Horn Point Laboratory

06/03/2026

Good morning from the HPL setting pier and demonstration farm!


📸 Jeff Alexander

06/02/2026

The lab congratulates Mike Owens, who was recently honored with the UMCES President's Award for Outstanding Research Support. His expertise and innovation have driven progress on Chesapeake Bay research, and projects with global reach. In addition to these contributions, Mike has taken leadership roles on laboratory stewardship and safety, and generously shared his knowledge through mentorship of students and interns. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!

05/29/2026

Join us at the lab's Environmental Education Center to usher in the summer season. Horn Point has provided opportunities for scientific exploration, and appreciation for the Bay, to generations of youth through environmental ed. programs.

The event will honor the memory of Cathy Baptist--a former leader of the lab's environmental education work.

Enjoy a nature walk on the campus trails. Light refreshments will be served. Attendance is free, but registration is requested. All ages welcome.

Join us at Horn Point Lab's Environmental Education Center to usher in the summer season and learn more about our facilities, resources, and programs. The lab has provided opportunities for scientific exploration, and appreciation for the Bay, to generations of youth.The event will honor the memory....

05/28/2026

Last week the lab had the opportunity to partner with the Skipjack Nathan of Dorchester. After participants toured the oyster hatchery, they boarded the skipjack and headed to the Sandy Hill Santuary to plant spat on shell. Oyster hatchery staffer Michael Nossick joined the group to assist with the planting and share information about oyster reef ecology.

Photos courtesy of Pat Johnson

05/27/2026

The deadline to register for Toadfish Adventures has been extended to June 10! The lab's summer STEM programs for youth are available for rising first graders through age 16. Additional details and registration materials can be found at umces.edu/toadfish

Session 1: June 29 - July 2 Rising 1st grade to age 9
Session 2: July 13 - 17 Ages 10 to 13
Session 3: July 20 - 24 Rising 1st grade to age 9
Session 4: July 27 - 31 Ages 10 to 13
***Session 5: August 3 - 7 is now FULL. (Sessions 1 & 3 serving the same age group have openings.)
Session 6: August 10 - 12 Toadfish Extreme: Fishing Edition! Ages 12 to 16

05/20/2026

Science fun awaits at Toadfish Adventures, Horn Point Lab's summer STEM programs for youth! Programs are available for rising first graders through age 16. Registration and payment deadline is June 1, so don't delay.
Find details at umces.edu/toadfish

05/15/2026

Today, the State of Maryland launched Roots to Resilience, a new initiative where over $40M will be spent on green infrastructure on the Lower Eastern Shore. UMCES Horn Point Lab hosted the event that included Secretaries Kurtz & McIlwain, along with other partners. Roots to Resilience brings together the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Maryland Department of the Environment, and numerous other partners together to leverage nature-based solutions to protect Maryland's shorelines in a changing climate. For more information on this program, click here: https://dnr.maryland.gov/climateresilience/Pages/rootsforresilience.aspx

05/13/2026

The countdown to summer is on! Horn Point Lab's summer programming for youth, Toadfish Adventures, is taking registrations through June 1. Spaces are limited, so register soon!

Dates, details, and registration info can be found at umces.edu/toadfish

05/07/2026

Members of the lab community spent last Saturday afternoon improving the campus trails, an effort led by the Environmental Education Committee. Trails were cleared, boardwalks were repaired, and a bench was installed. The success and productivity were celebrated with a well-deserved cookout!

Photos courtesy of Dr. Judy O'Neil and Dr. Victoria Coles.

05/04/2026

Another sunrise, another deployment of spat-on-shell with our partners at the Oyster Recovery Partnership and Maryland Department of Natural Resources! Happy May!