Sandy Visits Downrigging Weekend

Photo courtesy of "Behold the Earth"

This past weekend some of us were priveledged to hear David Conover and Tim Eriksen present at the Prince Theater. Conover spoke of the intersection between society and nature that he explores in his forthcoming documentary "Behold the Earth." In this film Conover uses breathtaking scenery, haunting folk melodies, and poignant interviews to explore America's divorce from nature. While sitting in my house this morning watching the trees groan in the winds of Hurricane Sandy, I couldn't help but hear the soulful notes of Eriksen's song "Every Sound Below" and consider the power of this storm.
Rain lashing, candles sputtering, birds calling, the street cleaner slowly driving by. These were the sounds reaching through my "cocoon." Conover described Americans as a people who travel between a series of cocoons, forgetting to spend time outside of our meticulously managed environments. Today, Sandy is forcing the people on the east coast out of their cocoons.

Satellite image of Hurricane Sandy

Since agriculture became the modus operandi for humankind we have slowly moved to create more distance between ourselves and our surroundings. This process was much enhanced by the dawn of the technological era. Humans now have so much power over their environment that some suggest we have entered an "anthropocene," or geological period defined by human action disrupting the surface of the Earth. Socially this technology has moved children away from the outdoors and in front of screens. Conover noted that in the last decade children have spent an average of over 7 hours a day in front of a screen.

Photo courtesy of "Behold the Earth"

Conover does not seek to provide a particular answer to this problem, rather he is making an attempt to understand why our divorce from nature started and exactly what that divorce looks like. The fierce embrace of Hurricane Sandy brings this question right into our homes, through leaky windows, flooded basements, and loss of power: electrical and otherwise.

Summer Research at Chino Farms

Check out our summer interns at Chino Farms!

Sandor Katz and the Wonders of Krauting

Chestertown Spy: Sandor Katz and the Wonders of Krauting

Check out this article on the Chestertown Spy about Sandor Katz's demonstration during the Locavore Lit Fest.

Chesapeake Semester: The Video

Each fall, the Chesapeake Semester will engage a select group of students in the interdisciplinary study of North America’s largest estuary, the Chesapeake Bay. Participants will study the complex history, ecology, and culture of the Chesapeake as a microcosm of the challenges and transitions confronting coastal communities around the world. Using the College and the shores and waters of the Chester River as base camps, you will journey in, on and around the 64,000 square mile watershed.

Chesapeake Semester: Peru slideshow

At the final presentations of the Fall 2011 Chesapeake Semester, Director of Digital Media Services Brian Palmer presented a slideshow of photos and video he took during the semester.

This is a rough slideshow that was shown during the final presentations of the 2011 Chesapeake Semester at Washington College. It is a glimpse into roughly 21 hours and 5300 photos taken in Peru during the 4th journey of the Chesapeake Semester. Please be on the look out for the full documentary which will premiere on campus at Washington College in late January or early February 2012.



You can also view photos of the presentations here.

Video: Waterfront Festival

Read the accompanying Elm article here.

Dr. John Seidel in Chestertown Spy Futures Study

View the great video of Dr. John Seidel, Director of CES, courtesy of the Chestertown Spy.

New Tree Planting Video!

New Chesapeake Semester Video!

Chesapeake Semester students hit the road for Journey 1, "Discovering a Sense of Place," which included a ten-day 842 mile trip circumnavigating the Bay. Students departed from Chestertown and traveled down the Delmarva and up the Western Shore of Maryland stopping at historic landmarks like Jamestowne, Colonial Williamsburg, Shirley Plantation, Historic St. Mary's City, our state capital Annapolis, Havre de Grace, and Port Deposit. Nearing the end of the journey Chesapeake Semester students, Washington College faculty and SEA members enjoyed a sunset sail on the skipjack Martha Lewis out on the Susquehanna Flats.

Chesapeake Semester Featured on Nautica Blog "Ocean 2 Ocean"

In the Fall of 2010 Nautica visited Chestertown to capture the story of local artist and activist Marc Castelli. CES’s Chesapeake Semester had the opportunity to work with Castelli through the premier of his exhibit, "The Art of the Waterman—Simison Collection" in our very own Kohl Gallery. See photos from the event here.

See the video of Chesapeake Semester Students featured on Nautica’s "Ocean 2 Ocean’s" blog.

Video: Sustainability at Washington College

CES Intern Amanda Anastasia '13 has produced a video about sustainability at Washington College. Check it out!

Maryland Birds and Habitats, Summer 2010

The Youth Program of the Maryland Ornithological Society (YMOS) conducted a new field camp, "Maryland Birds and Bird Habitats," during summer 2010. This residential program was based at Washington College and offered in collaboration with the Center for Environment & Society on June 20-25. CES Senior Associate Wayne Bell and retired middle school science teacher George Radcliffe (Queen Anne's County Public Schools) were co-directors. Five students enrolled (grades 8-10) from Baltimore, Carroll, and Queen Anne's Counties plus three educators from the DC and Baltimore areas. We were able to tailor much of the program content to their specific interests and education needs.