Sultana Education Foundation

Sultana Downrigging Returns to Chestertown

October 23, 2024 by Sultana Education Foundation Leave a Comment

The Sultana Education Foundation’s annual Downrigging Weekend Festival returns to the historic port of Chestertown, Maryland the weekend of November 1-3, 2024. Presented in partnership with Mastercard, the festival features one of the largest annual gatherings of wooden ships in North America, a full-throated Bluegrass festival, lectures, fireworks, exhibits, and more. This unique combination has earned Downrigging the reputation as one of the most distinctive waterfront festivals in America, attracting more than 10,000 visitors annually. Proceeds from the festival support Sultana’s environmental literacy programs as well as educational programs operated by the nonprofit ships participating in the festival.

Long one of the festival’s claims-to-fame, the festival will see more than 1,100 people sail Chester River aboard the assembled fleet of Tall Ships – making Downrigging one of the largest public sailing events anywhere in the United States. The 2024 Downrigging fleet includes the festival’s namesake schooner SULTANA, as well as AJ MEERWALD, KALMAR NYCKEL, LADY MARYLAND, LYNX, MARYLAND DOVE, PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II, SIGSBEE, and VIRGINIA. Sailing tickets range from $40 to $65 and are available at www.downrigging.org. Free ship tours are available daily and the Downrigging fleet will be illuminated each evening. Joining the Tall Ships on the waterfront will be a fleet of privately owned wooden boats and special exhibits by the Traditional Small Craft Association, Antique and Classic Boat Society, the Cocktail Class Wooden Boat Racing Association, The Silver Heel Foundation, and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. Also on exhibit will be the recently restored classic buyboat, COASTAL QUEEN, made famous in Anthony Bailey’s book The Inside Passage.

Downrigging visitors can enjoy amazing views, food, and drink at the festival’s waterfront “Music Village” while taking in performances by nationally known bluegrass artists. The music kicks off Friday with performances by Gravel Road, Swamp Donkey, and The High and Wides followed by a special performance by award-winning Nashville songwriters Wendell Mobley and Lee Thomas Miller. Writers of 17 number one records for the likes of Randy Houser, Rascal Flats, Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, the Brothers Osborne, Brad Paisley, Chris Stapleton, Trace Adkins and Tim McGraw. Mobley and Miller will perform many of their best known songs while recounting their inspirations for each. Fireworks will follow Mobley and Miller’s performance at 9:00pm

The music continues Saturday with performances by Pictrola, Serene Greene, Unspoken Tradition and headlining bluegrass artists The Gibson Brothers. Widely recognized as vanguards of today’s Bluegrass scene, The Gibson Brothers have long charmed audiences with their brother-banter, ringing harmonies and a stunning sampling of other favorite American musical styles. Winners of 12 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards, including two awards as “Entertainer of the Year,” the Gibsons are true legends of bluegrass.

The music wraps up Sunday with performances by Mid Shore Voices United, an inspiring gospel choir composed of singers from Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Delaware and Philadelphia; local favorites Flatland Drive; and a high-energy closing performance by the U.S. Navy Bluegrass band Country Current. Music Village tickets for Friday and Saturday range from $30-$60. All Sunday performances are free.

African American history will be an important theme of Downrigging with the Chesapeake Heartland Project and C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience at Washington College hosting an exhibit entitled, “Blacks on the Water” as well as an African American Walking Tour of Chestertown. Chestertown’s Sumner Hall will also host a special story time for children focusing on the history of African American sailors.

In what has become a Downrigging tradition, local booksellers, The Book Plate, will host four “Book Talks” as part of the festival. These will include talks by Edward O. Murday, author of “A Field Guide to Fishes of the Chesapeake Bay;” Eric A. Cheezum, author of, “Chessie: A Cultural History of the Chesapeake Bay Sea Monster;” Tom Waldron, author of, “Pride of the Sea: Courage, Disaster, and a Fight for Survival;” and artist Marc Castellie who will speak on illustrations he created for a new edition of Robert Lewis Stevenson’s classic, “Treasure Island.”

Art lovers will have plenty to see at Downrigging, including Marc Castelli’s annual exhibit and “Artist Talk” at Massoni Art, as well as a special exhibit at the Sultana Education Foundation’s Shared Earth House by Colorado-based artist Rachel Jablonski who has long created the distinctive artwork for Downrigging Weekend.

Sultana’s Holt Education Center will host multiple family-friendly events over the weekend including live animal exhibits, various childrens crafts, a children’s concert, and a new children’s art station by RiverArts’ KidsSpot! program. The Holt Center will also host two multi-media history presentations with Chris Cerino, an exhibit of model ships with the Washington Ship Model Society, and tours of the center’s Indigenous Chesapeake exhibit.

For a full schedule of Downrigging Weekend events and to purchase tickets visit, www.downrigging.org.

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Sultana to host Speaker Series at Lawrence Preserve October 17

October 16, 2024 by Sultana Education Foundation Leave a Comment

Dan Small

Grab a glass of wine and engage with some of the most interesting authorities on the history, culture, and natural environment of the Chesapeake region.

The Sultana Education Foundation (SEF) will host its inaugural Third Thursday Speaker Series on Thursday, October 17 when Dan Small and Marcus Goldman team up to discuss Meadow Restoration: Large And Small.

In his role as Washington College’s Associate Director of Natural Land Stewardship, Small has developed meadows on almost every scale, in the process educating landowners on the ecological benefits of these distinct ecosystems. Goldman, who recently worked with the Town Council of Chestertown to establish guidelines for residential meadows, will discuss how homeowners can turn a portion of even a small lot into an ecologically diverse landscape. As part of their talk, Small and Goldman will guide participants on a brief walk around the Lawrence Wetlands Preserve’s meadow, highlighting some of the fall species in bloom and discussing their importance in the Chesapeake watershed.

Future speakers for SEF’s Third Thursday Speaker Series include Kate Livie (November 21), Dennis Coker (April 17, 2025), and Pete Lesher (May 15, 2025).

The Lawrence Wetland Preserve is a walk-in facility (no onsite parking) located at 301 South Mill Street in Chestertown. Visitors are encouraged to park in the public lots on the 300 block of Cannon Street or on the surrounding streets.

For more information about the Third Thursday Speaker Series or the Sultana Education Foundation, please visit www.sultanaeducation.org.

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Marcus Goldman Named Director of Paddling Programs

June 5, 2024 by Sultana Education Foundation Leave a Comment

Marcus Goldman, SEF’s new Director of Paddling Programs

The Sultana Education Foundation (SEF) is proud to announce that Marcus Goldman has been named the Foundation’s new Director of Paddling Programs, overseeing a six-person paddling staff implementing on-the-water canoe and kayak-based programs for 2,000+ students annually. Associate Paddling Director since 2021, Goldman succeeds long time Paddling Director Brad Hirsh who will be joining the faculty at the Gunston School, directing the school’s Chesapeake Watershed Semester program. “We are grateful for Brad’s incredible work and are confident that Marcus will build upon the significant success this program has experienced the past five years,” said Sultana President, Drew McMullen.

Goldman brings a wealth of educational experience to his new position, having earned a BS in Education from Indiana University and a master’s in environmental education from Slippery Rock University. Prior to joining SEF, Goldman served as a classroom teacher at the Radcliffe Creek School, an admissions counselor at Washington College, and as Assistant Director at Echo Hill Camp.

Joining Marcus on the leadership team for Sultana’s Paddling Department is Sophia Thomas. A graduate of Colorado State University with a bachelor’s degree in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Sophia has previously worked with the Housatonic River Association, the Mill River Park Collaborative, and the New England Water Science Center – all based in Connecticut.

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Governor Moore Taps Sultana for Maryland’s New Outdoor Learning Partnership

May 1, 2024 by Sultana Education Foundation Leave a Comment

Maryland Governor Wes Moore signs Executive Order creating Maryland Outdoor Leadership Partnership. President Drew McMullen (back row, right) represented the Sultana Education Foundation at the signing ceremony at the Maryland Department of the Environment. Photo courtesy the Governor’s Press Office.

On April 22, 2024, Earth Day, Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed an Executive Order establishing the Maryland Outdoor Learning Partnership. The Partnership – an interagency collaboration including state agencies, federal partners, non-profit organizations, and formal education partners – is charged with ensuring that Maryland students have meaningful access to outdoor education about the environment, climate, and the natural world. The Sultana Education Foundation was one of approximately a dozen nonprofit partners included in the Governor’s Executive Order.

“We are excited to share experiences with partners around the state and work with them to shape Maryland’s outdoor learning goals,” said Sultana Vice President, Chris Cerino, who will lead SEF’s participation in the Outdoor Learning Partnership. “Over the past 20 years, SEF has introduced more than 150,000 students to the Chesapeake Bay, encouraging them to become stewards of this unique natural resource. We see this partnership as another opportunity to enhance our existing programs, provide professional development opportunities for area teachers, and work with other non-profit organizations to expand the impact of outdoor education in Maryland.”

Reconnecting students with the environment has become particularly important in the years following the global pandemic, when many children were isolated from their peers and spent inordinate amounts of time on computers and screens, leading to widespread mental health challenges amongst young learners. “In addition to enhancing classroom learning, spending quality time in outdoor settings has a host of mental health benefits that we see every day when students attend our field trips,” stated Cerino. “We’re incredibly fortunate on the Eastern Shore to have some of the most beautiful tributaries and bucolic settings found anywhere on the Chesapeake Bay, and we look forward to working with Governor Moore and our non-profit partners to bring students to these pristine locations to reap their academic and mental health benefits for years to come.”

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“Sound Society” Headlines Sultana Gala

April 19, 2024 by Sultana Education Foundation Leave a Comment

Anticipation is building as the Sultana Education Foundation prepares for its Annual Gala on May 11. The Gala’s 26^th iteration promises an evening of style, entertainment, and philanthropy supporting the Foundation’s Environmental Literacy programs for regional schools.

Gala attendees will be treated to a night of incredible music from Sound Society – an elite 11-piece band based in New York City whose members are among the world’s most gifted touring and studio musicians. The evening will also feature gourmet dining, and an open bar, all set against the backdrop of the stunning views from the Clovelly Farm on the Chester River.

Beyond the glitz and glamour, the heart of the evening lies in its mission to raise vital funds for the Foundation’s programs for regional schools. Sultana provides critical Environmental Literacy field programs for more than 10,000 students annually. Every dollar raised at the Gala directly supports these programs and allows Sultana to offer them on a need-blind basis for public schools.

“We are grateful to the hundred-plus sponsors who make our Annual Gala possible, and particularly to our long-time lead sponsor, Master Card,” said SEF President, Drew McMullen. “Their support makes this great community celebration possible and helps Sultana’s programs drive meaningful change in our own backyard.”

For more information about the Sultana Gala and how you can get involved, please visit www.sultanagala.org/ or contact Liza Brocker at [email protected]/410- 778-5954.

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Sultana Education Foundation Volunteer Training February 29

February 28, 2024 by Sultana Education Foundation Leave a Comment

Sultana Education Foundation is hosting a volunteer training session on Thursday, February 29 from 2- 3:30 PM for anyone interested in assisting with educational programs in the Lawrence Wetlands Preserve.

Throughout the year SEF hosts schools, private groups, and the public to learn about the ecological and historic significance of Chesapeake wetlands. Volunteers are an integral part of helping us reach as many people as possible. As part of the training session, volunteers will have the opportunity to participate in the same lessons we’ll be hosting for students this year. Activities will include testing the water chemistry, touring the property to identify various ecosystems, sampling aquatic life, and identifying plant and animal species. Participants should dress for the outdoors.

Volunteer opportunities also exist for those interested in assisting with the maintenance and upkeep of the Lawrence Wetlands Preserve. Those interested should email John Mann, Lawrence Wetlands Preserve Manager: jmann@sultanaeducation.org

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Sultana Receives $150,000 Community Legacy Grant

February 26, 2023 by Sultana Education Foundation

In partnership with the Town of Chestertown, the Sultana Education Foundation (SEF) announced that it has received a grant of $150,000 from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) Community Legacy Program for construction of the Harwood Nature Center at its Lawrence Wetlands Preserve in Chestertown. Support from DHCD will complement existing funding already committed by the National Park Service, the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, the Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area and multiple private foundations and individuals. Under development since 2018 and anticipated to open in 2024, the Lawrence Preserve is an 8.5-acre urban nature center that will join the replica schooner SULTANA and LEED Platinum Holt Education Center as key components of SEF’s Chestertown campus.

A bright and airy 1,200 square foot structure designed by Chestertown architect John Hutchison and Locust Grove Studios in Kennedyville, Maryland, the Harwood Nature Center will function as a classroom and refuge from the weather for the 3,000+ students who will visit the Lawrence Preserve annually. Emory Hill and Company of Newark, Delaware has been retained as general contractor for construction and groundbreaking is anticipated for spring 2023 with completion by November.

Based in Chestertown and serving the entire Chesapeake region, SEF provides hands-on educational opportunities for over 14,000 students annually that promote stewardship of the Bay’s historic, cultural, and environmental resources. By helping students of all ages develop an appreciation for the Chesapeake Bay, SEF is working to create a community of individuals who are dedicated to preserving this irreplaceable treasure.

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Rob Hindman Elected Sultana’s New Board Chair

February 17, 2023 by Sultana Education Foundation

Rob Hindman

The Sultana Education Foundation (SEF) announced that its Board of Directors elected Rob Hindman as its new Board Chair, Brooke Harwood as its new Vice Chair, and Eric Schless as its new Treasurer. Lyle Feisel was reelected to continue in his current role as Secretary of the Foundation. Hindman and Schless succeed three-term Board Chair Chris Havmener and long-time treasurer, Blyth Reynolds, both of whom will continue on SEF’s board.

“Speaking on behalf of the Board, we simply can’t overstate the incredible work that Chris Havemeyer and Blyth Reynolds contributed as board officers,” said Sultana President, Drew McMullen. “The organization has taken enormous leaps as a direct result of their leadership.”

With the Sultana Education Foundation in the midst of two significant capital projects and a strategic expansion of its programs, its new board leadership takes charge at a particularly consequential time. “Rob, Brooke, and Eric have well-earned reputations as leaders in their respective fields,” commented Sultana Governance Committee Chair, Patti Hegland. “Sultana has both an exciting and challenging period ahead and this new leadership team will ensure SEF continues to build upon its record of achievement in Environmental Education.”

Board Chair Rob Hindman is a retired school administrator, teacher and elementary school principal and helped develop one of the first elementary school STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) focused programs in Virginia. In 2005 Hindman was awarded the Distinguished Educational Leadership Award from the Washington Post and named Arlington Public Schools Principal of the Year. Hindman came to Sultana’s Board as a longtime volunteer onboard the schooner Sultana.

Brooke Harwood, Vice Chair, is a retired commercial airline executive who led Federal Express’s successful effort to establish service in China. A long-time volunteer for SEF, Harwood has also served on the Board of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. As Vice Chair, Harwood is overseeing work at Sultana’s new Lawrence Wetlands Preserve.

A retired Managing Director at Wells Fargo, and current board member at the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, Eric Schless brings 20 years of investment banking, legal, and nonprofit experience to SEF. In his role as Treasurer, Schless will lead a comprehensive review of SEF’s endowment and investment management policies.

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Sultana Downrigging Artist’s Win Top IBMA Awards

October 13, 2021 by Sultana Education Foundation

Two artists scheduled to perform at the Sultana Education Foundation’s Downrigging Weekend Festival (October 29-31) received top awards at the International Bluegrass Music Association’s (IBMA) 32nd annual awards show, held September 30^that the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh, North Carolina. Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, a member of the band Mile Twelve, received the Fiddle Player of the Year award, while Danny Paisley was awarded Male Vocalist of the Year. Both Mile Twelve and Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass will play multiple sets on the Chestertown waterfront Saturday, October 30^thas part of Sultana’s Downrigging Festival.

Mile Twelve

Keith-Hynes and Paisley are not the only Downrigging artists to win recent acclaim. Solo guitarist, Yasmin Williams, was recently profiled by the New York Times, National Public Radio (NPR), and the Washington Post who lauded her as a “new kind of guitar hero.” Visit the article here.

Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass

“We are grateful to our volunteer music directors, RousbyQuesenbury and Andrew Ferguson, for putting such an outstanding lineup together for this year’s festival,” said Brooke Logan Packard, Chair of the Sultana Education Foundation’s Downrigging Committee. Other nationally acclaimed artists scheduled to perform at Sultana’s Downrigging Festival include Colebrook Road, Country Current, Wicked Sycamore, Jackob’s Ferry Stranglers, and Tom Mindte. A full schedule and ticket information can be found at the festival’s website, www.downrigging.org.

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Sultana to Sail Again for 20th Anniversary Season

May 15, 2021 by Sultana Education Foundation

Richards works with crew members aloft in the Schooner SULTANA’s rigging.

After being laid up for 19 months because of the Covid-19 crisis, the Sultana Education Foundation’s flagship schooner SULTANA is preparing for a triumphant return to the Chesapeake Bay for her 20th anniversary season. “Operating a school-ship like SULTANA was simply impossible in 2020,” said SEF President Drew McMullen, “but with the Covid situation improving, vaccines available for our crew, and schools reaching out to sail this fall, the time has come to get SULTANA back out on the water.”

Getting the 1768 reproduction SULTANA sailing again will take the better part of this coming summer. SULTANA’s volunteer corps will start the process in early June by removing the long term protective cover that has been on the schooner since last summer. The schooner’s crew will arrive in Chestertown a few weeks later and immediately depart for the Georgetown Yacht Basin where SULTANA will be hauled, cleaned and repainted. The schooner will return to Chestertown by August where the schooner’s crew and volunteer corps will re-rig the vessel and train in preparation for resuming under-sail operations by the second half of August.

“This will be the first time we have rigged SULTANA during the summer,” said Sultana Vice President Chris Cerino. “It’s a complex and amazing process and we are going to make a big effort to make it accessible to the public.”

New Captain no stranger to SULTANA

Newly appointed Captain Forrest Richards will oversee the process of rerigging SULTANA. A long-time resident of Chestertown, Richards is no stranger to the Sultana Education Foundation, where he previously worked as both crew and Mate on SULTANA, as well as a member of the 12-person expedition that reenacted Captain John Smith’s 121-day, 2,100-mile 1608 Chesapeake expedition in 2007.

“I’m excited to be back on Sultana,” said Richards, “and honored to be captaining her 20th anniversary sailing season.”

Most of SULTANA’s crew has been hired for the 2021 season, but two available deckhand positions remain. Interested candidates should visit the foundation’s website, www.sultanaeducation.org, for details.

Downrigging Returns to Celebrate Anniversary

SULTANA’S 2021 sailing season will be the 20th since the vessel’s launch on March 24, 2001. The anniversary celebration of SULTANA’s launch originally planned for March will now take place as part of the Foundation’s annual Downrigging Weekend, scheduled for October 29-31 in Chestertown. The Foundation recently received preliminary approval from the Town of Chestertown to host this event and details for the three day Tall-Ship and bluegrass festival will be announced in June.

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