Nineteen students from all across the state attended last week’s 21st annual Rotary Chesapeake Bay Conference, based at Christchurch School in Middlesex County.

The five-day event gave rising high school juniors and seniors the opportunity, in a setting of sun and fun, to learn first-hand about the Chesapeake Bay—its beauty, its ecosystem, its problems and its future, according to conference chair Josh Junker.

The idea of the conference, he said, is to expose the students, many of whom came from urban areas around Washington, D.C., to the mud flats in area creeks, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, the local oyster industry and more during their time here.

Then, he said, these future leaders will be able to share their knowledge about the bay and the importance of preserving it with others in their communities.

According to Junker, local rotary clubs were invited to sponsor a student by providing the $450 registration fee, which included tuition, room, b...