On the sixth-grade's recent trip to Northbay, an education center at the north end of the Chesapeake Bay, a theme began to emerge. Whether gathering data about clams, joining forces for a beach cleanup, or zooming down ziplines, students always seemed to be building—building knowledge, building confidence, building community.
The trip, now in its fourth year, kicks off the sixth-grade science unit on oceanography, introducing relevant topics through hands-on experiences. This year, for example, girls compared natural and manmade wetlands, conducting water quality testing and noting the biodiversity in each. They netted fish by beach and practiced identifying them. They dug for clams and documented death rates, particularly for juveniles, and discussed the need for longitudinal data to place their results in context.
Through the trip, says science teacher Janeth Eby, "I want them to understand more about water flowing into the ocean, and Northbay's location is great for this. We talk about the different things that pollute the ocean. And I want them to understand how field scientists conduct research and what it entails."
"There's also a lot of learning about teamwork, collaboration, and bonding," she adds. This happens during the science-related projects—and during the many social and team-building activities that punctuate the schedule, ranging from an evening beach bonfire to a day on the ropes course.
Adventure experiences like a zipline, a giant swing, and a challenging high ropes course "gave students such a sense of accomplishment," says Eby. "For many, it was their first time doing anything like this."
On their Northbay trip blog, the girls reflected on the many activities. They wrote about their newly sparked interest in marine creatures; about how, despite their fears of tipping over, they had a dry and wonderful time kayaking, complete with sunset views; about how they conquered their fears of the adventure challenges and can't wait to do them again.
Mia Gyening '25 and Violet Gerson '25 wrote that various team-building games helped them realize just how important it is to work together and listen to all voices.
They also learned about the power of each individual. "We talked about the effect our actions have on the environment and what actions we can take to impact our environment in a positive way," they said.
The trip builds on the fourth-grade science curriculum, which includes events throughout the year with the National Aquarium's AquaPartners, a program that builds knowledge of the Chesapeake Bay and environmental stewardship through hands-on activities. The Northbay experience also prepares students for the sixth-grade summer trip to Maine, when Holton teachers partner with scientists and environmental educators at Schoodic Institute and College of the Atlantic to help girls explore the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals of Life Below Water and Life on Land. Over half of the sixth-grade class will embark on this additional oceanographic exploration this year. Read more about the Maine trip here.
View photo highlights from the Northbay trip below: