Chesapeake Forum relies on volunteers like you who are willing to share knowledge, experience, or a passion in a wide range of subjects. If you are interested in leading a Chesapeake Forum course, please complete the online course proposal form via the link provided below.
Meet the Chesapeake Forum's Board of Directors. Discover our leaders' roles and contributions. Join us to learn more!
Refund Policy Because classes are recorded for viewing on demand and made available regardless of how you choose to take the course, Chesapeake Forum will not issue refunds for hybrid or zoom courses. Should an in-person only course or event have to be cancelled due to a change in the Governor’s COVID policies, we will let you know immediately and issue refunds to everyone registered. If you ...
Our Mission Chesapeake Forum, an Academy for Lifelong Learning, provides affordable courses and discussions on a wide variety of topics for people of all ages and backgrounds where ideas are shared with civility and mutual respect.
Adrianne Lasker Adrianne Lasker is no stranger to the writing programs offered for years by Chesapeake Forum. In fact, when former course leader Forest Hansen decided he wanted to focus his attention on teaching philosophy courses, Adrianne’s name was the first to come up as his replacement. Expect kind-hearted comradery under Adrianne’s leadership!
Amber McGinnis has been working for Chesapeake College for 16 years, formerly as an assistant professor of communication and director of the College’s Honors Program, and now as the director of development and executive director of the Chesapeake College Foundation. In her current role with the College, Ms. McGinnis oversees Chesapeake’s overall funding priorities and […]
Rich Harrison and Bob DeGour are back for Chesapeake Forum’s Great Decisions discussion of world affairs. Known for their deft moderation of in-depth discussions, the two have been teaming up to moderate the popular discussion group since 2017. Great Decisions provides a forum for engaging discussion regarding crucial global issues.
Darrin Lowery, Ph.D. was raised on Tilghman Island and comes from a family of Maryland boat builders, watermen, and farmers. His interest in history, archaeology, and geology began at the age of seven, while exploring the eroding shorelines of the Chesapeake Bay with his father. Lowery graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA degree in […]
The recent dramatic drop in the osprey population serves as an early warning for the health of the Chesapeake Bay. What does the future hold as fledging survivability reaches unsustainable levels? Each spring, the skies above the Chesapeake Bay come alive with the return of ospreys—majestic raptors whose arrival signals the end of winter and […]
Learn about river-friendly yards and enjoy the scenery as Captain Woody Labat takes us on an early evening cruise of the Choptank river. Join us for a picturesque evening cruise on Captain Woody Labat’s beautifully-refurbished Chesapeake Buyboat, “Dudley.” Jennifer Klug Vaccaro, Community Restoration Coordinator at ShoreRivers, will join us to shed light on the state […]
In this eye-opening program, Greg Kearns shares insights from decades of hands‑on work with ospreys along the Patuxent River and throughout the Chesapeake Bay. He’ll explore the biology of this keystone species and the broader implications their decline holds for conservation, fisheries management, and climate resilience.
Wendy Palmer is the Director of Health Interventions for the YMCA of the Chesapeake, where she leads evidence-based health programs across 11 branches in Maryland and Virginia. With a passion for fitness and inspiring others to move, she oversees Parkinson’s Exercise Programs and coaches a team dedicated to improving the lives of individuals living with […]
Using the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s Water Lines exhibition in the new Welcome Center as a classroom, Pete will show specific examples of regional watercraft types and the cultures that produced and used them in the Chesapeake Bay region.
The Chesapeake Bay was at the center of economic development in colonial times with ships carrying priceless cargo. Find out how piracy impacted the shipping on the Bay and colonial trades.
Join us for “Books with Friends” in a monthly exploration of favorite books to share among an inclusive group of Chesapeake Forum friends. As we end our 3 rd year, “Books with Friends” is proving an easy way to jump in and be a part of a discussion about interesting and compelling reads.
Rich Harrison and Bob DeGour are back for Chesapeake Forum’s Great Decisions discussion of world affairs. Known for their deft moderation of in-depth discussions, the two have been teaming up to …
The recent dramatic drop in the osprey population serves as an early warning for the health of the Chesapeake Bay. What does the future hold as fledging survivability reaches unsustainable levels? …
In this eye-opening program, Greg Kearns shares insights from decades of hands‑on work with ospreys along the Patuxent River and throughout the Chesapeake Bay. He’ll explore the biology of this …
The Paul S. Sarbanes Ecosystem Restoration Project at Poplar Island is an environmental restoration project located in the Chesapeake Bay in Talbot County, Maryland. Join Kristina Motley, Senior …
Mat Peters Matthew Peters is the Director of the Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center (ChesMRC), a non-profit based in Easton, MD; whose mission is to empower people from different …
Wendy Palmer is the Director of Health Interventions for the YMCA of the Chesapeake, where she leads evidence-based health programs across 11 branches in Maryland and Virginia. With a passion for …
Using the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s Water Lines exhibition in the new Welcome Center as a classroom, Pete will show specific examples of regional watercraft types and the cultures that …
Join us for “Books with Friends” in a monthly exploration of favorite books to share among an inclusive group of Chesapeake Forum friends. As we end our 3 rd year, “Books with Friends” is proving an …