, participants will construct a custom mallet while learning how to make a cut list, buy lumber, measure lengths and angles, and safely use a variety of hand and power tools. The cost is $300, with a 20% discount for CBMM members.

The advanced course, held across two weekends in late August, will expand on these workshop skills as participants build their own Adirondack chair. The cost is $650, with a 20% discount for CBMM members.

Coming on July 11-13, the Half-Hull Modeling Workshop, led by Master Shipwright Thom Price, blends artistry, history, and hands-on creation.

For centuries, shipwrights and boatbuilders have relied on half-models to visualize and perfect their designs. During this workshop, participants will carve their own half-hull model of a vessel of their choice. The cost is $600, with a 20% discount for CBMM members.

Led by Hilgartner, the Leatherworking Workshop on July 26-27 is designed to share the basics of leatherworking.

Participants will craft a leather tool sheath for a rigging knife and marlinspike, also known as a rig kit. The tools and skills required to create the sheath are perfect for beginning to build a foundational knowledge in leatherworking. The cost is $200, with a 20% discount for CBMM members.

On Aug. 8-10, CBMM’s Shipyard is proud to present Introduction to Decoy Carving with guest instructor Jeff Coats of Pitboss Waterfowl. Over the three days, participants will carve a contemporary flat bottom, hollow high-density cork body with a northern white cedar head, with the option to choose a black duck, green-winged teal, or canvasback. All supplies and materials are included in the registration fee, which is $450 with a 20% discount for CBMM members.

The Apprentice for a Day Program is also hosting a visit from Roger Barnes, who is President of the Dinghy Cruising Association, author of “The Dinghy Cruising Companion,” and star of a popular YouTube channel highlighting his adventures and vast sailing knowledge.

As part of his first North American tour, Barnes will share a lecture, titled “Escaping the Everyday,” followed by a Q-and-A and book signing, in the Van Lennep Auditorium on Saturday, June 21, at 4pm.

Registration is also open to learn how to trotline for crabs on the Miles River in a historic vessel on from 5-9am on Fridays in August and September.

Early risers will learn the history of crabbing on the Chesapeake Bay, its importance to the culture and economy, how the fishery has defined various traditional vessel forms, and how to bait, set, and work a trotline. It’s a chance to experience sunrise on the Miles River while collecting a day’s catch of crabs to take home. The cost is $60 per day, with a 20% discount for CBMM members.

And, there’s plenty more to explore daily in CBMM’s working Shipyard. Get the latest on all that’s happening in the Shipyard at Coffee & Wood Chips with Hilgartner on the first Friday of each month. This program is free for CBMM members and $10 for non-members. Learn more at cbmm.org/Shipyard.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is excited to invite education personnel from across the Eastern Shore and beyond to celebrate the end of the school year at its third annual Education Professionals Gratitude Day on Friday, June 20, from 10am-2pm.

This is an opportunity for anyone involved in education – teachers, administrators, and support staff – to experience all that CBMM’s waterfront campus has to offer as a thank you for their impact on children in our communities through daily instruction, support, and leadership.

During the celebration, PK-12 education professionals and their families will enjoy free admission, plus a host of special activities designed to highlight CBMM’s mission, educational programming, and community partnerships.

Education Professionals Gratitude Day has quickly become an anticipated event on CBMM’s annual calendar. Last year, more than 50 educators and their families, including guests spanning the state of Maryland and from as far away as Texas and Maine, joined in the fun.

The festivities are open to all PK-12 public, private, and charter school personnel, including teachers, paraprofessionals, school and district administrators, and support staff providing maintenance, transportation, security, clerical, food and other services within schools.

This Your Museum, Your Community recognition initiative is made possible by the generous support of Easton Velocity, Mid-Atlantic Truck & Equipment, PNC Bank, Chaney Enterprises, Preston Automotive Group, PepUp, and Shore United Bank.

“We are excited to continue to grow Education Professionals Gratitude Day,” CBMM’s Vice President of Education & Interpretation Jill Ferris said. “This is a chance for us to honor a special group of people who make a difference in our communities with a day of fun and celebration while sharing more about the resources available to continue to support the important work that they do. We look forward to reconnecting with friends and making new ones on June 20!”

This edition of Education Professionals Gratitude Day features live music from duo Fresh Squeezed OJ, free frozen treats from Hoots Shaved Iced, a visit from the Phillips Wharf Fishmobile, story time with Talbot County Free Library, Touch a Truck with the St. Michaels Fire Department, giveaways including books from Appleseed Books, face painting and bubble stations, and a host of field trip-favorite, hands-on activities and demos with CBMM staff throughout the day.

In addition, the honored guests receive a 10% discount at the Museum Store and on CBMM memberships and savings on Narrated Historical Cruises aboard PATRIOT that day.

There is no need to RSVP to join in the fun. PK-12 education professionals can simply check in at the Welcome Center and enjoy their visit. For any questions or additional information, contact Ferris at [email protected].

Education has been key to CBMM’s mission across its 60-year history. Last year, the organization hosted more than 3,500 students, teachers, and chaperones for field trips from schools across the county, state, and region.

Talbot County Public School students in third, fifth, and seventh grade learn from CBMM staff through field trips and in-classroom experiences, and CBMM’s Rising Tide after-school program engages local middle school students with the opportunity to learn new skills and work with tools while exploring the history and environment of the Chesapeake region.

For more information on CBMM’s youth education programming, including Homeschool Workshops, Lighthouse Overnight Adventures, CBMM Summer Camp, and more, visit cbmm.org/youtheducation.

The special exhibition, Sailing to Freedom: Maritime Dimensions of the Underground Railroad will be the topic of discussion for a special Conversation on Race program at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s Van Lennep Auditorium on Monday, February 24 beginning at 5:30 p.m. Seating is limited, with pre-registration needed.

Based upon the book, “Sailing to Freedom,” the exhibition expands the understanding of how freedom was achieved by sea and what the journey looked like for many African Americans.

Exhibit guests will explore the little-known stories and the less-understood maritime side of the Underground Railroad, including the impact of African Americans’ paid and unpaid waterfront labor. They’ll also meet figures like Henry “Box” Brown, who escaped to freedom in 1849 by arranging to have himself mailed in a wooden crate to abolitionists in Philadelphia.

“Self-emancipation along the Underground Railroad was not entirely by overland routes,” says CBMM Vice President of Education and Interpretation Jill Ferris. “Many enslaved persons made their way to freedom using coastal water routes along the Atlantic seaboard, including the Chesapeake Bay. Enslaved African Americans often escaped by sea aboard merchant and passenger ships, or smaller watercraft.” 

Sailing to Freedom was curated by New Bedford Whaling Museum Curator of Maritime History Michael Dyer and the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth’s Timothy Walker. The exhibit continues through December 2026.

The February 24 program will include a guided exploration of the exhibition, followed by facilitated discussion. The free program includes a light meal and refreshments, with advanced registration required at bit.ly/feb24convo.

The program is part of the Talbot Family Network’s Conversations on Race series and is presented in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. The year-long series brings the community together over monthly sessions for thoughtful dialogue about the impact of race on their lives and in the community.

“Having this guided tour of the exhibition offers a powerful opportunity to explore the critical role of waterways in the pursuit of freedom,” says Talbot Family Network Director Nancy Andrew, “Through this Conversation on Race program, we hope to deepen understanding, inspire dialogue, and connect our community through the stories of resilience and courage that shaped our history.”

The Talbot Family Network serves as Talbot County’s Local Management Board and was established by the state of Maryland to change the way services are provided to children and families. TFN identifies priorities and target resources for the jurisdiction’s communities, while also coordinating child and family services and administering state resources. Local Management Boards improve coordination across state agencies and empower local stakeholders to help drive local priorities.

The mission of the Talbot Family Network is to identify and develop support systems for a healthy, safe, caring, and equitable community for all Talbot County children and families through collaboration with public and private entities. For more information, visit www.talbotfamilynetwork.org.

ABOUT CBMM

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum explores and preserves the history, environment, and culture of the entire Chesapeake Bay region, and makes this resource accessible to all. Every aspect of fulfilling this mission is driven by CBMM’s values of relevance, authenticity, and stewardship, along with a commitment to providing engaging guest experiences and transformative educational programming, all while serving as a vital community partner. More is at www.cbmm.org.

A special Conversation on Race program will take place on Monday, February 24 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland. Program participants will participate in a guided exploration and discussion on the special exhibition, Sailing to Freedom: Maritime Dimensions of the Underground Railroad. Seating is limited, with pre-registration needed bit.ly/feb24convo. Photo courtesy of Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum volunteer photographer George Sass.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum relies on a team of volunteers to serve as tour guides, exhibit hosts, and Shipyard interpreters to enhance the guest experience through engaging and accurate conversations and activities.

Back in 2005, Lloyd Devigne was recently relocated to Easton, Md., and looking for a way to get engaged with his new community. A newspaper article about volunteer training at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum caught his eye.

More than 10,000 volunteer hours later, Devigne is part of the fabric of CBMM and a leader within the team of volunteers that shares the Chesapeake story with guests throughout the year.

“The maritime history of the Chesapeake Bay is a fascinating one,” Devigne said. “Sharing the stories of the peoples that have lived here and the artifacts and exhibits at CBMM is personally rewarding to me and a lot of fun. And meeting new people and enjoying the camaraderie of the Volunteer Team is an added bonus.”

CBMM is looking for newcomers to join Devigne in the vital role of volunteer interpreter with a busy 2025 season ahead. These volunteers serve as tour guides, exhibit hosts, and Shipyard interpreters to enhance the guest experience through engaging and accurate conversations and activities.

Prospective volunteers are invited to a Volunteer Interpreter Info Session on Saturday, Jan. 25, at 10am in the Van Lennep Auditorium. Light refreshments will be served, and a brief campus tour will be offered afterward. Registration is encouraged but not required. Learn more at cbmm.org/VolunteerInterpreter2025.

Over the coming weeks, CBMM will host a series of trainings for its interpreters highlighting CBMM’s mission and all that its waterfront campus has to offer, including sessions on Working with Guests, Chesapeake Explorations, and Shipyard Interpretation as well as tour-specific training.

The benefits of volunteering at CBMM can include free programming, festival entry, and branded gear, early access to new tours and exhibitions, continuing education opportunities, social events, and more.

No experience is necessary, but an enthusiasm for the Chesapeake’s history, environment, and culture and sharing it is essential.

“We are excited to add to our passionate and talented team of volunteer interpreters,” Vice President of Education & Interpretation Jill Ferris said. “These volunteers are key to sharing stories and making connections across our campus to help guests to have a meaningful and personalized experience. We encourage anyone who might be interested to come out and learn more about the opportunities available and the training we provide to get you started.”

At the info session, participants will meet current volunteer interpreters like Tom Dalrymple, who has been a part of the team for seven years.

One of Dalrymple’s favorite parts of the role is the opportunity to continue learning. There’s so much to explore at CBMM with an 18-acre campus filled with historic structures and purpose-built exhibition buildings, a floating fleet of traditional Chesapeake watercraft maintained by a working Shipyard, and a collection spanning more than 80,000 objects.

He takes pride in his ever-growing mental rolodex of fun facts and interesting anecdotes that bring the Chesapeake story to life for guests of all ages from across the region and often far beyond.

“Quite simply, I love the Chesapeake Bay,” Dalrymple said. “As a CBMM interpreter, I can share something I love with guests, and whether they are visiting to learn, explore, reflect, or simply to enjoy being here, that makes me happy.”

Lead Interpreter Bill Hough said the joy of the role is rooted in the people. He’s met thousands of them at CBMM over the past 15 years, from the CBMM staff who lead the program to the like-minded community of volunteers who have become his friends to the many guests he’s led on tours while sharing Bay history and convivial conversation.

With spring on the horizon and dozens of tours and interpretive opportunities on the schedule, Hough is excited for a new group of volunteers to join the team and get to experience all that makes CBMM special.

“The fine folks at CBMM have given me a whole new challenge in retirement,” Hough said. “There’s always something new and exciting going on, and what a blast it is sharing the knowledge I have with people from all over the world!”

CBMM offers volunteer opportunities across its campus spanning every department to complement and enhance the work of its professional staff. To learn more about all the roles available, visit cbmm.org/volunteer, where prospective volunteers can complete an online application to get started. For questions and further information, contact [email protected].