Welcome to The Write Connections
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This section is inspired by the welcoming nature of our nonprofit organizations. I hope to encourage your involvement in our community by sharing my personal experiences as I continue to explore the opportunites in our area. The Write Connections provides a first hand account of the benefits of volunteering and participating in our community. Enjoy!
-Pam Rondeau
Creative Director
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My Chesapeake Experience: Exploring Goodwin Island
 Goodwin Island Tour Group
I was looking for an article to write about environmental concerns when I discovered The Chesapeake Experience. I scheduled an interview with Jill Bieri, the Executive Director. As I was reviewing their website, researching some topics, and creating my questions, it dawned on me…I could learn all of this on one of their kayak tours! At the same time, I hadn’t been on a kayak since Memorial Day and I had never been kayaking in this area. I usually paddle around ponds and rivers in my hometown. When Jill told me they had an extra space on the Goodwin Island tour, her favorite paddle, there was no way I could turn the invitation down.
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 Greg McKenzie and Jill Bieri
Most people probably try to hide from the heat but a small group of us met Jill Bieri and Greg McKenzie at Back Creek Park prepared to enjoy ourselves. Strangely enough the heat wasn’t a problem since a nice breeze moved over the water. Most of us had previously been on a kayak but those who had never been kayaking before didn’t seem to have a problem getting the hang of it. It is much easier than you might think. We were only a few minutes into the tour, still leaving the channel, when out popped my contact lens. Oh great, so much for spotting wildlife. But the next thing I knew, there was a dolphin straight ahead and then another! That’s a benefit of being on a kayak. You get an up close and intimate view, even with poor vision.
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Greg is a high school teacher and works for the Chesapeake Experience as a summer educator. He was busy paddling around, talking to everyone, answering their questions, and pointing out different wildlife. Greg and I paddled together for a while, our kayaks only a few feet apart. I was incredibly impressed with how much he knew about birds, fish, sharks, shellfish, and even boats. He was probably impressed with how many questions I could rattle off (or he was wondering if I would ever stop talking!). Just when I was thinking Greg had an answer for everything, a few feet in front of us, something came flying up from out of nowhere and skipped like a flat rock across the water, right in between our kayaks, sending small splashes onto us. What in the world was that? Well, Greg couldn’t answer that one. It went by so quick, there was just no telling.
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 Goodwin Island
About halfway through the tour, we stopped at Goodwin Island which is federal property and not open to the general public. Jill taught us about some of the plants and the habitats as well as environmental concerns. I quickly scurried in as many directions as possible to snap some photos and check out as much as I could possibly soak in. The best finding of the day was a freshly molted crab shell. Jill held it out to me, showing me how to tell it was female, pointing out its gills and explaining how the crab will grow new ones. I’m sure I had a ridiculous smile on my face as I poked it. When she asked if I wanted to bring it back with me, all I could think was What more could a girl possibly want? I didn’t hesitate to say yes, especially since my boyfriend has become accustom to my bringing weird things home-hey, at least this wasn’t alive!
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I thoroughly enjoyed the tour, paddling through marshes and along shorelines, over some soft waves from passing boats, spotting birds (including a bald eagle), turtles, fish, and whatever else dared to reveal itself. It was an amazing time and I would love to go on another tour. I feel like I learned more on this tour than I could from searching the internet or reading a book.
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