The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is offering several kayak paddles this summer to help people get out of the house and on the water. Registration is required for all paddles, with a list of upcoming programs available at cbmm.org/paddles.

The first offering is scheduled for 5:30–7:30pm Thursday, June 25, when participants are invited to join CBMM’s President and avid paddler Kristen Greenaway for a relaxed evening paddling along the Miles River and up Long Haul Creek. During this paddle, which launches from the public boat ramp on W. Harbor Road in St. Michaels, participants will have a chance to learn how to paddle using Greenaway’s preferred Greenland paddle.

The cost for this paddle is $20 for those bringing their own kayak and $40 for those renting a kayak from CBMM, with a 20% discount offered to CBMM members ($16 or $32). To learn more, visit cbmm.org/Greenawaypaddle.

Guided paddles are scheduled for both 9:30am–12:30pm Saturday, June 27, and 9am–1pm Sunday, July 26. On June 27, guests will launch from the Cummings Creek Public Landing and join CBMM staff for a paddle along Cummings Creek in Wittman, Md. Participants should dress accordingly, wear sunscreen, and bring water and any snacks they may need. The cost for this paddle is $30 for those bringing their own kayak and $50 for those renting a kayak from CBMM, with a 20% discount offered to CBMM members ($24 or $40).

On July 26, CBMM staff will lead a kayak paddle along San Domingo Creek that launches from E. Chew Street in St. Michaels, Md. The cost for this paddle is $40 for those bringing their own kayak and $65 for those renting a kayak from CBMM, with a 20% discount offered to CBMM members ($32 or $52).

An additional paddle is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 15, from 9:30am–1:30pm, launching from the Bellevue boat ramp by the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry. Participants will paddle along the Tred Avon River, stopping to cool off with an ice-cream tasting from Scottish Highland Creamery. The cost for this paddle is $40 for those bringing their own kayak and $65 for those renting a kayak from CBMM, with a 20% discount offered to CBMM members ($32 or $52) Tastings are included with the cost of registration.

For each of these paddles, participants are required to wear and provide their own PFDs whether renting one of CBMM’s kayaks or using their own. Facial coverings are required upon exiting your vehicle and while launching and hauling out kayaks. Once out on the water — while keeping a safe distance from fellow paddlers — coverings can be removed but are once again required upon haul out. Hand sanitizer will be provided for the onset and close of each excursion. Participation is limited for all programs, and anyone age 16 or younger must be accompanied by an adult. All paddles are good for both the beginner and intermediate paddler.

To register for any of the paddles and learn about upcoming on-the-water excursions, visit cbmm.org/paddles. Discounts for each are offered to CBMM members, who play a critical role in supporting CBMM’s rich legacy of educational programs, fascinating and ever-changing exhibits, and maintenance of the largest collection of Chesapeake watercraft in the world, including access to exclusive discounts, perks, and programming. To learn more about becoming a CBMM member, visit cbmm.org/membership.

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On Wednesday, June 17, join Chesapeake photographer Jay Fleming to explore the stories behind the images featured in the new virtual exhibition presented by the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, Island Life: Changing Culture, Changing Shorelines.

Through frequent visits to the islands and shorelines along the Bay, Fleming has documented how the changing environment is affecting the cultures and shorelines of inhabited and formerly inhabited offshore islands in the Chesapeake. To see the new exhibition in full, visit cbmmislandlife.org.

Hosted in Zoom, the virtual room will open at 5:15pm, and the program will begin at 5:30. A program link will be provided after registration. To register, visit cbmm.org/FlemingTalk.

The cost to attend this talk is $5 per person, with a 20% discount offered to CBMM members ($4). Members play a critical role in supporting CBMM’s rich legacy of educational programs, fascinating and ever-changing exhibits, and maintenance of the largest collection of Chesapeake watercraft in the world, and have access to exclusive discounts, perks, and programming. To learn more about becoming a CBMM member, visit cbmm.org/membership.

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On Thursday, June 11, the Members-Only Marina will reopen at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Md. The marina has been closed to the public since March 14 to support actions taken against COVID-19.

The opening of CBMM’s Members-Only Marina is the third in a series of steps CBMM has taken to reopen, following the Shipyard in May and the Museum Store earlier this month. Although CBMM remains closed to the public, an announcement will be made soon on a campus-wide reopening.

“We are grateful to have such wonderful members who have supported us during our closure,” said Liz LaCorte, CBMM’s Vice President of Advancement. “We look forward to having them dock with us again and enjoy this great benefit to their membership.”

CBMM’s Members-Only Marina will be open seven days a week. Located along St. Michaels Harbor and the Miles River, CBMM’s Members-Only Marina provides CBMM Members at the Mariner Level and above overnight docking privileges. Hourly docking is available for Household members and above.

While docking at CBMM, all marina guests and staff are expected to follow the Town of St. Michaels ordinance to maintain a minimum six feet of physical distance from others and wear facial coverings both inside and outside of CBMM buildings. CBMM’s Members-Only Marina has implemented temporary COVID-19 protocols that include limiting slip capacity, closing the showers, and instituting enhanced bathroom facility cleaning and sanitizing. For updated CBMM Members-Only Marina guidelines due to COVID-19, please visit cbmm.org/docking.

CBMM suggests that all members make docking reservations as soon as possible due to limited slip availability. Contact CBMM’s dockmaster at 410-745-4946 for more information.

CBMM Membership plays a critical role in supporting CBMM’s mission to preserve and explore the history, environment, and culture of the entire Chesapeake Bay region, and making this resource available to all. To learn more about the benefits in becoming a CBMM member, visit cbmm.org/membership.

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In the midst of its COVID-19 closure, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Md., has rolled out a brand-new virtual feature—online access for visitors to thousands of items in its collection of Chesapeake Bay-related objects and images, all available at collections.cbmm.org.

“After three years of research, planning, and conversion of data to our new collections management system, we are thrilled to be able to offer the public unprecedented access to our catalog of more than 70,000 objects, photographs, oral histories, books, ships plans and manuscripts, enabling students, scholars and history enthusiasts to explore the Chesapeake’s rich maritime heritage,” said Jenifer Dolde, CBMM’s Associate Curator of Collections.

Launched in June with the goal of creating an online presence for CBMM’s collections, including items not on display, members of the museum’s curatorial and volunteer staff have worked diligently to create a digital record for each item in CBMM’s collection. Visitors have the ability to search the collection in multiple ways and browse through special features like collection and exhibition highlights. The first highlighted collection available on the site is a look back at past special exhibition A Broad Reach: 50 Years of Collecting, that featured standout objects from CBMM’s collection and was on display as part of its 50^th anniversary celebrations.

This online collection will be regularly updated as CBMM’s staff works to digitize more of its photographs and objects. It already includes nearly 2,000 books from CBMM’s library that have never before been digitally cataloged, with thousands more to be added over time.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to preserving and exploring the history, environment, and culture of the entire Chesapeake Bay region, and making this resource available 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. For more information, visit cbmm.org or call 410-745-2916.

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On Friday, June 5—just in time for Father’s Day—the Museum Store will reopen at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Md. The Museum Store has been closed to the public since March 14, when CBMM closed to support actions taken against COVID-19. The Museum Store is CBMM’s first building to open to welcome back guests.

“The opening of the Museum Store is the second in a series of steps to reopen CBMM, following the Shipyard in May” said Steve Byrnes, CBMM’s Vice President of Operations. “As restrictions continue to be lifted by the State of Maryland, we look to phase in reopening in the days to come.”

The Museum Store is scheduled to be open Thursdays through Sundays 10am–4pm until the full campus is open, which is yet to be determined.Please visit CBMM.org for the quickest access to updates.

During CBMM’s closure, staff have been working on implementing measures to provide a healthy and comfortable environment for guests’ return. Museum Store staff have been trained on CBMM’s updated policies and procedures in response to COVID-19. Plexiglas^® sneeze guards have been installed at the Museum Store register to protect guests and staff during contactless transactions. Signage and floor markers have been positioned in the store to direct traffic flow, create appropriate distancing, and eliminate areas of congestion. Ten shoppers will be allowed in the store at any given time, and guests are to follow the Town of St. Michaels ordinance to maintain a minimum six-feet of physical distance from others and wear facial coverings inside the store.

CBMM Members who shop at the Museum Store will receive their 10% discount. Museum Store shoppers can also give the gift of CBMM Membership, which plays such a critical role in supporting CBMM’s mission to preserve and explore the history, environment, and culture of the entire Chesapeake Bay region, and making this resource available to all. To learn more about the benefits in becoming a CBMM member, visit cbmm.org/membership.

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Starting in June, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is inviting the public to grab a drink and join in a bi-weekly virtual happy hour featuring regional guests from all over the Chesapeake Bay. The first guest, at 6pm on Thursday, June 4, will be Kate Livie, a Chesapeake educator, writer, and historian, followed by author, sea glass collector, and Executive Director of The Beachcombing Center Mary McCarthy on June 18.

This 20 Questions Happy Hour series invites the public to learn more about a variety of Bay-related topics during informal question and answer sessions with authors, educators, environmental activists, and more. Moderated by CBMM’s staff, these hour-long programs promise to be a mix of entertaining and educational with questions from the public encouraged.

The cost to participate is $5 per person, with a 20% discount offered to CBMM members. Members play a critical role in supporting CBMM’s rich legacy of educational programs, fascinating and ever-changing exhibits, and maintenance of the largest collection of Chesapeake watercraft in the world, and have access to exclusive discounts, perks, and programming. To learn more about becoming a CBMM member, visit cbmm.org/membership.

This series is hosted by the CBMM Crew, a group established to present engaging events and activities targeted to the young adult community of CBMM guests. To register and learn about upcoming speakers, visit cbmm.org/happyhour.

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On Friday, June 5, from 7–9pm, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is hosting a paddle designed to allow kayakers to view the full moon from the water. Paddlers of all levels are invited to join this stunning evening paddle and may rent a kayak from CBMM or bring their own.

Participants should dress accordingly to the weather, and bring water, snacks, and a head lamp. The cost for those renting a kayak from CBMM is $40. For participants bringing their own kayak, the cost is $20. There is a 20% discount available for CBMM members. To learn more about becoming a member, visit cbmm.org/membership.

Participants are required to wear and provide their own PFDs whether renting one of CBMM’s kayaks or using their own. Facial coverings are required upon exiting your vehicle and while launching and hauling kayaks. Once out on the water — while keeping an appropriate distance from fellow paddlers — coverings can be removed but are once again required upon haul out. Hand sanitizer will be provided for the onset and close of each excursion.

Participation is limited, and anyone age 16 or younger must be accompanied by an adult. To learn more and to register, visit cbmm.org/fullmoonpaddle.

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