For their unit called "The Big Picture - How the Bay Works" the 8th graders packed their bags and explored from the Atlantic to the heart of the Chesapeake Bay and then home again to the Rappahannock River, where the essence of the Bay's life and pollution begins. The group detailed water quality data which they will learn, in math class, to put in excel spread sheets; they gathered GIS and watershed geology data to use in geography class; they researched the Tangier culture and language; and they are recapping the trip in reports for English class. The kids interviewed the folks of Tangier Island to learn about their connection to the environment, they immersed themselves in a different culture with different social norms; they lived "on the road" cleaning dishes by hand; caught their own meals; got muddier than they've ever been in order to care about how important and amazing wetlands are; and sacrificed personal comfort for an incredible group experience.