HISTORY OF CHINCOTEAGUE BAY FIELD STATION
Since 1968 Chincoteague Bay Field Station has educated and inspired thousands of children, youth, and adults about the marine and coastal ecosystems along the Mid-Atlantic Region through place-based, hands-on experiences.
The bays, marshes, beaches, maritime forests, and off-shore waters of Virginia's Eastern Shore are the Field Station's classrooms. Whether you are an individual interested in learning more about coastal and marine systems or seeking to pursue a career in marine sciences, the Field Station offers a wonderful variety of opportunities to meet your educational and/or research goals.
In 1968, The Marine Science Consortium was founded by a consortium of three Pennsylvania state colleges as “The Marine Science Consortium of Pennsylvania State Colleges and Universities”
First located in Cape May, NJ, and then Lewes, DE, the Consortium expanded to 13 member colleges and universities. In Spring 1971, the Consortium became a Corporation, changed its name to “The Marine Science Consortium, Inc.” and, in 1971, moved to its permanent site in the area of Wallops Island, VA. The campus, located next door to NASA’s Goddard Flight Facility was named “Wallops Island Marine Science Center”.
For the next few decades the Marine Science Consortium quietly taught thousands of school age, college, and adult students the wonders of what lies beneath the waters of the bays, marshes, and ocean surrounding Chincoteague and Assateague islands as well as coastal land communities such as maritime forests and dunes. In 2013 the organization underwent a name change from The Marine Science Consortium to Chincoteague Bay Field Station. The organization has grown significantly in the variety of programs offered and now consists of 11 member universities.
The main campus is located at Wallops Island and is adjacent to NASA’s Goddard Flight Facility. This campus consists of several dormitories, laboratory buildings, cafeteria, and classroom buildings that were originally part of a Naval housing complex. Today many of these buildings are being removed to make way for a new campus of energy efficient buildings that will better support the Field Station's future endeavors. CBFS maintains a satellite campus in Greenbackville, VA, which is the site of Accomack County's first Living Shoreline. The site includes a 30 acre salt marsh located directly on Chincoteague Bay.
The bays, marshes, beaches, maritime forests, and off-shore waters of Virginia's Eastern Shore are the Field Station's classrooms. Whether you are an individual interested in learning more about coastal and marine systems or seeking to pursue a career in marine sciences, the Field Station offers a wonderful variety of opportunities to meet your educational and/or research goals.
In 1968, The Marine Science Consortium was founded by a consortium of three Pennsylvania state colleges as “The Marine Science Consortium of Pennsylvania State Colleges and Universities”
First located in Cape May, NJ, and then Lewes, DE, the Consortium expanded to 13 member colleges and universities. In Spring 1971, the Consortium became a Corporation, changed its name to “The Marine Science Consortium, Inc.” and, in 1971, moved to its permanent site in the area of Wallops Island, VA. The campus, located next door to NASA’s Goddard Flight Facility was named “Wallops Island Marine Science Center”.
For the next few decades the Marine Science Consortium quietly taught thousands of school age, college, and adult students the wonders of what lies beneath the waters of the bays, marshes, and ocean surrounding Chincoteague and Assateague islands as well as coastal land communities such as maritime forests and dunes. In 2013 the organization underwent a name change from The Marine Science Consortium to Chincoteague Bay Field Station. The organization has grown significantly in the variety of programs offered and now consists of 11 member universities.
The main campus is located at Wallops Island and is adjacent to NASA’s Goddard Flight Facility. This campus consists of several dormitories, laboratory buildings, cafeteria, and classroom buildings that were originally part of a Naval housing complex. Today many of these buildings are being removed to make way for a new campus of energy efficient buildings that will better support the Field Station's future endeavors. CBFS maintains a satellite campus in Greenbackville, VA, which is the site of Accomack County's first Living Shoreline. The site includes a 30 acre salt marsh located directly on Chincoteague Bay.
