river trips

Echo Hill Outdoor School’s summer Explore program offers exciting three, four and five day adventures on the waters of the upper Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Three types of trips are available: canoe, skipjack, and buyboat. The minimum age is 10 years.

4- or 5-Day Skipjack Trips

Minimum age: 10 years
Number of participants: 6
Cost: 5 days: $845, 4 days: $676

 Skipjack trips take place aboard the School’s Chesapeake Bay Skipjack, Elsworth. Skipjacks are sailing vessels which developed in the late 1890’s for the purpose of sail dredging for oysters. The Elsworth is one of only a few remaining skipjacks which were built before 1920 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Elsworth sails each Monday with six participants, the captain, and two Echo Hill trip leaders. Sailing and running the Elsworth is a team effort that requires involvement from everyone on board. Learning some basic sailing and navigational skills are a part of every trip. Every sailor has an opportunity to contribute.

Fishing, crabbing, and swimming are important activities on any skipjack trip and Echo Hill teachers provide the crew with challenging adventures and ecology problems as well. Camping is done on the vessel.

 4- or 5-Day Buy Boat Trips    

Minimum age: 10 years
Number of participants: 6
Cost: 5 day: $746, 4 day: $598

Buy boat trips take place aboard the 50’ Chesapeake Bay oyster boat, Annie D. The Annie D. was used to purchase oysters from watermen at the oyster grounds and transport them to the great shucking houses of the Eastern Shore. Now, the Annie D. can carry you as she travels the waters of the Chester River and the Upper Bay.

The beauty of an Annie D. trip is mobility. The group of six participants, the captain and crew are free to roam the entire Chester River. The bateau Ric, a 22’ skiff, is towed behind to allow for extensive exploration anywhere along the way. The explorers have the ability to crab, fish, swim and study all parts of the ecosystem at any time.

4- or 5 -Day Canoe Trips

Minimum age: 10 years
Number of participants: 8
Cost: 5-Day Canoe $509, 4-Day Canoe $447

The canoe trips travel the middle section of the Chester River and explore undisturbed marshes, sandy beaches, fields, and woodlands. These trips use up to eight canoes to carry eight campers, two Outdoor School trip leaders and all food and gear for the week. Making and breaking camp, helping to cook and prepare meals, and canoeing are all major parts of every canoe trip, and along the way there is plenty of time for relaxing, fishing and swimming your hearts out.