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The Secret Side of the Oyster Festival
by Vera England
Marine Science
Legacy Coordinator
Urbanna Oyster Festival
Parking at the Oyster Festival!
Everyone grumbles when
they fork out $10 or $20 to pay
the parking attendant—usually
someone from our local volunteer
services—but do you know
where that money goes?
Part of it helps support
things like the fire department
and rescue squad for our local
citizens; some goes to the general
fund to pay for things like
the street cleaning, the police,
the entertainment at the Oyster
Festival, maybe even part of
the Queen’s scholarship, and
some—largely unknown— supports
a year-long education program
for the school children of
Middlesex.
You may have noticed the
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
(CBF) deadrise Bea Hayman
Clark the past two weeks on
Urbanna Creek. Filled with
Middlesex County fourth and
seventh graders and Middlesex
High School and Christchurch
School environmental and
marine science students, after 5
years it has become as familiar a
sight as the spring arrival of the
osprey. Some of these students
have never been on the river
which borders their homes. The
Marine Science Legacy Program
(MSLP), the educational
outreach of the Oyster Festival
Foundation, pays for and organizes
the CBF program for
Middlesex schools.
Most of you probably haven’t
seen what happens at the
Urbanna Town Marina on the
Thursday before the festival (it’s
only for the school children)
but “Education Day” includes
even more exhibitors at the
waterfront than during the festi-
val—about 60 volunteers—and
brings historical, ecological and
environmental hands-on activities
to all the schools that serve
Middlesex County, including the
three private schools in adjoining
counties.
Friends of the Rappahannock,
an organization that participated
for the first time last year, wrote
that, “Overall, the event was
amazing and should be used
as a model for other events in
the region.” Superintendent of
Middlesex schools Dr. James
Lane, a strong supporter of the
program, added that he “found it
to be extremely educational and
overall, absolutely impressive.
Our teachers and students were
engaged in activities that provided
real-life opportunities to
learn about the watershed experience
and how it impacts local
industries. The scientific knowledge
that students gained is tied
directly to the Virginia Standards
of Learning and the program
in general has become an
important part of helping learning
become real to our students.”
Teachers have commented that
they plan their lessons around
what the students will encounter
on “Education Day.” This field
trip, organized and funded by the
Oyster Festival MSLP, may be
the only one some of these students
are able to attend that year.
Some years ago, when budgets
allowed, even buses were paid
for by the Oyster Festival.
It doesn’t end there. In addition,
on the water environmental
in-service programs are offered
to Middlesex teachers facilitated
by the MSLP. In June, the
Middlesex first graders descend
upon the Deltaville Maritime
Museum and Holly Point Nature
Park—and guess what—that
organization is assisted by the
MSLP of the Urbanna Oyster
Festival.
These programs are so
important to the Oyster Festival
Foundation Board that funding
is often designated first for
the students and second for the
festival-goers on Friday and
Saturday. Attendees luckily
benefit from what is planned
for the kids. But money is tight.
In addition to support from
the general fund, sponsorships
are essential. This year we are
pleased and grateful that Chesapeake
Bay Oyster Company of
Wake, a long time educational
contributor to Education Day,
has become a sponsor of the
MSLP, along with Adirondack
Guide Boats. But more support
is needed to continue. In
Dr. Lane’s words, “the partnerships
that MSLP has formed
between the school systems,
local volunteer organizations,
and the business communities
which reflect the collaborative
(See Legacy, page 21)
See you soon!
Nov. 3, 2011 • Southside Sentinel • Urbanna, Va.• 17