Assateague Island Day 1: Resilience

​Every island, every bird, and every educator has a story of resilience."

​There is a moment at the beginning of every STEAM in the PARK camp when strangers become something else.

It usually happens somewhere between hauling luggage into rooms, finding your name tag, grabbing a snack, and sitting down beside someone you've never met before.

Today was full of those moments.

Some campers arrived and immediately spotted friends they hadn't seen in years. Others walked onto campus knowing absolutely no one. Seven of our campers took a chance on a recommendation, a social media post, or a friend who said, "You should really do this." That kind of leap is brave. Walking into a community where everyone seems to know each other can feel a little intimidating. By the end of the evening, nobody seemed like a stranger anymore.

We settled back into the beautiful Chincoteague Bay Field Station, one of those places that feels comfortable almost immediately. The breeze off the water, the familiar pathways, and the sounds of people gathering together reminded us why we love this place. It felt a little like coming home. This week we'll be joined by environmental educators Remy and Raven, who introduced us to the work we'll be doing on the island and the incredible conservation efforts surrounding the Piping Plover. Over the next few days, we'll learn about this tiny shorebird that somehow manages to survive in a world that doesn't always make survival easy.

Honestly, that feels like a fitting theme.

Our camp sub-theme this week is resilience.

Not the kind you find printed on inspirational posters. The real kind. The kind that shows up when things don't go according to plan. The kind that asks us to keep going, keep adapting, and keep believing that our work matters. The kind educators know well.

One of my favorite moments tonight happened during our book exchange. Around the room, people shared stories about books they love and why they matter. Some books made us laugh. Some helped us through difficult seasons. Some reminded us why we became educators in the first place. As the conversations unfolded, there was something else happening too. People were slowly giving themselves permission to be learners again. Not experts. Not presenters. Not the person with all the answers. Just learners. Curious. Open. A little vulnerable.

And that's a gift.

As darkness settled over the island, we gathered around the fire pit with camp chairs pulled into a circle. Gourmet s'mores were passed around, music drifted through the evening air, and conversations unfolded naturally. Nobody seemed in a hurry to leave. Stories were shared. Laughter echoed into the night. The first night of camp is always a little magical—not because of the activities, but because of the people.

Tomorrow we'll begin learning more about the Piping Plover and the remarkable efforts to protect it. We'll spend time exploring this island and understanding why resilience matters here. But tonight was about something simpler. Showing up. Taking a chance. Meeting new people. Reconnecting with old friends. Remembering that learning can still surprise us.

This island knows something about resilience. Every storm leaves its mark, but somehow it remains. The Piping Plover knows something about resilience too. Year after year it returns to these shores, facing challenge after challenge, yet continuing on.

Maybe that's why we're here.

To learn from the island.

To learn from the birds.

And maybe, by the end of the week, to learn a little more about ourselves too.