Bowie State Explores the Chesapeake Gateways – An Eight-Day Adventure to Remember
Bowie State University students embarked on an eight-day camping trip with Sumanth G Reddy, an Assistant Professor of History & Government, to explore and learn about African American and Black culture in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Thanks to funding from the Chesapeake Gateways Grant, National Park Trust planned visits to Belle Grove National Historical Park, Shenandoah National Park, Catoctin Mountain Park, Assateague Island National Seashore, and the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park. Check out their daily itinerary:
May 25th: 12 excited students gathered at Bowie State University, a public, historically black university, to begin their adventure at Belle Grove National Historical Park. After a tour of Belle Grove Plantation and Cedar Creek Battlefield with a National Park Service Ranger, they engaged with Joseph McGill, founder of the Slave Dwelling Project.
May 26th: Students camped at Big Meadows Campground in Shenandoah National Park, where they enjoyed a family-style dinner, bonfires, and stargazing. Their day of exploration in the park included a hike to Rapidan Camp, President Hoover’s historic retreat.
May 27th: Their next stop was Catoctin Mountain Park, where they got fresh supplies and set up camp at Owens Creek Campground. They were eager to learn about the park’s history, including stories about historical black figures and ecology, while hiking to the Thurmont Vista overlook.
May 28th: Continuing their exploration of Catoctin Mountain Park, they learned from rangers about the park’s role in the Underground Railroad movement and hiked to the Blue Ridge Summit overlook.
May 29th and 30th: After a night in a hotel in Annapolis, the students went fishing on the Chesapeake Bay aboard the “Net Profits” charter. They then camped at Assateague Island National Seashore, where they saw the iconic wild horses and spent time hiking and exploring the beach.
May 31st: Next, they visited the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center, then headed to Cambridge, Maryland, to rest before their paddling adventure on their final day.
June 1st: On their last day, the students trekked to Blackwater Wildlife National Refuge, where they enjoyed a two-hour guided kayaking tour and learned about native wildlife in the Chesapeake Bay region and its importance to the ecosystem. The last stop was at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, where students enjoyed the artifacts and exhibits.
After eight busy and fun-filled days, the group returned to campus happy but exhausted, with a wealth of cherished memories and experiences. The students bonded and learned much about history, geography, and the outdoors.
