ShoreRivers’ 2026 Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit had more than 180 students and 20 teachers in attendance from 10 different schools. Photo by Tom McCall.
Last month, 200 high school students and teachers from Kent, Caroline, Queen Anne’s, Talbot, and Dorchester counties gathered at Chesapeake College for ShoreRivers’ annual Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit. This year marked a special milestone as it was the fifth year that this high school conference was held.
Student Leaders pose in a crab pot photo booth at the 2026 Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit. Top row, left to right are: Ava Collins, Elena Szwaja, Patrick Goeller, Carter Roberts, Mai Pham, and Gabby Smith. Bottom row, left to right are: Madison Caporin, Souhaila Doutoum, Emma Francis, Kaylie Dunlap, Skye Lizmi, and Allison Gonzalez-Jimenez. Photo by Tom McCall.
This annual Summit inspires youth to take environmental action in their communities, explore environmental careers, and network with peers and professionals across our communities. ShoreRivers’ work to protect Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, education, and engagement is strengthened when youth voices are uplifted. This event helps students understand that they don’t have to wait to get involved on behalf of their local waterways. One attendee even remarked that, “the Summit has provided me with a handful of opportunities to take action in my community such as potential internships, and I have walked away from the Summit with new friends.”
A student checks out a snake while talking to Mary Helen, Pickering Creek’s Director of Education, about its Junior Naturalist program at the networking breakfast portion of the 2026 Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit. Photo by Tom McCall.
An exciting element of ShoreRivers’ annual Summit is the Student Leaders program — a cohort of students from different school districts who help make this an event for students and by students. This year’s Student Leaders hosted hands-on workshops, tabled at the networking breakfast, and made welcome and closing speeches at the event.
The networking breakfast kicked off the day with 20 community organizations offering students internships, volunteer opportunities, scholarships, and grants for action. Students then attended afternoon workshops led by their peers and professionals representing a variety of careers. Workshop highlights included learning how to filet an invasive blue catfish with the Maryland Coastal Conservation Association, water color nature journaling with Chesapeake Bay author and artist Kate Livie, and learning how climate change and extreme heat are impacting our communities with Dorchester County Health Department. One teacher described the impact of this event on their students, saying “several of my graduates who attended the Summit incorporated science into their future plans. These opportunities, interactions, and experiences leave a mark on our students.”
ShoreRivers is grateful for this year’s Summit sponsors: Maryland Agricultural Education & Rural Development Assistance Fund, The Campbell Foundation, Dockray Charitable Foundation, The Curtis & Edith Munson Foundation, Waterfowl Festival, RBC Wealth Management, The Henry Foundation, Chesapeake Bay Trust, and Molly’s Place.