Shored Up

14/09/2024

Rod & Reef SLAM! Off to a great start!

06/09/2024

💚🦪💚🦪

21/08/2024

Okay, we all got a good laugh from Don's oyster tattoo, but maybe there's a deeper meaning to it?! The art and history of sailor tattoos is kind of fascinating. What do you think an oyster tattoo should mean? Tell us in the comments below!

Learn more about sailor tattoos here: https://tinyurl.com/mrxnfwpm

(Infographic by Lucy Bellwood)

18/08/2024

We are joining the team at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to support the Virginia Rod & Reef Slam! The goal is to "show the community—especially kids and teens—how fun fishing can be, how oyster reefs contribute to great angling, and to inspire lifetime anglers who love their local waterways."

The day includes opportunities to fish from shore, ride on a powerboat or kayak (with Shored Up!) on the historic Hampton River! This is a FREE event which includes lunch and a fishing license.

Learn more and register here: https://www.shoredupva.com/blog/rod-reef-slam

(photo credit: Allison Colden/CBF Staff)

14/08/2024

Are you planning on eating oysters anytime soon? Be sure to recycle your shells!

"Once the recycled shells are cleaned and cured, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation collects them and places them in huge water tanks containing millions of microscopic oyster larvae, which then attach to the shells. On average, each recycled shell can become home to dozens of those baby oysters, called spat. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation provides the spat-on-shell to its oyster gardeners and plants them in rivers and the Bay to grow and expand oyster reefs."

Learn where to recycle YOUR used oyster shells here: https://tinyurl.com/2rxr2x2f

Find out about oyster shell recycling then get involved. Drop off your empty oyster shells, volunteer to pickup shells and deliver them to CBF, host a recycling pickup, or encourage your local seafood restaurant to participate.

11/08/2024

Did you know we do customized tours? From school outreach programs and kayak excursions to oyster gardening and walking tours for adults (with beer!), we can tailor our experiences to your group's passions. Reach out anytime and let's chat!

07/08/2024

Mark your calendars for September 14 for the Virginia Rod & Reef Slam! We'll have more details as to how Shored Up will be involved soon, but we're super excited for it. This fishing event recognizes and celebrates how oyster reefs support healthy populations of popular reef fish - and that means more fish to angle for!

04/08/2024

This is great news! And isn't it amazing to see improvements in the bay's health partially as a result of restoration efforts much further north in the Pennsylvania region of the watershed? Watershed science is SO important and why we do what we do!

The overall health of the Chesapeake Bay has received its highest grade since 2002 in an annual report released by scientists: a C-plus.

01/08/2024

Can you believe it?! We've officially been educating and inspiring others to become stewards of our precious waterways for 5 whole years! Cheers to all that we've accomplished and all that's yet to come!

27/07/2024

We are filled with happiness that the weather was perfect for our make up day of the Downtown Hampton Paddle & Pint 2024!!

25/07/2024

What an honor to spend the day with young stewards! Click on the link for a look at our day!

https://www.shoredupva.com/blog/summer-bridge-stewardship

03/07/2024

As we celebrate Independence Day tomorrow, we also like to celebrate how our little City of Hampton has helped shape the U.S. into the country that it is today!

"Founded in 1610, Hampton is a city of firsts — the first continuous English-speaking settlement was established here, America's first free public education was offered here, and NASA trained its first astronauts here in Hampton."

Read more: https://hampton.gov/91/History-of-City

30/06/2024

Did you know?! We're part of the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance! This partnership is made up of a variety of organizations that are all working to put 10 billion oysters into the Chesapeake Bay by 2025. We know that our oyster gardening efforts are having an impact; being part of something bigger than ourselves is pretty fantastic!

Photo credit: CBF Staff
Infographics: chesapeakeoysteralliance.org

26/06/2024

Looking for a fun & educational outing for your family? Garden club? Girls day out? Homeschooling event? We've got you covered! We can offer a variety of guided tours (land or sea!) and educational programs for all ages. Our passions are environmental stewardship and local history, so if your passions align with ours, drop us a line - we'd love to chat! [email protected]

19/06/2024

We are SO looking forward to our Phoebus Phun on Tap tour this weekend! Can't wait to share the fascinating history and culture of the village of Phoebus and then kick back at the end with an adult beverage from Sly Clyde Ciderworks!

Grab your tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/3yjyy8xm

(photo credit: Sly Clyde Ciderworks)

16/06/2024

Happy Father's Day! While looking for something father-y (is that a word?) that's also close to our mission to post today, we stumbled across the "Oyster Daddy!"
It's so cool to learn about people raising oysters in other regions of the country, and after watching this news clip about Ryan in Louisiana, we learned that "Oyster Daddy" got his start in the Chesapeake Bay!

https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/local/meet-oyster-daddy-a-new-way-to-harvest-oysters-is-growing-in-grand-isle/289-d685d738-6956-44e1-88ba-e3f81a6d07a9

12/06/2024

There are lots of great things happening in Phoebus! A once incorporated town that is now part of Hampton, the Phoebus Partnership is working to preserve the history and eclectic charm of this waterfront village. We can't wait to launch our NEW tour, Phoebus Phun on Tap, on June 22! Can't wait to explore the area and top it off with a beverage at Sly Clyde Ciderworks! Reserve your spot here: https://tinyurl.com/3yjyy8xm
(photo credit: phoebusva.com)

09/06/2024

Yesterday's Birds, Bees, and Trees kayak trip was SO. MUCH. FUN. Thank you to all that joined us on this SOLD OUT excursion!

09/06/2024

"About a decade ago, Hill was also inspired to get back out on the water. It was a struggle, particularly as a Black woman, to be accepted into the modern oystering world, Hill said. But she now runs Barrett’s Neck Seafood, selling oysters to a Gloucester-based distributor."

This article is a fascinating read!

Their flourishing economy thrived for a century before pollution devastated the industry.

08/06/2024

05/06/2024

**SOLD OUT**
But don't worry! We have other things planned this season! Definitely consider our new Phoebus Phun on Tap tour - June 22!

Back by popular demand, our Birds, Bees, and Trees kayak tour is this Saturday and we still have some spaces left! Learn from local wildlife experts as we paddle the Upper Hampton River.

Purchase tickets here:

https://shored-up.ticketleap.com/birds-bees--trees-kayak-tour-2024/details

02/06/2024

Don't forget! We've got a nice variety of tours coming up and we'd love to have you join us. Tag a friend you'd like to join you and grab tickets at https://tinyurl.com/23zp82yc
Can't make any of them work for your schedule? Contact us to arrange a custom, private tour instead!

29/05/2024

It's almost JUNE! Time is flying! Don't waste anymore time and buzz on over to our website to get your tickets to our Birds, Bee, & Trees tour - June 8! https://tinyurl.com/23zp82yc

26/05/2024

Cheers to a NEW adventure offering! On June 22, we'll be launching (quite literally) our new kayak tour, Phoebus Phun on Tap. We'll be paddling a new area of the bay in Phoebus (a town now incorporated into Hampton) and then ending our tour at Sly Clyde Ciderworks!

Get your tickets today: https://shored-up.ticketleap.com/chorebus-phun-phuntack-4/

22/05/2024

Just a few short weeks until our Birds, Bees, and Trees kayak tour! Head on over to our website (or in the details of this facebook event) to purchase your tickets. https://www.facebook.com/events/1332697447446637

20/05/2024

Looking forward to exploring the shore with you this season!!!

19/05/2024

Hmmm... where were we when we took this photo? Anyone know?

Hint: it has something to do with a new tour this season🧐

15/05/2024

You all know we love being oyster gardeners, that's not news. But what IS news, is that the Chesapeake Bay Foundation is seeking MORE oyster gardeners in our area. If you've ever considered trying it out on your own, this is a great time to do it. Educational workshops begin in June in Virginia Beach so come on out and learn all about what it takes to grow some oysters in your own backyard! Learn more in this recent news article:
https://www.wavy.com/news/virginia/chesapeake-bay-foundation-calling-future-oyster-gardeners/

12/05/2024

Happy Mother's Day to all the incredible moms and mom figures we have in our community! Speaking of mothers, it's that time of year again when we should be extra cautious driving. Many of the turtles you see (like this diamondback terrapin) are females that are out and about looking for a place to lay their eggs, and sometimes we see them on the road.

If you happen to spot one of these mamas laying eggs, don't disturb her and try not to get too close - you might end up spooking her! But if you see one on the road, feel free to pick her up and move her to the side of the road in which she was headed, but only if it's safe for you to do so!

09/05/2024

What a great feel-good story from the James River and Tidewater Wildlife Rescue! Well done! Learn more about Tidewater Wildlife Rescue from Maggie Vaughn, one of their volunteers that will be speaking during our upcoming "Birds, Bees, and Trees" tour on June 8.

Thomas and Suzan Askew spent a weekend listening to the sound of “Ozzy” pining for “Sharon,” only to hear his frequent chirping go unanswered. They’re the names the Askews have given to two ospreys occupying a nest visible from the couple’s dock overlooking the east bank of the Pagan Riv...