EVENTS
Shad Fest 2026
Join Upstream Alliance and Brandywine River partners for the annual ShadFest this spring! This event celebrates the return of the American Shad to the Brandywine River in Wilmington, Delaware. Volunteers are needed for this event.
Theme: American Shad, Family-Oriented Environmental Education
Location: Brandywine Park, Wilmington, DE
Email olivia.mcdowell.liu@gmail.com to volunteer and learn more.
Delaware Bay Expedition 2026
Under the new moon, observe horseshoe crabs during the expected climax of their spawn and witness the subsequently triggered shorebird migration.
Theme: Horseshoe Crab & Shorebird Conservation
Partner: American Littoral Society
Location: Slaughter Beach, DE
Email olivia.mcdowell.liu@gmail.com for more information.
Red Knot Fest 2026
Join Upstream Alliance and Delaware Bay partners to learn about migratory red knots and horseshoe crabs with the community of Slaughter Beach, DE, for the third annual festival. Volunteers are needed for this event.
Theme: Migratory Shorebirds & Horseshoe Crabs
Partners: American Littoral Society, Delaware Audubon, Delaware Nature Society, DuPont Nature Center, Delaware Ornithological Society, Delaware Master Naturalist, Town of Slaughter Beach, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
Location: Slaughter Beach Pavilion, DE
Email olivia.mcdowell.liu@gmail.com to volunteer and learn more about this event.
Camden Education Program Spring 2026
In preparation for the solar vessel, Firefly, UA will be leading two weeks of hands-on educational experiences for high school students at the Cramer Hill Waterfront Park in Camden, NJ.
Status: Private Programming
Theme: Environmental Education
Location: Cramer Hill Waterfront Park, Camden, NJ
Email ronnie@upstreamalliance.org for more information.
Saturday Pond Paddling 2026 Kickoff
Join Upstream Alliance at the Cramer Hill Waterfront Park for the seasonal kickoff of weekly beginner kayaking. The program runs on Saturdays, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Volunteers are needed for this program.
Theme: Weekly Free Kayaking, Community Engagement
Location: Cramer Hill Waterfront Park, Camden, NJ
Email cooperriverwatertrail@gmail.com for more information.
Cakes & Oysters Holiday Celebration
Celebrate the Bay while purchasing Smith Island layer cakes and Eastern Shore oysters for the holidays! Click here to order cakes and oysters.
Theme: Annual Winter Celebration & Volunteer Appreciation
Location: Annapolis, MD
Email olivia.mcdowell.liu@gmail.com to RSVP!
Accohannock Celebration & Campout
Join us at Janes Island State Park and participate in a celebration with the Accohannock Indian Tribe. Learn native life ways, eat steamed crabs, and kayak the park’s water trails.
Theme: Tribal Celebration
Partners: Accohannock Indian Tribe
Location: Janes Island State Park, MD
Brandywine River Paddle
Paddle the lower Brandywine and Christina Rivers discussing environmental education. Please pass along this invitation to informal/formal educators and conservation colleagues.
Theme: Brandywine River Education
Location: Wilmington, DE
Email ronnie@upstreamalliance.org to RSVP!
Choptank River Expedition
Join Upstream Alliance, ShoreRivers, and University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science for the third Choptank River Expedition! Hear from Bay legends, discuss conservation, paddle the Choptank River, and camp at Martinak State Park.
Theme: Chesapeake Bay Leadership
Partner: ShoreRivers
Location: Martinak State Park, MD
Email olivia.mcdowell.liu@gmail.com to RSVP!
River Rat Film Fest II
Join us for a boat cruise on the Cooper River Water Trail followed by film festival by John Brady, Legendary Delaware River Rat.
Theme: Celebrate John Brady & Official Opening of the Cooper River Water Trail
Location: Wiggins Marina, Camden, NJ
Email olivia.mcdowell.liu@gmail.com to RSVP!
Chesapeake Book Club & Green Drinks
Help Tom Horton write his next book about the Chesapeake Bay. Book club members have the rare chance to read the concepts and provide feedback. Network with colleagues while discussing the future of the Chesapeake Bay at Green Drinks directly following book club. Local band Edgemere will be playing on the docks!
Theme: Chesapeake Bay Leadership
Location: Doc’s Sunset Grille, Oxford, MD
Email ronnie@upstreamalliance.org to RSVP!
Crab Feast
Join us for a fun networking event with steamed blue crabs in Annapolis, MD. Meet up with old and new friends while networking with colleagues.
Theme: Conservation Networking
Location: Annapolis, MD
Email olivia.mcdowell.liu@gmail.com to learn more about this event.
Delaware Bay Expedition
Under the full moon, observe horseshoe crabs during the expected climax of their spawn and witness the subsequently triggered shorebird migration.
Theme: Horseshoe Crabs & Shorebirds
Partner: American Littoral Society
Location: Slaughter Beach, DE
Email olivia.mcdowell.liu@gmail.com to learn more about this event.
Cooper River Water Trail Grand Opening
Join Camden’s community to celebrate the opening of the 15 mile water trail along the Cooper River. Volunteers are needed for this event.
Theme: Water Trail Grand Opening
Partner: National Fish & Wildlife Foundation
Location: Camden, NJ
Email olivia.mcdowell.liu@gmail.com to volunteer and learn more about this event.
Red Knot Fest
Join us to learn about birds and crabs with the community of Slaughter Beach, DE during this second annual festival. Volunteers are needed for this event.
Theme: Migratory Birds & Horseshoe Crabs
Partners: American Littoral Society
Location: Slaughter Beach Pavilion, DE
Email olivia.mcdowell.liu@gmail.com to volunteer and learn more about this event.
Saturday Pond Paddling
Join us at the Cramer Hill Waterfront Park for weekly beginner kayaking. Program runs on Saturdays, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Volunteers needed for this program!
Theme: Weekly Free Kayaking, Community Engagement
Location: Camden Education Program
Email olivia.mcdowell.liu@gmail.com for more information.
Camden Education Program
In preparation for solar vessel Firefly, UA will be leading two weeks of excursions for high school students aboard a chartered boat in Camden, NJ.
Status: Private Programming
Theme: Environmental Education
Location: Camden, NJ
Email olivia.mcdowell.liu@gmail.com for more information.
Cakes & Oysters Celebration
Celebrate the Bay while purchasing Smith Island layer cakes and Tangier Island oysters for the holidays! Click here to order cakes & oysters!
Status: Public Event
Theme: Annual Winter Celebration
Location: Annapolis, MD
Email olivia.mcdowell.liu@gmail.com for more information!
Choptank River Expedition
Paddle the Choptank River while learning from the Bay’s most prominent conservation leaders. Come for the Microbrew Tasting/Invasive Species Cooking Competition - stay for the lively discussions about Bay conservation. We will be discussing the past, present and future of conservation in the Bay to include: fisheries, water quality, climate, communications, education, CESR reports and more!
Status: Public Expedition
Partner: ShoreRivers
Location: Martinak State Park, MD
Email olivia.mcdowell.liu@gmail.com to RSVP! Fee is $25 per day to attend (& free for anyone under 35)
Delaware River Expedition
Explore the Cooper River Water Trail and discuss the transformation of Camden’s greenways and blueways.
Status: Public Expedition
Theme: Cooper River Water Trail
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Email olivia.mcdowell.liu@gmail.com for more information!
River Rat Film Fest
Maggie McCann, Andy Johnson, and Don Baugh invite you to join them on a narrated boat cruise and film festival by John Brady, Legendary Delaware River Rat, telling stories, learning and laughing. Please bring a dish for the potluck dinner.
Status: Private Event
Theme: John Brady Celebration
Location: Aboard Education Vessel Escape at the Independence Seaport Museum dock.
Email olivia.mcdowell.liu@gmail.com to RSVP!
Back Channel Summit by Motorboat
This motorboat tour will reconvene the agencies and organizations that were part of the 2022 Back Channel Summit by Kayak to get updates and share successes on public access, education, engagement and safety along the Delaware River.
Status: Private Event
Theme: Public Access, Safety & Engagement
Celebrate the Brandywine
Join us for a party to celebrate and promote the Brandywine Education Program. Enjoy amazing scenery, participate in educational activities, and eat light fare while networking with Brandywine champions.
Status: Public Event
Theme: Brandywine Education Program
Location: Brandywine Creek State Park
Email ronnie@upstreamalliance.org for more information!
Brandywine River Expedition
Join education and conservation organizations in paddling 28 miles of the Brandywine River as we explore water access, partnerships, and programs that will result in the Brandywine Education Program.
Status: Public Expedition
Theme: Brandywine Education Program
Location: Wilmington, DE
Email ronnie@upstreamalliance.org for more information!
Eastern Shore Green Drinks
Come meet other like-minded conservationists, businesses, non-profits, and trusts interested in enriching local culture and protecting the environment. This year’s Green Drink’s will be hosted in honor and memory of Pat Stuntz, who committed her life to saving the environment.
Status: Public Event
Theme: Conservation Networking, Celebration of Life
Location: The Big Owl, Grasonville, MD
Email olivia.mcdowell.liu@gmail.com for more information!
Crab Feast
Join us for a fun networking event with steamed blue crabs in Annapolis, MD. Meet up with old and new friends while networking with colleagues.
Theme: Conservation Networking
Location: Annapolis, MD
Email olivia.mcdowell.liu@gmail.com for more information!
Floatopia
Join Upstream Alliance and American Littoral Society for the green revolution happening in Philadelphia, PA and Camden, NJ, making the Delaware River swimmable, accessible, fishable, and equitable for all, while floating down the river. Please bring your own floatation device. Click here to register!
Status: Public Event
Theme: A Rally for the River
Partners: American Littoral Society, American Rivers, Camden Community Partnership, Center for Aquatic Sciences, Environment New Jersey, PennEnvironment, New Jersey Conservation Foundation, The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey, and UrbanPromise.
Location: Pyne Poynt Park, Camden, NJ
Email olivia.mcdowell.liu@gmail.com for more information!
Norfolk Academy Maine Expedition
This expedition explores the coasts and islands of northern Maine. Upstream will take students from Norfolk Academy, VA, on a week long paddle of the islands addressing an array of environmental topics.
Status: Private Event
Theme: Climate Change & Sea Level Rise
Location: Stonington, Maine
Email olivia.mcdowell.liu@gmail.com for more information!
Saturday Pond Paddling
There will be free pop-up pond paddling every Saturday at Cramer Hill Waterfront Park in Camden, New Jersey, from Memorial Day through Labor Day (May 25th - August 31st). We provide all equipment and instruction. No registration or experience is required. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
Status: Public Event
Location: Cramer Hill Waterfront Park, Camden, NJ
Email olivia.mcdowell.liu@gmail.com for more information!
Red Knot Fest
This year’s upcoming Red Knot Fest is a family-friendly festival aimed at promoting the conservation of migratory shorebirds, such as the red knot. Attendees can look forward to engaging activities like horseshoe crab tagging, beach seining, t-shirt making, and birding field trips!
Theme: Red Knot and Migratory Shorebird Conservation
Partners: American Littoral Society, Delaware Audubon, Delaware Nature Society, Delaware Ornithological Society, Dupont Nature Center, and the Town of Slaughter Beach.
Location: Slaughter Beach Pavilion, DE
Click here to view the event on Facebook!
Delaware Bay Horseshoe Crab Expedition
This is the expected climax of the horseshoe crab migration and spawn in the Delaware Bay, the East Coast’s epicenter, and the trigger to a massive shorebird migration.
Theme: Horseshoe Crabs & Migratory Shorebirds
Partner: American Littoral Society
Location: Slaughter Beach, DE
Email olivia.mcdowell.liu@gmail.com for more information!
Brandywine ShadFest & ShadRun 5k
Commemorate the fourth annual ShadFest & ShadRun 5k with us this spring! This event celebrates the return of the American Shad to the Brandywine River in Wilmington, Delaware. *NEED VOLUNTEERS*
Theme: American Shad on the Brandywine River
Location: Wilmington, DE
Email olivia.mcdowell.liu@gmail.com for more information and to volunteer!
Lower Chesapeake Bay Expedition
This expedition will explore the shoreline and rivers of the lower Chesapeake Bay, base camping at Janes Island State Park near Crisfield, MD. Paddle through beautiful marshes and explore the coast of the Bay with like-minded individuals. The Accohannock tribe will be joining us for parts of the expedition. More details tbd.
Status: Public Event
Partner: Accohannock American Indian Tribe
Theme: Lower Chesapeake Bay Conservation
Location: Janes Island State Park, MD
Email olivia.mcdowell.liu@gmail.com for more information!
Camden Education Program
This program provides K-12 students with a unique day of environmental learning on the Delaware River. Students will engage in activities such as seining for fish, conducting water quality testing, and learning species identification aboard a 50-foot catamaran.
Status: Private Event
Theme: Connecting Students with their Waterways
Location: Delaware River, NJ
Email olivia.mcdowell.liu@gmail.com for more information!
Cake & Oyster Holiday Party
Theme: Come pickup your Smith Island cake and Tangier Island oysters anytime between 3-7pm. We will be hosting an outdoor informal party with a bonfire and music, if you’re able to stop by! Curbside pickup is also available.
Location: 1867 Lindamoor Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401
Click here to order cakes and oysters!