Very enjoyable program. Cindy was terrific and knew so much.She and the other speakers made this naturalist- non history liking person into a believer. The history of these islands is fascinating and the speakers were extremely knowledgeable and passionate about their work.

This program was a most enjoyable three day experience giving one a good introduction to a rather unique area of the United States. It can be combined with visits to other nearby places of interest.

Cindy was a terrific leader and made the activites so much fun. Seeing the ponies made the trip for me. The knowledge given about their history was extensive, giving me a much broader understanding of their existence.

While most of the East Coast got pounded by remnants of Hurricane Lee, the hamlet of Chincoteague, set on a barrier island at the Virginia end of the Delmarva peninsula, was a sunny, peaceful haven for our 3-day Museum of Chincoteague program.

Probably best known for its "pony swim and auction" which take place during July, Chincoteague is perhaps the perfect place to spend Labor Day. It's not a very big place since the year-round population is just over 4,000. Some say that the annual July invasion of "pony photo op" seekers increases the population by a factor of 10, overloading the local transportation and accommodation circuits nearly to the breaking point.

But the end of the beach season holiday brings just enough visitors to make the town bright and lively. And by the time we were ready to undertake our learning experiences, even the last of the holiday makers had headed home, leaving us to enjoy the island's uncrowded attractions.

A Labor Day visit is appropriate in another respect. This is a working class resort. Our accommodations were not at 3-star hotel, but a Quality Inn Motel where the emphasis was on location, not decor! And work was the common denominator among many of our presenters, some of whom represent occupations that are rapidly disappearing.

With no mixing of metaphors, I can honestly say that this Road Scholar program "covered the waterfront." Since the wild ponies are the motivator for the vast majority of visits to the island, we started with a lecture "Ponies 101" by the personable and entertaining leader of the program, Cindy. But other aspects of the local history and culture were featured as well. We heard from a working "waterman," a local artist, a champion decoy carver, a record-holding volunteer bird counter, and were entertained by a local combo who sang some of their own material, inspired by a long-ago tragedy at sea that is described on a plaque prominently displayed at the Museum of Chincoteague.