Category: News

Volunteer Spotlight: Ted Edmund

Ted Edmund

Event Volunteer

Ted is a dedicated event volunteer. He can often be found at our summer concerts and maintaining the park campus. Read more about Ted and his time with the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park in the interview below.

“Ted’s initiative in keeping our park tidy is a big help,” said Sarah Krizek, Education Director at AMMP. “We appreciate all his hard work.”

Volunteers like Ted are the heart and soul of the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park. We are thrilled to celebrate them in this regular spotlight. To join AMMP’s outstanding team of volunteers, please email our volunteer captain.

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AMMP: How did you first learn about AMMP?
Ted: “My wife Pat and I were members first, and we went to the Thursday night summer concert series and wanted to volunteer. We knew about the museum for years and we actually donated a painting of an oyster dredge boat to the museum a while back, and they offered for us to become members.”
AMMP: How long have you been a volunteer?
Ted: “3 years, shortly after we became members.”
AMMP: What is your favorite museum event or program?
Ted: “I would say the Thursday night concert series, especially when the Oyster Boys are playing. The lead, Kevin, is great. He actually volunteered for the museum before as well.”
AMMP: What connection have you made with the Chesapeake Bay?
Ted: “My wife and I have boated on the bay and even lived on the trawler. We spent summers bouncing from the bay to New Jersey to visit one of our daughters, sailed the bay multiple times, motored, and tried to fish on the bay… without much success yet. We’re also members of the Back Creek Yacht Club, a virtual yacht club, where we attend events around the bay as well, so we’re always on the water.”
AMMP: What is your favorite hobby to do on your downtime?
Ted: “Boating. We’ve boated for years. I actually met my wife Pat at 13 years old rowing, so there’s another water related theme for you.”
AMMP: Where is your favorite vacation spot?
Ted: “There’s a beautiful little town called Hope Town in The Abacos, a chain of islands located in the northern Bahamas. That would definitely be my favorite.”
AMMP: What is your favorite drink?
Ted: “Rum and coke – preferably Gosling’s.”

Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park’s Hurricane Party: Trying to Reason With Hurricane Season

Who: Peter Mayer, Scott Kirby, and Brendan Mayer in concert!

What: “Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season” Hurricane Party

Tickets: $35 (Available HERE.)

When: Saturday, September 15, 2018 | 6 pm – 9 pm (Bar opens at 5 p.m.)

Where: The Annapolis Maritime Museum
723 Second St. Annapolis, MD 21403

Why: Things have changed like the weather. Hurricane Florence is heading south but Mayer, Kirby, Mayer are already here. Please join us and support the Museum’s education programs. Food and beverage available for purchase.

What happened? The Annapolis Maritime Museum and Park regrettably announced that the Boatyard Beach Bash had been cancelled due to state of emergency issued for Hurricane Florence and deep concern for the travel of musicians and event attendees. Full refunds were issued to all ticket holders on September 11, 2018. Ticket holders will receive an email within the next two days to confirm your refund has been issued.

Press Release: 2018 Boatyard Beach Bash Cancelled

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 11, 2018

Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park
Cancels 2018 Boatyard Beach Bash

Annapolis, M.D. – The Annapolis Maritime Museum and Park regrettably announces that the Boatyard Beach Bash scheduled for Saturday, September 15, 2018, has been cancelled due to the state of emergency issued by Governor Hogan for Hurricane Florence.

“We are deeply disappointed to have to cancel our largest fundraiser and arguably the best party of the year, but safety is always our first concern,” stated Alice Estrada, executive director of the Annapolis Maritime Museum and Park. “With current weather-related information and the challenges for both musicians and guests to travel to the event, we saw no other alternative.”

This is the first time in the 14-year history of the event that it has been cancelled. Weather forecasters have indicated that there is the potential for life-threatening conditions, including catastrophic flooding as well as high winds and dangerous conditions in our waterways.

The Museum sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. Please save the date for next year’s Boatyard Beach Bash on September 14, 2019.

Full refunds will be issued on tickets. You will receive an email within the next two days to confirm your refund has been issued. At that point, it will take five to seven banking days for your funds to be available for use.

For those still wishing to donate to the Museum, you can do so here.

About the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park
The Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to educating students and adults on the area’s rich maritime heritage and the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay. To stay up-to-date on all of the Museum’s events and programs, visit www.amaritimestg.wpengine.com.

Contact: M.K. Richardson | (410) 295-0104 x3 | development@amaritime.org

Volunteer Spotlight: Erin Hayes

Erin Hayes

Erin (left) with her boyfriend, bartending at Tides and Tunes.

Event Volunteer

Erin is a dedicated event volunteer. She can often be found behind the bar at our summer concerts and other large events. Read more about Erin and her time with the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park in the interview below.

Volunteers like Erin are the heart and soul of the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park. We are thrilled to celebrate them in this regular spotlight. To join AMMP’s outstanding team of volunteers, please email our volunteer captain.

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AMMP: How did you first learn about AMMP?

Erin: I learned about AMMP through Donna, the volunteer coordinator at the museum, who is also my aunt. I moved into the Annapolis area in July 2014. In the summer of 2015, my aunt said she needed help with summer concerts so I bartended at one of the events, and have been volunteering with various events ever since.

AMMP: How long have you been a volunteer?

Erin: 3 years.

AMMP: What is your favorite museum event or program?

Erin: Definitely the summer concert series. I actually met my boyfriend there. I was bartending and he was one of the museum’s sponsors, 90+ Cellars, doing a wine tasting and serving wine to guests. The booth he was at was set up across from my bar – so we were noticing each other all night. I took a break and was eating chicken fingers alone since all my friends were working. I went up to him and asked if he was hungry and wanted a chicken finger. All of a sudden, the photographer, Ken Tom, wanted a picture of us together moments after we met. We’ve been together ever since.

AMMP: What connection have you made with the Chesapeake Bay?

Erin: I learned more about the bay through volunteering. I helped the museum write an informational article in the summer of 2017 on connecting and caring for the bay.

AMMP: What is your favorite hobby to do on your downtime?

Erin: Going to the beach, hiking, camping, and kayaking.

AMMP: Where is your favorite vacation spot?

Erin: I haven’t traveled much, but I’d say my favorite place is San Juan, Puerto Rico. I became a certified Bacardi bartender at the end of a tour…although I lost my certificate.

AMMP: What is your favorite drink?

Erin: It depends. If I’m at the beach or outside, I like to relax with a Pina colada. In the summertime, I usually prefer beer or a glass of wine.

Box of Rain Joins Forces with Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park to Offer Enhanced Programming to our City’s Underserved Youth

Box of Rain (BOR) announces the integration of their youth life-building programs into the award-winning education programs of the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park (AMMP).

The Education team at AMMP will maintain and operate two successful, maritime-related BOR programs effective January 1, 2019. The AMMP/BOR Summer Maritime Program will continue Box of Rain’s long-standing tradition of introducing children living in Annapolis public and subsidized housing to a variety of maritime experiences, including sailing, kayaking, fishing and environmental lessons. The museum has served as a partner for this program in the past.

Additionally, the AMMP/BOR Build-A-Boat Program will continue its focus on the practical application of math, science, team building and craftsmanship in the planning and construction of a boat, in continuing partnership with Chesapeake Lightcraft. Both programs serve the unique needs of underserved youth and will follow the general format that has been employed by BOR programs over the past fifteen years.

“The Annapolis Maritime Museum and Park is embracing this opportunity to bring into the fold the great work and legacy that Box of Rain has provided the community,” said Alice Estrada, executive director of AMMP.

Box of Rain has been a successful non-profit in the Annapolis area since 2003 and mentors hundreds of Annapolis youth each year. In partnership with local schools and the public housing community, BOR delivers their programs at full capacity every year, and many students who joined the program in elementary school are now working as Box of Rain counselors or attending college. The program has been free to participants, and will continue to be free within the new AMMP structure.

“We are very pleased with the new partnership with the Annapolis Maritime Museum and Park, knowing that our participants will be able to enjoy the Back Creek Park and new educational maritime opportunities,” said Anne Harrington, chairman of the board of Box of Rain. “It is a natural fit for both organizations. Many area youth will continue to have great experiences on the water, discovering the rivers and bay as well as learning boatbuilding skills with AMMP.”

About Box of Rain

Box of Rain has mentored hundreds of underserved youth through its programs. The organization was founded in 2003 to honor the memory of Lee Griffith, a dedicated sailor and Annapolis community member, and its mission has been to offer year-round programming designed to inspire and encourage Annapolis-area youth, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances. Its mentoring focus helps Box of Rain kids build self-esteem, develop life skills and earn a sense of accomplishment that leads to positive contributions to the community.

September Sunsets Summer Concert Series: 2018 Lineup

The fun of AMMP’s summer concerts continues this fall at our second campus, Ellen O. Moyer Nature Park. Enjoy local bands against the scenic backdrop of the Chesapeake Bay each Thursday night in September.

When: Thursdays at 6 p.m. | September 6, 13, 20, 27, 2018

Where: Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park – Park Campus (7300 Edgewood Rd., Annapolis)

Cost: FREE; Donations Appreciated

2018 Line-up:

September 6: Swamp Candy (Primitive Blues)

September 13: Higher Hands (Funky Soul Fusion)

September 20: High & Wides (Bluegrass)

September 27: Timmie Metz & Tambo (Rock)

Additional Information: Food trucks will be on site each week, and drinks will be available for purchase. Beverage sales support AMMP’s education programs. (No outside alcohol permitted). Bring a chair or blanket for seating. Visit www.amaritimestg.wpengine.com for more information on each band.

AMMP Receives $51,188 in Chesapeake Bay Trust Grants

The Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park (AMMP) is pleased to announce that it has received two significant grants from the Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT).

An Environmental Education Grant in the amount of $38,188 was awarded to expand AMMP’s Oyster Education Program (OEP). With support from the grant, the museum aims to increase program participation by 50 percent in the 2018-2019 school year.

OEP is a year-long, project-oriented program that reaches sixth-grade students in Anne Arundel County Public Schools. The program consists of outdoor learning experiences, in-school outreach programs, teacher professional development, and teacher-led classroom instruction, all related to the oyster.

OEP begins with a thorough investigation of the oyster and its role in the Bay. Students dissect oysters, build models, and observe feeding and digestion. Oyster growth data is recorded in the classroom and that knowledge is put into practice on a field trip in which students “plant” oysters on a reef in a local sanctuary site.

Ecology and social studies are also incorporated into the program through erosion experiments, biodiversity studies, and a conversation with a working waterman.

“OEP provides the critical final step in the progression of the museum’s core programs,” said Sarah Krizek, education director for the AMMP. “Growing OEP is so important because it instills environmental stewardship in each student who completes the program. This expansion could not have been accomplished without the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s support.”

In support of the museum’s continued growth, a separate Capacity Building Grant was awarded by the Chesapeake Bay Trust in the amount of $13,000. Funds will be used to update the museum’s three-year strategic plan as it continues to grow into its second campus and serve the community.

About CBT

The Chesapeake Bay Trust (www.cbtrust.org) is a nonprofit grant-making organization dedicated to improving the natural resources of the Chesapeake region through environmental education, community engagement, and local watershed restoration. The Trust engages hundreds of thousands of individuals annually in projects that have a measurable impact on the waterways and other natural resources of the region.

About the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park

The museum, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, brings to life the distinctive role that Annapolis has played for generations in the marine industry through exhibits, lectures, and programs held at our two campuses located in Back Creek. To stay up-to-date on the park’s progress, and to learn about other programs and events, visit the museum’s website at www.amaritimestg.wpengine.com.

Volunteer Spotlight: Victor Grysikiewicz

Victor Grysikiewicz

Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse Docent & Event Volunteer

“Victor is a superhero! He is always the first to arrive and serves in one of the most difficult and physically demanding positions, as a bar back at our Summer Concerts. He volunteers for three hours and then goes to work overnight in D.C. He also volunteers at Education Programs and the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse. We are so very thankful for his selflessness.”

– Donna Adams, Volunteer Coordinator

Volunteers like Victor are the heart and soul of the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park. We are thrilled to celebrate them in this regular spotlight. To join AMMP’s outstanding team of volunteers, please email our volunteer captain.

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AMMP: How did you first learn about AMMP?

“I had two friends, one of whom is a member and owns a boat on the Chesapeake, who thought that the museum would be a great fit with my interests. My interests include nature, conservation, and the Bay.”

AMMP: How long have you been a volunteer?

“Going on four years now.”

AMMP: What is your favorite museum event or program?

“I really like helping people. I’ve helped at the summer concert series but I especially enjoyed helping children at one of our recent events, Earth Day by the Bay. I was the kayak instructor and helping children is the main reason why I like volunteering.”

AMMP: What connection have you made with the Chesapeake Bay?

“As a teenager, I had been involved in conservation and studying water quality. I love seafood, and just about every facet of the bay, actually. I like swimming, recreation, anything to do with the bay. I’ve chaperoned at a middle school by my house for a science teacher’s class that was studying the ocean and water quality. I like helping people that don’t have an avenue to the bay.”

AMMP: What is your favorite hobby to do on your downtime?

“Bicycle riding.”

AMMP: Where is your favorite vacation spot?

“I’d say a hard tie between Italy and Greece; I’ll be going back this summer!”

AMMP: What is your favorite drink?

“A cold crisp, beer – a Greek Mythos to be exact, which are hard to find.”

The Wilma Lee Comes Home to the Chesapeake Bay

Historic Skipjack new Homeport at the Annapolis Maritime Museum

On June 20, 2018, the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park (AMM) announced the much-anticipated arrival of the historic skipjack Wilma Lee. A reception was held at the Museum’s main McNasby campus to welcome her home to her new homeport of Annapolis. As the Wilma Lee approached the AMM docks on the Chesapeake Bay, two escort boats honored her with a water gun salute and a signal cannon fired three shots to officially announce the arrival to the cheering crowd.

The Wilma Lee is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. She was built in 1940 by renowned boat builder Bronza Parks on the shores of Maryland, but has for the last several years been on display and sailed in Ocracoke, North Carolina. There are only 23 active skipjacks remaining from an original fleet of over 1400, and of those, only 14 skipjacks are in active use in the oyster industry today.

“The skipjack is such a quintessential symbol of the region’s maritime heritage,” said Alice Estrada, executive director of the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park. “We are thrilled to be able to return this piece of Maryland’s history to the Annapolis community.”

The Wilma Lee was restored in the early 2000’s by Herb Carden of Sandy Point, Virginia, along with Master Shipwright John Norganthaler. In 2012, Mr. Carden donated the boat to Ocracoke Alive, a non-profit on Ocracoke Island which promotes local arts and education initiatives, to be used as a tool to teach all who sail upon her the history of boating. The Annapolis Maritime Museum will continue this same mission, with a focus on the skipjack’s legacy as a single purpose boat, designed and built for oyster dredging.

The preservation of this unique vessel will elevate the museum’s programs to a new level. Later this year, visitors to the museum will be able to tour the boat at the dock with a docent, and students visiting the museum on field trips will be able to receive lessons on the deck.

“We look forward to seeing students and museum visitors aboard the Wilma Lee,” Estrada said. “Our education programs and exhibits have always been hands-on, but what a beautiful thing it will be to really show people what it was like to work in the oyster industry 80 years ago.”

After a period of restoration, the Wilma Lee will be added to the museum’s roster of event venue options. Regular two-hour sailings are anticipated as well.

About the Wilma Lee

The Wilma Lee is 47 feet on the deck, almost 75 feet overall, including the bowsprit and the davit. She is sloop-rigged with a centerboard, 16.75 feet at the beam, displacing 26 tons. Her mast rises nearly 65 feet above the water line. She is a shallow draft boat, built with 2 1/2″ thick plank on frame construction. With the centerboard down, she draws around six feet of water and half that with the centerboard up. Her boom is almost 45 feet long, making for a sail area, including the jib, of over 1,700 square feet of canvas. The Wilma Lee is certified for 42 passengers.

Ellen O. Moyer Nature Park at Back Creek Update

BEFORE

What a difference a year makes! In spring 2017, the Ellen O. Moyer Nature Park at Back Creek was in a state of disrepair. The Annapolis Maritime Museum had recently leased the land from the City of Annapolis and was in the process of transforming it into new teaching space.

“The park was overgrown and neglected when we acquired it,” said Alice Estrada, executive director at the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park (AMMP). “Our volunteers and operations staff have worked tirelessly over the last year and a half to transform the space into a safe and beautiful waterfront park for the Annapolis community.”

The immediate focus of these efforts has been the historic waterworks building located at the 12-acre waterfront park off Edgewood Road. A space once used for storage is now a clean and comfortable education center, complete with two classrooms and updated facilities.

“This first phase of park revitalization was a must for the Museum,” said Estrada. “We had reached capacity at the McNasby campus and have big plans to increase our educational offerings.”

Once the main floor renovation of the building was complete, the refurbishment of the building’s green roof and patio area took center stage. A grant from Unity Gardens provided the plants necessary to redesign the green roof. The update has increased the curb appeal of the building and aligns with the museum’s green efforts.

Unity Gardens is a non-profit organization based in Anne Arundel County that supports the building of community partnerships through the creation of greening projects, environmental enhancement and education. The green roof provides an extra layer of vegetation in an otherwise urban environment, reducing both stormwater runoff and the urban heat island effect.

The replanting was coordinated and executed by a volunteer team from Thompson Creek, who also replaced the windows in the waterworks building.

“Thompson Creek has been a stalwart supporter of the museum’s expansion,” Estrada said. “Thanks to their assistance, we have been able to welcome an additional 1,500 students at the park’s facilities over the past year.”

Public access to the park campus is also a priority for the museum. Many residents along Edgewood Road in Annapolis have used the space for hiking and dog walking; however, the gathering areas near the Waterworks building were overgrown and uneven. The existing plaza around the historic building has been recently redone, creating an attractive and environmentally-friendly space for future community and educational events.

This patio project was funded in part by a grant from the Henry A. Jordan, M.D., Preservation Excellence Fund for the Mid-Atlantic States of the National Trust for Historic

AFTER

Preservation. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a privately-funded non-profit organization that works to save America’s historic places.

“Organizations like the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park help to ensure that communities across America retain their unique sense of place,” said Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “We were honored to provide a grant to AMMP, which has used the funds to help preserve an important piece of our shared national heritage.”

Students and local residents passing through the park can also take advantage of a smaller addition: a Little Free Library. The library is an expansion of the Read for Jane program, a literacy initiative established by the Sisco Family Fund. It works to engage underserved children through readings and activities related to the Chesapeake Bay.

The Little Free Library at Back Creek Nature Park features books related to the museum’s mission of educating the community on the Annapolis region’s close relationship with the Bay. All are welcome to take a book, leave a book.

Future plans for the park include additional classrooms and a new pavilion. These and other community-building initiatives are currently in the planning stages.

Volunteer Spotlight: Mia Keeley

Mia Keeley

Docent & Event Volunteer

“Mia is so friendly and laid back. She really embodies the Annapolis spirit and is a great ambassador for our Museum!”

– Caitlin Swaim, Curator

Volunteers like Mia are the heart and soul of the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park. We are thrilled to celebrate them in this regular spotlight. To join AMMP’s outstanding team of volunteers, please email our volunteer captain.

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AMMP: Why are you interested in this role?

Mia: I really like the museum and educating people about oysters and the history here. I lived in Annapolis and saw weddings being held here, so I wanted to learn more. I’d never been an environmentally conscious person until I came here. I love that this place is small and humble.

AMMP: Have you done a role like this before? Tell me about it.

Mia: I’ve done consulting at hospitals and many different nonprofit organizations such as the Boys and Girls club, SPCA, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, and more.

AMMP: What kind of satisfaction do you get from this type of work?

Mia: I volunteered at a lot of different places but this place, in particular, isn’t organized chaos like the others. It’s chill – with open and friendly employees. I enjoy being hands-on within the community and being able to know exactly what I can do to help.

AMMP: What motivates and inspires you to do your best?

Mia: Meeting new people.

AMMP: What two or three things are most important to you in a volunteering role?

Mia: Having flexibility and not feeling overwhelmed in my role. Receiving the proper directions to do my best in the role assigned, which I get here.

AMMP: Where is your favorite vacation?

Mia: Chartering a sailboat and cruising around from island to island. Being on the water.

AMMP: What is your favorite drink?

Mia: Water. Definitely.

Volunteer Spotlight: Dave Fisher

Dave Fisher

Docent & Event Volunteer

“Dave is a wonderful volunteer. He is always willing to lend a helping hand and gives an excellent Museum tour!”

– Caitlin Swaim, Curator

Volunteers like Dave are the heart and soul of the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park. We are thrilled to celebrate them in this regular spotlight. To join AMMP’s outstanding team of volunteers, please email our volunteer captain.

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AMMP: How did you first learn about the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park?

Dave: “I think I’d heard of it, I just didn’t know where it was. Things had changed in my life, and I was looking for a volunteer opportunity. I had once worked with Habitat for Humanity, and I wanted something to do. So I went on the internet and checked opportunities in Annapolis, and the Annapolis Maritime Museum came up. I thought it sounded interesting so I came by, spoke to Caitlin, and immediately joined as a volunteer.”

AMMP: How long have you been a volunteer and member of AMMP?

Dave: “I became a volunteer in February 2016. I became a member after about six months of volunteering because I was interested in the museum. It’s quaint, different, unique, and very active.”

AMMP: What is your favorite museum event or program?

Dave: “Ahh that’s a hard one. I would say the Oyster Roast and Sock Burning event. I actually even enjoy working it. Every year, I work at the bar pumping beer and making sure everyone has supplies.”

AMMP: What connection have you made with the Chesapeake Bay?

Dave: “This starts way back before I was born when my parents bought a shore house. It became a family weekend tradition over the summer to visit the shore house. We boated, fished, crabbed, and swam… Flash forward and I got married, had four children, and bought boats. AMMP was perfect to be connected to the water and bay.”

AMMP: What is your favorite hobby to do on your downtime?

Dave: “I enjoy showing my classic car and cruising down to car shows to look at thousands of cars.”

AMMP: Where is your favorite vacation spot?

Dave: “Any places near the water, ocean, or bay. My family and I travel to Ocean City sometimes, but this summer we’ll be going to Dewey, a small town just south of Rehoboth Beach.”

AMMP: What is your favorite drink?

Dave: “Beer – at bars, I always look at what taps they have so I can try something different. I like dark beers during winter and lighter beers in the summer. Oh, but for special occasions, I enjoy Ketel One martinis.”