Sixth grade students at Thomas Hunter Middle School celebrated Mathews maritime history and the Chesapeake Bay on Friday during the school’s annual Chesapeake Bay Day program.

Funded by a Mathews Market Days grant, the event offered students a chance to walk through stations exploring the history and environment of the bay and the county’s boatbuilding heritage.

Chesapeake Bay Day has been an annual event for the past seven years. Through the program, more than 800 students since 2008 have been able to experience the maritime heritage of Mathews County and the environmental challenges of the Chesapeake Bay.

This year there were many returning volunteer presenters and a few first time contributors.

“We rely on groups who give their time and their expertise for the children,” said Janet Burgess, coordinator for the event, “and we welcome new participants.”

Tom Karow and Mike Clendenin from the Fairfield Foundation and the Middle Peninsula chapter ...