Please refer to the Tour Info Chart below for details on the types of tours that are available. If you would like to inquire about scheduling a tour for your group, please start by submitting the Tour Inquiry Form.
| TOUR TYPE | AVAILABILITY | CONTENT | DURATION | GROUP SIZE/CAPACITY | AGES | STARTING LOCATION | SUGGESTED DONATION | CONTACT | ACCESSIBILITY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Weekly Summer General Tour- FREE | Memorial Day through Labor Day; Tuesdays at 10am. No pre-registration needed but please email ahead if your group has 5 or more. | Intro to Horn Point Lab; physical oceanography; coastal resilience; oyster hatchery | 90 min. | Suitable for small family & friend groups. Please email ahead if your group has 5 or more. For larger groups, please inquire about option B. | Adults & children age 10+ | Coastal Science building lobby | N/A | Claire Otterbein, cotterbein@umces.edu | Please contact us in advance about any accessibility needs. |
| B | General Tour | Scheduled on request based on tour guide availability. | Intro to Horn Point Lab; physical oceanography; coastal resilience; oyster hatchery | 90 min. | Suitable for small family & friend groups. Please email ahead if your group has 5 or more. For larger groups, please inquire about option B. | Adults & children age 10+ | Coastal Science building lobby | $100 | Claire Otterbein, cotterbein@umces.edu | Please contact us in advance about any accessibility needs. |
| C | Oyster Hatchery Tour | Scheduled on request based on tour guide availability. Active hatchery operations are April through October. | Oyster hatchery | 60 min. | Suitable for small family & friend groups. Please email ahead if your group has 5 or more. For larger groups, please inquire about option B. | All ages | AREL building lobby | $100 | Stephanie Alexander, salexander@umces.edu | Please contact us in advance about any accessibility needs. |
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General Campus Tour >
The general campus tour is an approximately 90-minute walking tour. Graduate students lead a behind-the-scenes tour of the lab. Participants will explore the physical oceanography lab, learn about living shorelines and the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay, and visit the Atlantic coast's largest oyster hatchery.
The general campus tour begins in the lobby of the Coastal Science Building. After entering the gates to campus, located at 2020 Horns Point Road Cambridge, MD take the first right into a large parking area. Enter the Coastal Science Building through the double doors.
Free public tours are hosted at 10:00 am each Tuesday from Memorial Day through Labor Day. If your party includes five or more, please let us know in advance by emailing hpltours@umces.edu. Tours by appointment may also be arranged, depending on the availability of tour guides. The tour is best suited for individuals 10 years and older.
For more information, email hpltours@umces.edu.
Oyster Hatchery Tour >
The Horn Point Lab oyster hatchery is the largest on the east coast and produces millions of baby oysters each year. Tours of the oyster hatchery are available by appointment on weekdays during the spawning season (March through September). Tour groups during the spawning season may have the opportunity to see the spawning process, baby oyster larvae, and a working production facility in operation.
Oyster hatchery tours are open to adults and children of all ages, from preschool on up. The oyster hatchery tour usually last 30-60 minutes. Oyster hatchery tours begin in the lobby of the AREL building.
If you are interested in scheduling an oyster hatchery tour, please contact Stephanie Alexander at tobash@hpl.umces.edu r at 410-221-8310.
Video Tour of the Oyster Hatchery >
Join Hatchery Manager Stephanie Alexander for a behind the scenes hatchery tour.
