An Interactive Program that Allows Students
to Participate in Restoring the Chesapeake Bay

The Bay Grasses in Classes (BGIC) program is a hands-on, interactive education project that enables students to play a direct role in Chesapeake Bay restoration. Teachers are provided with all equipment and instructions required to grow bay grasses in their classrooms. In addition, an extensive curriculum has been designed to incorporate bay grass activities into the normal school day. During the semester, students perform experiments to study bay grass growth. Experiment data are posted on the Bay Grasses in Classes website. At the end of the semester, students take part in transplanting their bay grasses in select areas of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. By studying the ecological importance of bay grasses and actively participating in restoration, students also gain a sense of stewardship of the Bay. The Bay Grasses in Classes (BGIC) project is a partnership between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF - http://www.cbf.org).

Photos from bay grasses in classes 2005

Since its inception in 1998, over 1,568 classes and 40,970 students have been involved with Bay Grasses in Classes. During this time students have planted over 3.0 acres of bottom surface in the Bay with the 500,000 plants grown in their classrooms. Aerial surveys taken each year by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) have continued to map healthy grass beds planted by students in the program.

16 new teachers were trained for BGIC in January, and will begin growing their grasses for the first time. This year, we have 150 teachers from 15 counties and Baltimore City involved in the program. They will plant their seeds, monitor their grasses and submit data each week until May. During May and June, they will meet DNR and CBF staff to plant their grasses and ensure all of the students have a meaningful bay experience.

Financial Assistance provided by the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amend, administered by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  A publication pursuant to NOAA Award No. NA070Z0118Maryland Coastal Zone Management Program, Department of Natural Resources