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Virginia

Chincoteague Service Learning: Preserving Barrier Island Environments

Program No. 2637RJ

Help preserve and maintain the town of Chincoteague and the Assateague National Seashore — as you learn about the island’s unique music, culture and lore.

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Protecting the Environment

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6 days

5 nights

13 meals

5B 4L 4D

Check-in, Welcome Dinner, Orientation

Chincoteague , Va.

Local History & Lore, Museum, Begin Projects

Chincoteague , Va.

Service Project Work

Chincoteague , Va.

Service Learning Project; Pirates, Shipwrecks & Treasures

Chincoteague , Va.

Service Learning Project Work, Musical Entertainment

Chincoteague , Va.

Assateague Lighthouse, Program Concludes

Chincoteague , Va.

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At a Glance

Spend a week on the beautiful barrier islands of Chincoteague and Assateague working at the Assateague National Seashore and with the Museum of Chincoteague Island, Town of Chincoteague, or Beebe Ranch to help conserve the islands’ wildlife habitats, 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 painting and/or physical labor. Transportation will be via bus, boat, golf cart, car or pickup truck.

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.

Best of all, you’ll…

Work outdoors on the Assateague National Seashore amonth the waterfowl, 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 islands, or participate in one of many other projects to help preserve the islands.
Enjoy an evening of entertainment by local musicians featuring sea shanties and local lore.

Featured Expert

All trip experts

Beth Scheeley

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.

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

Beth Scheeley View biography

Suggested Reading List (6 books)

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.

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Chincoteague Service Learning: Preserving Barrier Island Environments

Program Number: 2637

Once Upon an Island: The History of Chincoteague

by Kirk Mariner

Settled for more than 300 years, surrounded by waters which have for centuries provided both livelihood and recreation, known for ponies and wildfowl, seafood and seashore, "old salts" and decoys. Chincoteague Island, Virginia is both colorful and storied. And never until now has its complete history been told. This book chronicles the often surprising story of a place named for Native Americans who never really lived there, settled not by fishermen but by cattlemen, so individual that it refused to follow the rest of the state into the Confederacy during the Civil War. Here is a full account of how the famous pony penning came to be, of the boom and bust of the seafood industry, and of a hardy people who survived fire, flood and isolation to build a community that has now been visited by millions. It is the story not of one island but of several - Chincoteague, Assateague, Wallops, and of their interplay with both the nearby Eastern Shore and with more distant places familiar to islander who "went to sea" at an early age. Once Upon an Island is both good, sound history and a "fun read" for anyone who is fascinated by colorful, celebrated Chincoteague Island. Available in the Museum gift shop in person or online at www.chincoteaguemuseum.com

Watermen and Wild Ponies, A Chincoteague Waterman Remembers Life on Chincoteague and Assateague

by Robert H. Mears and Lorna Gagneux

An informative and touching chronicle of the life-long friendship of two business partners who catch and sell fish, oysters and clams for over 30 years until the early 1960's. It reflects the flavor of living and making a livelihood on Chincoteague and the early settlement of Assateague. Available at the Museum of Chincoteague Island and on our website. Chincoteaguemuseum.com

Chincoteague and Assateague Islands (MD and VA) (images of America)

by Nan Devincent-Hays

This book provides a short pictorial and narrative description of these two barrier islands, their history and relationship. One is a small town community catering to thousands of tourists who come almost year-round to enjoy the beach and view the wildlife on the other. Available at the Museum of Chincoteague Island and on our website. Chincoteaguemuseum.com

Slave and Free on Virginia's Eastern Shore

by Kirk Mariner

The Eastern Shore of Virginia has been home to English-Speaking people for almost four hundred years, and for more than half that time it was legal for some of its residents to own other residents who live on the peninsula with them, to buy and sell, use and abuse them for their own purposes and profit. What was it like to live in that day when human bondage was accepted, its mindset and practices firmly embedded in the everyday affairs of ordinary people? Solidly researched, Slave and Free is a good place to begin the study that no one wants to talk about. It will be found accessible and readable by both the scholar and the general reader; as well as by all who know and love Virginia's Eastern Shore. Available in the Museum gift shop in person or online at www.chincoteaguemuseum.com

Misty of Chincoteague

by Marguerite Henry

A Newberry Honor book, for children 8 - 12 years old. This is the story of Paul and Maureen Beebe and their quest to buy the elusive Phantom, a wild Chincoteague pony. On Pony Penning Day, they not only bring in the Phantom, but also her colt, Misty. It is a wonderful heart-warming tale of the efforts of two children to achieve their dream. Available at the Museum of Chincoteague Island and on our website. Chincoteaguemuseum.com

Stormy, Misty's Foal

by Marguerite Henry

This sequel to "Misty" describes the events on Chincoteague during the Ash Wednesday storm in 1962. Misty is about to give birth and the book details the actions the Beebe's take to ensure a safe birth. It also covers the role Misty and her foal play in raising donations to restore the island after the storm. Available at the Museum of Chincoteague Island and on our website. Chincoteaguemuseum.com

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Chincoteague Service Learning: Preserving Barrier Island Environments

Enroll with Confidence

Protecting the Environment

At a Glance

Best of all, you’ll…

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