Afternoon: Please plan on arriving at the motel between 3:00 and 4:30 p.m. for registration.

Dinner: Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. at Maria's Restaurant. For your dining pleasure, this program includes "A Taste Of The Island." We will be dining each evening at a different island restauant, each known for its fine cusine and friendly service. Restaurants are about 1/2 mile from the motel.

Evening: This evening's activities include a schedule review, a colorful history of our local area as well as an ice cream social at the Island Creamery, featuring local, homemade ice cream. Uncover the unique 300 year old history of Chincoteague and Assateague as you learn how and why its resilient people survived and adapted despite isolation, storms, wars and changing economies.

Lodging: Rodeway Inn

Meals Included: Dinner

Birds; Visit to the host institution - Museum of Chincoteague Island; Assateague National Seashore ; Lighthouses

Breakfast: A locally catered al fresco island breakfast at 8:00 a.m.

Morning: Our small island has an outstanding museum, rated by TripAdvisor as one of the top 5 attractions on Chincoteague. With your expert guide, explore the museum's exhibits including a rare Fresnel lighthouse lens, surprising shipwreck finds, handmade artifacts from the past and much more. The museum is currently the home of Misty.

Lunch: Lunch at a local establishment at12:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Immerse yourself in identifying some of the many bird species you will observe here as local birding expert, Paul Smith, leads you through the basics of color, shape, and call. More than 300 species of birds migrate through this area each year, using Assateague Island as a resting place. This area of the east coast is known for its abundance and variety of birds.

Dinner: Dinner at 5:30 p.m.

Evening: Dr. Ralph Eshelman, a renowned and much sought after expert in many marine topics, will help us explore the important roles lighthouses have played throughout history, especially the Civil War. We will begin to understand the important place they have in marine safety.

Lodging: Rodeway Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at 8:00 a.m.

Morning: Explore the interior of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge to look for wild ponies, Sika elk, nesting terrapin, otters, bald eagles, Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel and other wildlife. Jenny Somers, a local birding expert with over 30 years experience, will be our guide. We will be going into an area that is normally closed to the public, so be sure to bring your camera for the trip. Take along your binoculars if you brought them.

Lunch: Lunch at 12:00 p.m.

Afternoon: How much do you understand about our changing earth? This afternoon, Dr. Eshelman will focus on the geology of the Eastern Shore and the impact of climate change and global warming.

Dinner: Dinner at 5:30 p.m.

Evening: Meet a "pirate." Dr. Eshelman will introduce us to pirates, as he leads us on an exploration of this group of "brigands," their adventures and local activities. Hear the rumors of Black Beard and his crew in and around Chincoteague and speculation of buried treasure on Assateague.

Lodging: Rodeway Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at 8:00 a.m.

Morning: Take a trip to our own lighthouse on Assateague. Understand the role of this facility in the Civil War, and the dramatic seeming change in its location resulting from the shifting sands. Learn first-hand about the restoration activities.

Lunch: Lunch at 12:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Study the techniques of local wildlife artist Nancy West, who is internationally recognized for her sensitive interpretations of this beautiful coast. Through slides and an actual painting session, Nancy will demonstrate how she captures the subtle patterns of color, light and movement distinctive to the waterways, creatures and skies of Chincoteague. Learn about the local banding program and bird identification.

Dinner: Dinner at 5:30 p.m.

Evening: NEW TO OUR PROGRAM! Dan Grosse, an expert in aquaculture will lecture us on the changing marine ecosystem and how the modern day marine industry is adapting. The oceans and shoreline create one ecosystem and the marshlands on the back of the barrier islands create another. Dan will describe these ecosystems that make up some of the most productive in the world. He will enlighten us regarding how fragile it is and the balance needed to successfully maintain it.

Lodging: Rodeway Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Decoy Carving; Afternoon Island Exploration (Free time); Evening entertainment

Breakfast: Breakfast at 8:00 a.m.

Morning: An award winning decoy carver, Roe Terry, will demonstrate the skills of this traditional island craft handed down by generations. He will share the tricks of his trade, carving a decoy while he entertains us with amusing stories. Be sure to try to get a front row seat to get the most of this activity.

Lunch: Lunch at 12:00 p.m.

Afternoon: This afternoon is for you to create your own adventure. We will be available to help you take full advantage of the many unique opportunities tailored to your specific interests.

Dinner: Dinner at 5:30 p.m.

Evening: Enjoy a concert by local artists. "Three Sheets" who will perform sea chant's and traditional Celtic music that will entertain and delight you

Lodging: Rodeway Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at 8:00 am at a local restaurant

Morning: There is special surprise this morning. Dean Orsino, a local "saltwater cowboy" and Chincoteague EMT, will entertain you with stories of the local fire department volunteers who care for the Chincoteague pony herd. He has a special video of the ponies and will explain the role of the Chincoteague Volunteer Firemen play in keeping this valuable resource healthy and free. Our program will end after the morning talk at about 11:00am.

Meals Included: Breakfast