A Guide to Your Stay at Chincoteague Bay Field Station

HOUSING & COMMON AREAS

There are 2 types of student housing on campus, Salicornia Suites and traditional dorms.  
​The traditional dorms, usually Horseshoe Crab Hall, is not air-conditioned, but is cheaper and usually less crowded. 

​SALICORNIA SUITES
​Salicornia is newer, air-conditioned, and the most popular choice for summer housing.

Constructed in 2010
Air- Conditioned
Double Occupancy Rooms
Four Bedrooms per Suite
Shared Bathroom
Limited Wifi
Furnishings
2 twin beds
2 desks w/ chair
1 dresser
Keys​
*Each suite locks, individual rooms do not.  Lost keys are $30.*
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HORSESHOE CRAB HALL
(Traditional Dorm)
​​The traditional dorms, usually Horseshoe Crab Hall, is not air-conditioned, ​but is cheaper and usually less crowded. ​

Constructed in 1945
Not air-conditioned
Each room houses two people
There are 6 to12 rooms per dormitory wing
There is one communal bathroom for each wing
No Internet Access
Furnishings
Furnished with 2 loft beds with storage and desks underneath
Ceiling fans
It is strongly recommended that you bring a fan
Keys
*Each dorm wing has an exterior key and all dorm rooms have a key. Lost Key Charge is $30.*
                                                                                                         HOUSING NOTES
  • Housing registration is completed at the same time as course registration.
  • All housing is gender specific.  
  • No TVs, Fridges, Microwaves, or other appliances.
  • No Food (exception is made for single serving, sealed, never-opened, non-perishable snacks and beverages).
  • All rooms are double occupancy. You may request a particular roommate on your registration form.
  • If you are here for contiguous sessions, we will try to keep you in the same room.
  • Students are allowed to live off-campus. Please call the University and Research coordinator for details.
  • Limited weekend guests are allowed for a small fee with advanced notice.  Guests will be assigned a bed. ​
*If you would like to change housing arrangements, add a roommate, etc., email universityandresearch@cbfieldstation.org
COMMON AREAS
Limulus Lounge has games, ping pong, a small pool table, TV with Netflix and a small library.  It is also where the Residence Life office is located.

The College Patio has a fire pit and charcoal grill. Supply your own wood and or charcoal.  This is also the only designated
​smoking area on campus.  

 All meals from Sunday Dinner- Friday Lunch are served in the cafeteria.

Important Information for Your Stay at CBFS

COVID-19 
  • Students must have a negative test result within 72 hours of the first day of class or proof of vaccination. 
  • Masks must be worn at all times in classrooms, labs, vehicles, or any other common areas. 
  • For more details view our COVID-19 Policy here. 
Registration
  • You must register for the course with us and enroll at the university. 
  • We are a non-profit associated with the universities but not a university entity. This means we do not have direct access to your university enrollment information. 
  • If you are not a student at the offering university, you must register as a visiting or non-degree student. 
  • If you are a PASSHE student, use the Visiting Student Form
  • See the Enrollment Hints page for more information

Waitlist 
  • When a course is full a waitlist will be started.  If spaces open up, the first student on the waitlist will be contacted. If that student takes the spot, and pays the deposit, they will be added to the course, if not the spot will pass to the next student. 
  • No deposit is required for the waitlist. If you have paid a deposit but have received an email from us stating the course is full, you will receive a refund. 

Check In
  • Check in is from 2:00pm-5:30pm, students may wait in college lounge if they must arrive early. Students must check in during this time frame.  
  • Check in is on the Sunday before your course start date. 
  • During check in you will be asked for your waiver and health form, and your $50 damage deposit in cash or check.
  • Sunday dinner is provided. 
  • There is a MANDATORY orientation after dinner. 

Check Out
  • When your course is over, you will need to check-out.  
  • Check-out hours will be held on the last Friday and Saturday.  You must be checked-out by 10am Saturday. Students may wait in the lounge for their ride. 
  • Dorm rooms must be cleaned for checkout inspection.  Common areas must be cleaned, garbage emptied and recycling taken out before anyone checks out.   Sweep floors in the common areas and your room.
  • Students will be charged for damage done to the Field Station property.  If no damages are found during dorm inspection and all keys returned, students will receive a check in the mail within 7 business days, reimbursing them for their $50 damage deposit. The check will be mailed to the address on the student's registration form. If you are here for multiple sessions, your damage deposit will be mailed after your last session at CBFS.

Staying Over Between Sessions
  • If you are attending more than one session this summer, you may want to stay over between sessions. There is no charge for this, but as for other weekends, meals are not included. 
  • Even if you are staying over your room must be inspected.  If staying over, your room does not need to be emptied but must be neat and tidy.  Don’t forget, you may be getting a new roommate.  Bathrooms should be entirely emptied of all personal property. 
  • A limited amount of storage space may be made available to students who are vacating a room but returning later.  We do not guarantee safety or security of stored items.  Items to be stored must be packed and labeled.  Please note that we can not store food.

Alcohol Policy
  • Students are not allowed to possess alcohol at the Chincoteague Bay Field Station including unopened or empty containers. 
  • Possession of alcohol will result in dismissal from the Chincoteague Bay Field Station and properties. 
  • Knowingly being around open containers is treated as possession regardless of how much you have consumed. 
  • If over 21, please drink responsibly off-campus.  Designate a driver.  Be respectful of people while you are off campus and when you return to campus. 
  • If you are under 21, don’t drink.  
  • We have a zero tolerance policy for drugs. You will be dismissed and reported to police.

Rules
  • You will be provided with rules and code of conduct upon your arrival. In addition to CBFS rules you are also subject to rules at your home university, and the university that you are taking the course with. 

On Campus Assistance
  • In the event where you need assistance, you may use the radio located in the University Lounge to contact the RA on duty. An RA will always have the radio 6pm-7:30am on week days and 6pm Friday-7:30am Monday.
  • For more serious issues, you will be provided with a CBFS on-call phone number.  The on-call phone is kept by CBFS Senior Staff member outside of office hours and on weekends. 
  • Emergency call boxes are located throughout the CBFS campus.​

Laundry
  • Coin operated washers and dryers are available. There is also a laundromat 5 minutes away (next to the Food Lion).​
Phones, Internet, and Mail
  • Cellular reception on the Chincoteague Bay Field Station is patchy and generally does not work inside.  CDMA carriers tend to work better than GSM carriers.
  • Wireless access points are located in the education center, Salicornia Hall, cafeteria, and college lounge.  However, our system is quickly overloaded. Please do not set you phones or other devices to connect to the internet automatically.  Too many users on the systems means no access for anyone.  No streaming video. 
  • Bring your own ethernet cable!  Ethernet ports are in the labs, University lounge, and computer lab.  Internet access is also available on desktop computers.   Download speed is slow.  No streaming or large media downloads.  There is no ethernet access in student housing. 
  • Mail (USPS, Fedex, UPS) can be sent to:
        Your Name
        C/O University and Research Student Life
        34001 Mill Dam Rd
        Wallops Island, VA 23337

Food
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included from Sunday Dinner- Friday Lunch
  • Friday dinner, all Saturday meals, and Sunday breakfast and lunch are not included.
  • Meals time are:       
    Breakfast  7:30AM        Lunch  12:00PM         Dinner   6:00PM
  • For some field trips you will pack lunches in the morning following breakfast. Bring an insulated lunch bag and water bottle. 
  • No open food in the suites and dorm rooms.  
  • Vegetarian and special dietary need options are available if you indicated on your registration form but you may need to ask the cafeteria servers for them. 

In the Field
  • Field clothes should be protective, easy to clean, and can get stained and ruined.  You will get dirty and wet.  There will be sun, wind, and rain, so bring appropriate clothing.  Wear comfortable shoes that are firmly attached to your feet (flip-flops are good for around campus, but not in the field).
  • Insects such as mosquitoes, no-see-ums, and ticks are very common. Wear long sleeves and pants. Keep doors closed.  Check for ticks after a field trip.  Use of bug sprays is not allowed when handling specimens or entering the water. 
  • Wind: It might be a nice warm day on campus, but once in the field the wind can be blowing hard.  Bring wind impervious clothing on all field trips. 
  • Sun: Bring sunscreen, a hat with a chinstrap, light weight long sleeve shirts and pants. 
  • Poisonous plants: Watch out for poison ivy, oak and sumac.  
  • Boats:  On all CBFS vessels you must wear tennis shoes or boots. No water shoes, waders or sandals.
  • Always bring your water bottle!

Shopping
  • It is recommended that you bring everything you need with you.  However there are some local stores.  Chincoteague has many souvenir and beach shops as well as grocery and hardware. There is also a grocery store and pharmacy within a 5 minute drive.  Slightly further away is Pocomoke, MD with several stores including Walmart.
  • The Field Station Store! Open M-F during office hours.  Items such as T-shirts, notebooks, field guides, stamps, souvenirs, sodas, snacks and some personal items may be purchased.  Master Cards or Visas are accepted for payments with a minimum of $10 purchase.
  • We do not sell textbooks or course materials on campus.
  • On some weekends, if there is interest, a shuttle will bring students to Chincoteague or to the beach.

Weekends
  • You may stay during the weekend or leave (if your course work makes this feasible).
  • Meals are not provided Friday dinner-Sunday lunch. Meals from Ocean Deli may be ordered from the RA on duty at 9:30am for 10:30 delivery for brunch on Saturday and Sunday, or at 5:00pm for delivery at 6:00 for dinner on Friday or Saturday. Food must be picked up from RA in the College Lounge. Students will pay for the food that they order, rounded up to the nearest whole dollar. 
  • Weekend activities and shuttles are arranged by the University and Research Summer Staff.
 
Entertainment
  • College lounge is a common area open to all college students 24 hours a day. It consists of several rooms, including a lounge for watching dvds, a small library, and games area.  
  • We have a fire pit for small fires.  No bonfires or large fires.  You must supply your own wood, and properly extinguish any fires if leaving the pit. 
  • There is a charcoal grill on the patio for your use. 
  • Bring games, cards, balls, etc for indoor and outdoor play. There is a sand volleyball court, as well as board games, lawn games, and electronic games you can access through the RA on duty. 
  • Visit the refuge and town of Chincoteague! We are a short drive from one of the most popular beach towns of the Mid-Atlantic. 
  • Weekend activities will be arranged throughout the summer. 
  • There is a Red Box at the closest gas station (Royal Farms).
Feel free to contact the University & Research department if you have other questions: ur@cbfieldstation.org
CHINCOTEAGUE BAY FIELD STATION  | 34001 Mill Dam Road  |  Wallops Island, VA 23337  |  (757) 824-5636  |  info@cbfieldstation.org