Each afternoon, CWS students participate in a 2-hour athletics and fitness program to ensure that a healthy mind/body balance is maintained. We offer a diverse range of athletics & fitness opportunities for students to choose from. Chesapeake Watershed Semester students are considered fully enrolled at the Gunston School, and are therefore eligible to participate in the school’s interscholastic athletic program, including our rowing and sailing teams.

Each year, the leadership of CWS works closely with Gunston’s athletic leadership team to minimize the overlap between CWS Expeditions and interscholastic athletic contests. Gunston is a member of the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Conference (MIAA) and the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference (ESIAC), so before participating in athletics, it is important for CWS students to review the conference transfer guidelines of their sending school conference, as this may impact athletic eligibility.

Athletics & Fitness

As a school, Gunston enjoys a remarkably strong sense of community. Although a majority of a CWS student’s academic and expedition time is spent building connections with their cohort, CWS students are encouraged to regularly interact with students from The Gunston School (TGS). CWS students are invited to participate in student clubs, dances, and athletics. CWS students often eat lunch in our Atrium with TGS students. Meanwhile, CWS students participate in special Gunston traditions like Embarkation (where new students arrive on the first day of school by boat) and Green and White Day (our all-school spirit day).

Student Life

Since the Chesapeake Watershed Semester’s unique combination of rigor, challenge, research-focus, and innovative learning design is a notable and distinguishing feature of a student’s academic profile for colleges, all CWS students are offered college guidance support, with 12th grade CWS students given personalized college guidance and application support, in partnership with their sending school’s college guidance office.

Our graduates have attended the following institutions after completing the Chesapeake Watershed Semester.