Catalogs & Handbooks

Environment & Society Center (CES)

The Center for Environment and Society (CES) at Washington College fosters innovative approaches to understanding people’s place in their environment through experiential education, community & civic engagement, and research & innovation. 

Experiential Education 

  • Chesapeake Semester: During the fall semester, students can participate in the Chesapeake Semester, which begins by exploring the rich ways people have shaped the Chesapeake landscape and ends with an international trip to conduct a comparative study. 

  • Environment & Society Fellows Program: This program consists of a cohort of students interested in the environment, whether as a major, minor, or area of focus. 

  • Research Vessels: CES houses two research vessels that are frequently used in Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Science labs. 

Community & Civic Engagement 

  • Muse: A Community Museum: Located at 210 S Cross St., MuSE is a space for exhibitions, learning, and dialogue among Washington College’s students, staff, faculty, and community members. 

  • Community Partnerships: CES partners with community organizations to offer paid internships for students. 

  • Natural Lands Project: This project works to convert public and private land across Maryland’s Eastern Shore into meadows, wetlands, and forests. 

Research & Innovation 

  • Foreman’s Branch Bird Observatory: Located on the 5,000-acre River and Field Campus, this observatory monitors spring and fall migration through bird banding. 

  • Chesapeake Places: Learn about the cultural heritage of the Chesapeake region. 

  • Geospatial Innovation Program (GIP): An innovation lab that provides experience and knowledge in mapping and spatial analysis. 

  • Watershed Innovation Lab: Engage in in-depth research focused on the Chester River. 

Visit www.washcoll.edu/learn-by-doing/ces/index.php to learn more about the opportunities within CES. All resources provided by CES are open to everyone on campus who has an interest in the environment, regardless of their area of study or major.