In celebration of the summer solstice, ShoreRivers is hosting a slate of exciting outings. On June 15th learn all about “alpaca magic” on a guided visit to a working alpaca farm where you can learn all about raising alpacas and creating beautiful alpaca yarns, rovings and batts. On June 19 join the Family Bike Ride & Ice Cream Social (registration ends June 15). On June 21 enjoy the Dragonfly Walk & Talk at Unicorn Lake or learn nautical navigation skills aboard the River Packet. Then there’s Cycle, Sip and Savor, the Mt. Harmon Solstice History Tour, the Ecology Excursion at Echo Hill Outdoor School, the Edible Plants Foraging Expedition and a tour of the historic Hermitage Farm. June 15 to 24, various locations on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. More information and reservations.
Join a fun learning experience lead by a Sandy Point ranger exploring what critters inhabit the Bay’s waters. Be prepared to get wet as you wade into the Bay with your seining net. Reservations are preferred. Day-use fees apply. June 22, 10 a.m.; Sandy Point State Park, Annapolis, MD. More information.
You’re invited to come out and join in the free 2nd annual Annapolis parade and festival on Saturday, June 18. This year, there will be an R&B main stage and a gospel main stage, featuring blockbuster headliners and a host of local talent. Fireworks will immediately follow the show. Last year over 65 organizations, bands, and clubs jammed the streets of Main and West as thousands aligned the sidewalks to witness history being made – Annapolis’ first celebration of Juneteenth. There were over 2000 participants! Check out last year’s photos. The parade kicks off at 12 p.m. and the festival performances begin at 2 p.m. at Bates Athletic Complex. Information about performers and more.
Beat the summer heat with a sunrise paddle on the Lower Susquehanna Flats. The paddles are presented as a partnership between the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum and Harford Community College. $35. June 17, July 14 and 29; 5 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.; Havre de Grace Maritime Museum, Havre de Grace, MD. More information and reservations.
Enjoy a full weekend of mid-19th century living history. This event will focus on two important parts of history that had a profound influence on transportation and music in America: “batteaux and banjos.” Enjoy live music, blacksmiths, cooking, period camp, boats, and much more. June 18, 10 a.m. to June 20, 2 p.m.; James River State Park, Gladstone, VA. More information.
The National Park Service invites you to a commemoration of Juneteenth National Independence Day at Manassas National Battlefield Park. The battlefield will host the exhibit “African American Faces of the Civil War” from June 18 through June 25, featuring 27 Civil War-era images that are a powerful reminder that African Americans have been an integral part of the Manassas community before, during and after the Civil War. On June 18 at 2 p.m., a battlefield hike will explore the life and military service of James Peters, who served in the 1st US Colored Troops during the Civil War, and the 7 p.m. ‘History at Sunset’ program will explore how James Robison and his family lived on the front lines and played a role during the Civil War and in the struggle for equality. June 18-25, Manassas Battlefield Park, Manassas, VA. More information.
Join John Plischke III from the Western Mushroom Club to take a hike on Chappells Field Trail while learning about all the mushrooms in the area. If you have a mushroom that you would like identified, feel free to bring it with you. June 18, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. At 8 p.m. join Kim and John Plischke for a workshop in identification, Q&A session, and tips for preserving and cooking mushrooms. Blue Knob State Park, Imler, PA. Mushroom hike information. Mushroom ID and Cooking information.
Celebrate Virginia State Park’s History and Culture Day with a walk and a York River paddle. Begin the day with the African American Waterman's Walk and hear the rarely told stories of how minorities played a major role in the seafood industry. Then enjoy a paddle (pre-registration required) on the York River to see how waterways were important for transportation and commerce in early Virginia. Added bonus! In between the walk and paddle check out the action in a breeding colony of great blue herons. June 18, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; York River State Park, Williamsburg, VA. Free with standard parking or admission. More information and registration.
Paddling In Paradise
Spectacular, world-class paddling abounds in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. But Maryland’s Lower Shore and the Eastern Shore of Virginia’s bald cypress swamps, endless marsh creeks, fantastic birding opportunities, and white, sandy beaches “provide a paddling paradise on the Chesapeake like none other “ – according to life-long paddler/blogger Laura Scharle, who has put together her list of favorites she’d like to share. Some of them, like Janes island and Pocomoke’s smaller creeks are perhaps familiar, but others are favorites because they not only are beautiful, but also are so remote they possess a rare and precious attribute – silence. Laura is chipping away at paddling around the entire Delmarva Peninsula. Check out the Top Paddling Trips on the Lower Shore.


Featured Tips
Managing Pests Without Harming Pollinators
Brookside Gardens is presenting a webinar that will address concerns many of us have about how to protect our gardens from pests without using pesticides. The lecture will discuss some of the key pesticide concerns for pollinators and offer pest management tips for a variety of home landscapes. $12. June 18, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. More information and registration.




Head out on the water and learn firsthand the experiences of Captain John Smith's Voyage on NOAA's Chesapeake Bay interpretive Buoy System. CBIBS provides real time weather and environmental information, as well as a glimpse into living Chesapeake Bay History. You can also download the app for your Android or iPhone from the website. Note: some buoys may be offline with no data currently available.

Take a virtual tour of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail from your computer or mobile device! To help you plan your trip before you go, the Chesapeake Conservancy partnered with Terrain360 to bring you virtual tours of the trail’s great rivers. Sit back and virtually explore the Elk, James (sponsored by the James River Association), Nanticoke, Northeast, Patapsco, Patuxent, Potomac, Rappahannock, Sassafras, Susquehanna, and York rivers. Check out some of the Chesapeake’s special places like Werowocomoco, Fones Cliffs, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and Mallows Bay. We hope to eventually bring you a virtual tour of the entire Chesapeake Trail! Explore the Chesapeake's great rivers on our website.

Chesapeake Trips and Tips is a partnership publication of National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways and Chesapeake Conservancy.
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