Virginia

Chincoteague Service Learning: Preserving Barrier Island Environments

Program No. 2637RJ
Help preserve and maintain the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge — home to the wild Chincoteague ponies — as you learn about the island’s unique music, culture and lore.

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At a Glance

Spend a week on the beautiful barrier islands of Chincoteague and Assateague working at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and with the Museum of Chincoteague Island, Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, or Beebe Ranch to help conserve the islands’ wildlife habitats, medical facilities, history and culture. Under the supervision of experts, assist with a variety of projects ranging from repairing and clearing woodland trails and walkways, to cleaning up undeveloped beaches, preserving historic sites, or working among the Museum’s collection of artifacts and records. You will have opportunities to observe barrier island waterfowl and other wildlife up close, including the herds of wild Chincoteague ponies. Discover the unique culture of this treasured natural barrier island paradise with local experts.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to one half mile at a time over level ground. Some groups may walk up to a mile at a time through sand or marsh terrain. Projects may involve physical labor. Transportation will be via school bus, boat, golf cart, car or pickup truck.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Work outdoors on the Refuge among the wild ponies and waterfowl, at pony care properties, the Beebe Ranch, island historic sites, or at the Museum of Chincoteague Island, helping to manage its expanding collection of local artifacts.
  • Walk along our pristine beaches helping to clean up cast-off fishing nets and debris deposited by ocean storms, learn or refresh your carpentry skills while building or repairing walkways and structures throughout the refuge, or participate in one of many other projects to help preserve the island and care for the wild ponies.
  • Enjoy an evening of entertainment by local musicians featuring sea shanties and local lore.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Cindy Faith
Cindy Faith has been a Group Leader and lecturer at the Museum of Chincoteague Island’s Road Scholar programs for many years. Raised on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, her knowledge of the region’s natural and local history is encyclopedic. Her expertise runs the gamut from horseshoe crabs and wild ponies to pirates and the Civil War’s impact on the Chincoteague region. Combined with her warm sense of humor, Cindy’s vast knowledge assures Road Scholar participants of an informative and interesting experience.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Cindy Faith
Cindy Faith View biography
Cindy Faith has been a Group Leader and lecturer at the Museum of Chincoteague Island’s Road Scholar programs for many years. Raised on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, her knowledge of the region’s natural and local history is encyclopedic. Her expertise runs the gamut from horseshoe crabs and wild ponies to pirates and the Civil War’s impact on the Chincoteague region. Combined with her warm sense of humor, Cindy’s vast knowledge assures Road Scholar participants of an informative and interesting experience.
Profile Image of Beth Scheeley
Beth Scheeley View biography
Beth Scheeley was born and raised on Chincoteague Island. She has many family ties to the island, which makes her a true "teaguer." Beth has an extensive knowledge for Chincoteague's history. Her childhood memories of Chincoteague's past looks, restaurants and people will call for endless conversations and stories during your time with her. Her go-getter personality and friendliness will surely make you feel right at home on Chincoteague Island.
Profile Image of Darcy Cole
Darcy Cole View biography
Darcy has lived on the island for over 15 years. In her early encounters with the wild horses of Assateague, she became fascinated with the idea that each horse had a name and a personality. In those 15 years, she has become a regional expert on the horses, publishing books on the horses and conducting workshops and talks related to the horses. In addition to her many lectures at the Museum of Chincoteague, Darcy serves as a Team Leader on the two annual Service Projects.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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6 days
5 nights
14 meals
5 B 4 L 5 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Chincoteague , Va.
D
Refuge Inn

Activity note: Motel check-in from 4:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Program Registration: 3:00-4:45 p.m. In the motel’s conference room, register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in.

Dinner: Catered in the motel conference room

Evening: Orientation will be immediately following dinner. Our Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This evening is the time to sign up for one of several interesting projects we’ll begin tomorrow. Each project has an assigned team leader who will direct us in our tasks and provide project oversight and expert supervision of project participants. Projects vary depending on the needs and time of year and may include activities such as beach clean-up and restoration, walkway and observation deck maintenance, sign painting, pony corral repairs, and work at the museum or historic sites. These projects are designed and chosen specifically to preserve barrier island habitats and enhance the experience of more than a million visitors who come every year. Each workday, we’ll have a different catered lunch on the project site. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

DAY
2
Local History & Lore, Museum, Begin Projects
Chincoteague , Va.
B,L,D
Refuge Inn

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus. Working at project site.

Breakfast: At the motel.

Morning: We will learn local history on a bus tour of Chincoteague Island. Next, we will visit the Museum of Chincoteague Island, where we will see the rare First Order Fresnel Lens that was the original lens on the Assateague lighthouse.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: We will join our work crew and begin our service learning work project(s). Expect to wrap up around 3:00 p.m. and return to the motel by bus. The remainder of the afternoon is free. You might like to enjoy the motel sauna, indoor pool and hot tub after the day’s work. Remember to sign up for Tuesday's work project.

Dinner: A catered dinner at the Museum of Chincoteague Island, with a local expert who will discuss local history via cuisine.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
3
Service Project Work; Pirates, Shipwrecks & Treasure
Chincoteague , Va.
B,L,D
Refuge Inn

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus. Working at project site.

Breakfast: At the motel.

Morning: We will travel to the project location and carry on with this morning's work schedule.

Lunch: We will have lunch on site.

Afternoon: We will continue our service learning work project(s). Expect to wrap up around 3:00 p.m., then return to the motel. The remainder of the afternoon is free.

Dinner: Catered in the hotel conference room.

Evening: In the hotel conference room, we will enjoy a lecture on Pirates, Shipwrecks and Buried Treasures. You are invited to join us as a pirate and bring your own grog!

DAY
4
Service Learning Project; Pirates, Shipwrecks & Treasures
Chincoteague , Va.
B,L,D
Refuge Inn

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus. Working at project site.

Breakfast: At the motel.

Morning: We will travel to the project location and carry on with the work schedule.

Lunch: We will have lunch on site.

Afternoon: We will continue our service learning work project(s). Expect to wrap up around 3:00 p.m., then return to the motel. The remainder of the afternoon is free.

Dinner: At a local restaurant. This meal is optional. If you would prefer a dinner of your choosing, this is a good night to do that.

Evening: At leisure

DAY
5
Service Learning Project Work, Musical Entertainment
Chincoteague , Va.
B,L,D
Refuge Inn

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus. Working at project site.

Breakfast: At the motel.

Morning: We will travel to the project location and carry on with the work schedule.

Lunch: We will have lunch on site.

Afternoon: We will continue our service learning work project(s). Expect to wrap up around 3:00 p.m., then return to the motel. The remainder of the afternoon is free.

Dinner: In a local restaurant

Evening: We’ll be joined by Salts, seasoned singers/players who present energetic and eclectic performances of Celtic, nautical, traditional, and contemporary music. They will entertain us with witty banter while also teaching about their songs and instruments. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
6
Program Concludes, When Assateague was Home video
Chincoteague , Va.
B

Activity note: Motel check-out 11:00 a.m.

Breakfast: At the motel.

Morning: In the motel conference room, we will enjoy a viewing of When Assateague Was Home, a documentary video discussing the village that was on Assateague Island from the 1800s to the early 1900s.






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