Celebrate Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week

Join us from June 6-14, 2026, for Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week! This annual event celebrates the cultures, history and natural beauty of the nation's largest estuary. The week will include online and in-person events, as well as volunteer opportunities and social media conversations so everyone can take part in celebrating the Bay.

History and purpose

In 2016, the Chesapeake Bay Commission worked with their legislative partners to formally designate nine days each June as Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week. This timing was chosen to correspond with two long-running Bay events: Clean the Bay Day in Virginia and the Patuxent River Wade-In in Maryland. Each year, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia pass official proclamations in honor of Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week. Several local county and city governments have followed suit, and the Chesapeake Bay Program has developed a proclamation template for local governments. Organizations and businesses are also encouraged to hold events, activities and volunteer opportunities during this time.

The Chesapeake Bay Program is honored to coordinate this annual event, and will share more information about our 2026 plans as Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week approaches.

If you would like to participate in the planning of Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week in 2026, please email bmartinezpenn@chesapeakebay.net.

Events

Saturday, June 6, 2026Sunday, June 7, 2026Monday, June 8, 2026Tuesday, June 9, 2026Wednesday, June 10, 2026Thursday, June 11, 2026Friday, June 12, 2026Saturday, June 13, 2026Sunday, June 14, 2026View all‍

Saturday, June 6, 2026

Intro to Sailing Small Craft

Join us Saturday, June 6, for an introductory course in sailing small craft on the Miles River.

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St. Michaels, MD

Family Walk at Woodend

Come explore Woodend with your family this spring!

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Chevy Chase, MD

Fern ID and Reproduction

Learn about the identification, evolutionary history, and myriad reproductive strategies of ferns on a walk through Rachel Carson Conservation Park’s network of trails.

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Brookeville, MD

Family Fishing Fun!

Fishing is fun for the whole family and for all abilities!

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Boyds, MD

Design Your Own Tropical Terrarium

Create your own lush tropical terrarium in this hands-on workshop!

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Wheaton, MD

Boats of the Bay: Racing Boats Guided Tour

From sailing log canoes and skipjack races to one-design classes and hydroplanes, explore some of the racing traditions that keep the spirit of competition alive in the Chesapeake.

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St. Michaels, MD