Wildfowl Trust of North America, Inc.

The focus of CBEC is to provide exceptional "hands-on, feet-wet" learning experiences that lead to environmental stewardship and sustainable living practices.  The center provides environmental education programming to over 25,000 participants annually ranging from early childhood development, K-12th grade, college students and adults. Programs vary from artificial reefs surveys, invertebrate sampling, bird conservation, seining, low impact tourism (such as kayaking, geocaching, hiking) and homeowner workshops.  To be cutting-edge competitive, CBEC incorporates the use of technologies such as GPS units for habitat scavenger hunts and ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicles) construction and operation for basic reef studies in order to encourage team work and critical thinking skills.  CBEC's newest educational project involves the use of long-distance learning technologies to connect local elementary students with students in Costa Rica to share natural history information relative to bird migration.

CBEC has identified and is actively pursuing a new opportunity that is currently underserved and incorporates its core mission.  This new opportunity focuses on CBEC serving as a national showcase for restoration-based education by becoming the incubator and an accredited institution for Bay-wide restoration activities.  The education center woud be expanded to include not only lectures, workshops but hands-on lessons in living shoreline installation, artificial reef placement, oyster bar construction and bay grass restoration for researchers, homeowners, school students, contractors and government personnel.  CBEC has hosted several international delegations from China, Brazil, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia including the US Department of State interested in learning the facets of habitat restoration such as best BMP's to recruiting volunteers and forming partnerships.