Docking Contest, Shark Exhibit, Free Museum Tickets Offered In MD

MARYLAND — A speed docking competition is coming to Maryland. Environmental appreciation and conservation events are also on tap.

Shark and bird fans both have some educational opportunities to look forward to. Plus, learn about a hidden beach on the Eastern Shore, and find out how to score free museum tickets.

Patch recently partnered with several local organizations to bring you their latest news. This guest contribution comes from National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways and Chesapeake Conservancy. Here's what Jody Hedeman Couser submitted to help you explore the Chesapeake Bay:

"Watermens Festival and Boat Docking Competition

This Calvert County Watermen’s Association annual event is perhaps best known for its boat docking contest, during which work boats and charter boats compete within their divisions for cash, prizes and trophies. Never a dull moment, this is a spectacular event to watch! Food and beverage sales, live entertainment, and exhibits. Sept. 19, 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm; Solomons MD. More information."

"Corsica River Day

Free kayaking, pony rides, food, live music, and more. Join Queen Anne’s County Parks and Recreation to enjoy a day of family fun and environmental education! ShoreRivers and other environmental organizations and educators from across Maryland will teach everyone all about the Corsica River and its ecosystem and environmental preservation. Sept. 12, 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm; Centreville, MD. More info."

"Urban Wildlife Conservation Celebration

Join Masonville Cove in Baltimore for a two-day celebration of Wildlife Conservation Day with outdoor games, fishing, birding, bird banding, Rodney’s Raptors, kayaking, and family-friendly activities. Free guided kayaking will be available for ages 13+, space is limited so be sure to pre-register. Sept. 25-26, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm; Masonville Cove, Baltimore. More information and registration."

"Sharks! Sink Your Teeth In! Lecture Series

The Calvert Marine Museum’s new exhibit, Sharks! Sink Your Teeth In! explores the diversity of the west Atlantic’s cartilaginous fish, past and present. To go along with the exciting new exhibit[,] the museum is hosting a four-part lecture series about miocene and other sharks, shark teeth and what they tell, apex predator megalodons, and more. Sept. 16 and 30, Oct. 21, and Nov. 4; 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The lectures are free and open to the public. More information."

"Fall Flights of Feathered Friends

There are many birds to be seen during autumn, and Irvine Nature Center in Owings Mills is an unusually good place to explore the diversity of east coast birds, both resident and migrating. Become better acquainted with the field marks, habits, and timing of dozens of migrating species which pass through Irvine's woods, meadows, and wetlands every fall, en route to warmer [climates] to the south. Beginning birders are welcome. $10 per class. Offered Sundays, September 26, October 10, and October 24, 8:00 am to 10:00 am; Irvine Nature Center, Owings Mills, MD. More information and registration."

"Jewel of the Chesapeake

Looking for a low key beach experience on Maryland’s Eastern Shore? Hidden less than an hour from the Bay Bridge, lies the charming, historic town of Betterton Beach. Betterton’s bayside beach offers jellyfish-free waves and plenty of opportunities for swimming, sun-bathing, fishing, and relaxation in a quiet, picturesque setting. Betterton was once a bustling summer destination with hundreds of people arriving by steamboat, with huge Victorian-style hotels and restaurants serving up Chesapeake Bay seafood. Read more about the fascinating history of this beach town and why it is still a great place to visit."

"Museum Day! Free Tickets

Museum Day, sponsored by the Smithsonian Magazine, is a one-day event in which participating museums and cultural institutions across the country provide free entry to anyone presenting
a Museum Day ticket. Participants are allowed to download one ticket per email address. The ticket provides free general admission on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, for two people. Bay area participating museums include Annapolis Maritime Museum, the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Baltimore Museum of Industry, Riversdale House Museum, Historic London Town & Gardens, Havre de Grace Maritime Museum, Cape Henry Lighthouse, Pamunkey Indian Museum and Cultural Center, Casemate Museum, Gadsby’s Tavern, National Museum of African American History and Culture, Dumbarton House, St. Clement’s Island Museum, and many more. Search for participating museums and get your free tickets."

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