George Mason Reef Building
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Roll up your sleeves—it’s reef-building time! Join us for a hands-on, 2-day event where you’ll mix, mold, and pour cement to create artificial reef structures that will help restore oyster populations and marine biodiversity in the Chesapeake Bay.
On Monday, May 12, students will dive into the process of helping create artificial reef structures that will be deployed in the Chesapeake Bay. This includes building molds, mixing cement, and pouring the mix into forms that will shape tomorrow’s marine habitats. During the event, we’ll hear from George Mason alum and Assistant Director of Coastal Conservation Association Maryland, Jesse Howe, who will share how artificial reefs support oyster population restoration, biodiversity, and help restore the Bay's ecosystem. Join us in building something that matters and will make a lasting environmental impact.
On Tuesday, May 13 (day two), it's the big reveal! Students will return to “hatch” the reefs from their molds and see the final product of their hard work. After removing each reef, we’ll load them up for their journey to the Chesapeake Bay, where they’ll become new homes for oysters and other marine life. This is your chance to see the full transformation—from raw materials to reef-ready structure. We’ll wrap up the event with a short debrief and send-off led by Mason alum Jesse Howe, the Assistant Director of Costal Conservation Association Maryland, reflecting on the environmental impact of our efforts. Come help us set the stage for a healthier Bay as we wave goodbye to our cement babies—and send them off to begin their journey.
Register to attend on Mason 360.
