CHESPAX
CHESPAX is the environmental education program for the Calvert County Public School System. CHESPAX is a unique program in which the Board of Education staff work closely with local, state and regional partner agencies to provide hands-on environmental education experiences for the students of Calvert County.
The Chesapeake Bay and the Patuxent River and other natural settings serve as living laboratories for students to use their science content and process skills to learn to make responsible decisions regarding the natural environment. Students and teachers will also work with CHESPAX staff on a variety of special projects including the Terrapin Headstart Program, Raising Mosquito fish in the classroom, Oyster restoration, energy conservation, the Green Schools program, Schoolyard Habitat improvements or serving as a resource for the Science and Engineering Expo projects and other environmentally related efforts.
The CHESPAX staff are based at King's Landing Park in Huntingtown. However, quite often you will find the CHESPAX staff at your school site assisting with some of the environmental education projects that are happening across Calvert County!
Program Contact
Quicklinks
Meet the Staff
Thomas Harten
Tom has been with CHESPAX since 1992. Tom has an interest in the natural environments of the Bay and the Patuxent River and has incorporated many of the environmental monitoring projects that have taken place at CHESPAX over the past several years.
Linda Subda
Linda has been on staff at CHESPAX since 1991. She grew up in Iowa on a family farm and took many trips as a child through various state parks. Linda works closely with the high school Envirothon program, coordinating the local competition and serving in a leadership role at the state level and national level.
Stephanie Patterson
Stephanie has been with CHESPAX since 2016 after having served as a CCPS instructional assistant, substitute teacher and parent volunteer. She also currently co-sponsors the WHMS Girls Club. Stephanie enjoyed attending CHESPAX field trips as a parent chaperone, and she now gets to enjoy the planning and implementation as secretary. This unique position allows Stephanie to visit with our many program partners and provide support for all of our CHESPAX programs.
Jenna Lyons
Jenna joined CHESPAX in the spring of 2023 as the team’s instructional assistant. She grew up in Maine and has a passion for all things outdoors. Jenna began her CCPS journey in 2015 as a parent volunteer, served as a substitute teacher for 3 years, and then a kindergarten instructional assistant at WHES from 2020 to 2023. She considers CHESPAX to be a perfect fit for her energy and commitment to various educational programs that CCPS provides its students.
Field trip at flag ponds.
Students cleaning oysters.
Field trip at flag ponds.
Field trip at flag ponds.
Field trip at flag ponds.
Field trip at flag ponds.
Field trip at flag ponds.
Field trip at Jefferson Patterson Park.
Students learning about oysters.
Field trip at flag ponds.
Students showcasing environmental project.