Dana Lewis, Director of Media
A former NorthBay sixth grader, now a Harvard student, stood on stage at our 20th Anniversary Gala with a message that silenced the room. He said that our presence and investment were acts of belief, that every child deserves access to the Chesapeake Bay and the chance to learn who they are through nature and story. Hearing those words from someone who first came to NorthBay as a middle school student and is now shaping conversations in education and environmental justice reminded everyone why this work matters so deeply.
Rick Garber, NorthBay’s Senior Director of Programs and Partnerships, captured that same urgency in his remarks earlier in the evening. He spoke about how many students today are navigating isolation, anxiety and a world that rarely slows down enough for them to understand their own potential. He reminded us that outdoor education is not a luxury. It is one of the few environments where students can step away from fear and distraction, take healthy risks and discover that their choices carry weight.
I have been with NorthBay for nearly eighteen years. That is thousands of students who have walked through our programs on the Chesapeake Bay, learning outdoors, taking on high adventure challenges and realizing that their choices matter. Every single one of those students has a story. James is one we have been privileged to witness from sixth grader to keynote speaker.
How I Found NorthBay
I learned about NorthBay through a friend who had been part of the organization from the very beginning. The first time I stepped onto campus, I saw students learning through experience, fully engaged in environmental education that connected them to who they are and the choices they make. What really grabbed me was seeing the night show and how it captured students’ attention from the stage. I had never seen an outdoor school experience use media in such a creative and purposeful way.
What I thought would be a year or two detour from my work in TV and film turned into nearly eighteen years of being part of this mission. NorthBay gave me an unexpected creative outlet through NorthBay Live, our daily theater experience where film, music, and storytelling help students connect the science they learn with character lessons, leaving them with a clear understanding that their choices matter. It became a space where I could create short films and media content designed to reach students in ways that feel authentic and personal.
Over the years, my role has evolved, and for the past five years I’ve served as Director of Media and part of NorthBay’s executive leadership team. This work has shaped how I lead, how I collaborate, and how we design learning experiences that speak directly to the next generation. I am continually inspired by the dedication of our NorthBay team, their wholehearted commitment to pouring into students every day. NorthBay is where creativity and purpose meet, and every day is an opportunity to help students see what’s possible.
The Gala That Brought It All Back
NorthBay’s 20th Anniversary Gala wasn’t just a celebration. It was proof that outdoor education programs on the Chesapeake Bay create ripple effects that last decades.
Maryland Delegate Julian Ivey opened the night by sharing that he attended NorthBay as a student. The experience shaped how he thinks about the environment, teamwork, and leadership. Watching a former student standing on stage as an elected official reminded everyone in that room how far this work reaches beyond a single week at our campus.During the evening, I had the privilege of leading Mission Moments where alumni, partners, and former staff shared how NorthBay shaped their lives. One former student spoke about how the program changed her perspective on herself and her future. A principal shared how NorthBay continues to shift the culture of her school. These voices are proof of why we do this work. (View the recap here)
The Next Twenty Years Start Now
Our Executive Director Jennifer Foy said it powerfully during her remarks: “The challenges our kids face today are more complex and scarier than ever before, but when we adapt with courage and purpose, lives change.”
She’s right. We cannot let this generation slip through the cracks. We cannot let outdoor education become a privilege only some students access. We cannot assume someone else will step in.
That’s why I’m asking you, just as we asked our guests that night to help ensure the next 20 years are even more impactful than the first.
Three Ways You Can Make Outdoor Education Accessible Right Now
Share NorthBay with educators in your network. Every teacher and school administrator in Maryland, Virginia, DC, or Delaware should know about our Chesapeake Bay programs. If you know someone working in education, send them to northbayeducation.org to learn about bringing their students to our campus.
Bring your team or group to our campus. Our facility rentals program isn’t just for schools. Companies and organizations use our space for team building, leadership development, strategic planning and retreats. Experience the same transformational environment that’s impacted over 300,000 students.
Make outdoor learning accessible through your donation. Your financial support ensures that students who need these experiences most can access them. Every dollar removes barriers and creates opportunities for young people to discover what’s possible.
I’ve seen firsthand what happens when a student realizes their choices matter. I’ve seen it 300,000 times. And after almost eighteen years, I’m not done yet.
Here’s to the next twenty years, the stories yet to be told, and the students whose lives will be forever changed, just like James’s, just like mine, just like yours can be when you decide to invest in outdoor education at NorthBay.
Dana Lewis
Director of Media
