Fellows from cohorts ’15, ’16, and ’17 toured HRSD’s Chesapeake Elizabeth Sewage Treatment Plant on November 21, 2013.
Author Archives: cnelson
Fellows ’17 Dodder Eradication Work
On Wednesday, November 17, the Fellows ’17 help at at Haven Creek in Norfolk with the eradication of “dodder'” an invasive parasitic plant species.
Fellows ’17 Shoreline Restoration Work
The Fellows ’17 help out with a shoreline restoration project on Knitting Mill Creek (Lafayette River) in Norfolk.
Visiting author, Dr. H. Bruce Franklin, addresses International Relations, Global Health, and Chesapeake Bay Fellows
Fellows ’17 Community Service Project
The Fellows ’17 took part in a community service project to help restore a section of shoreline buffer along the Lafayette River in Lakewood Park, Norfolk.
Fellows ’15 Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound Sea Kayaking Adventure
“Is everybody happy?”
“Well, it’s 99 degrees in the shade, the flies are killing me, and I have poison ivy. So, yeah, I couldn’t be happier!!!”
It was the third week of July, 2013, and the Chesapeake Bay Fellows ’15 were making their way across the northern Bay by kayak on an adventure with Baltimore Outward Bound. The experience was made possible by an alumnus of Norfolk Academy. By the second day of the 6-day expedition, the Fellows had assumed responsibility for all parts of the adventure: navigation and piloting, camp set-up and break-down, and cooking. Despite the persistent heat and insect pests (and days of cream cheese and jelly on tortillas for lunch, washed down with tepid water), spirits never faltered. Every day presented new challenges and opportunities in leadership, teamwork, and endurance. The Fellows rose to the challenge. They persevered and succeeded with enthusiasm. See for yourself here.
Fellows ’16 SAV Restoration
Cullipher’s Farm
Thanks to Jeb and the rest of the Cullipher Family, the Fellows ’16 were treated to a day at Cullipher’s Farm in Pungo. Jeb and Mr. Cullipher led the fellows on a survey of fields to compare conventional and organic agriculture. From there the group hiked many of acres land that comprised forest, wetlands, fresh water impoundments, and shoreline. The Culliphers have completed a number of habitat restorations for wildfowl.
Composting Now a Reality for NA Lunch!
The Norfolk Academy Composting Program has been brewing since early 2012, and our efforts are finally culminating as we are in the midst of finally accomplishing our goal. We started out by introducing composting practices during the earliest Lower School lunch, and all of the children were extremely cooperative and picked up the simple process very quickly. Amazingly they accumulated 1300 pounds of food waste in only one week. That is 1300 pounds of food staying out of landfills and away from our bay, from only one school lunch out of four! Now we have integrated composting into two school lunches, doubling the amount of compost generated, and our last two lunches will be practicing composting ASAP. However, it’s not all about the number of pounds we generate (in truth, we prefer for everyone to clean their plate and produce no waste at all), but also about educating the student body about the composting process and the importance of thinking about the greater community over oneself. This project also would have never been successful without endless support from our school’s teachers, who have always been ready to jump in and help (or kick us in the butt when we fall off the job). The final project goal is halfway accomplished, and the end is finally around the corner.
Ellie Randolph ’15