Share Your Shore Story: Celebrating the Stories, People, and Landscapes of the Eastern Shore 

As the sun drifts slowly toward the horizon, the light meanders through the trees, bounces off the gentle ripples on the creek, and lands on the tips of the cornstalks before finally turning into the soft glow of golden hour. The afternoon breeze begins to wane, and before you know it, fireflies are twinkling in the air around you.  

The tranquility of Maryland’s Eastern Shore can be captivating. The rural landscapes and winding waterways seem to have the power to evoke feelings of joy, calm, a sense of place, and even a little nostalgia. Here at ESLC we work hard to protect those iconic Eastern Shore landscapes, and in doing so, we hope to preserve those feelings of being deeply connected to the land.

We’re asking you to share your own stories. We want to hear about why you love the rural character of the Eastern Shore. From general feelings you get when driving through farmland to specific memories of when you felt a deep connection to the Shore’s landscapes, we know that if you’re reading this, you’ve got a story to tell.  

Of course, we understand that this request for storytelling is a bit of a blank slate. That’s why the ESLC team recently took a moment to reflect and share some of their own stories, in the hopes that we can inspire others to do that same. Here’s what some of them had to say: 

 

Autumn Conley, Conservation Assistant, reflects on her summers as a camper at Echo Hill Camp in Worton, and after many summers as a camper, she became a counselor. “Camp life meant complete immersion in nature (we didn’t even have flushing toilets!) and I have never felt more at home than falling asleep to the Bay’s waves below and the steady drone of cicadas at night. My summers at Echo Hill allowed me to quite literally sink my toes into the Shore as a child, grow alongside this landscape, and later share the magic of this place with a new generation of campers.” 

David Satterfield, Director of Land Conservation, shares memories about fishing at his uncle’s farm along the upper Choptank. “I can distinctly remember sitting under the shade of the trees along the bank with a little green box of grass shrimp, filling a stringer with perch as the day passed by. When I had my fill of fishing for the day, I would scare all the fish away by jumping into the river for a swim to cool off before heading to Mom Mom and Pop Pop’s for a fish fry!”   

Laura Scharle, Interim Communications Manager, remembers leading weekly kayak tours for the YMCA when she first moved to the Mid-Shore. “My supervisor would scribble down directions I had to follow along back country roadways leading to remote boat ramps. It forced me to really get out and explore Talbot County. And every time the group got out on the water, we all just got this collective feeling of awe as we floated through the scenery. The farms and the wetlands surrounding us at sunset at the end of a busy day was always what we all needed.”  

 

If you have stories to share that showcase your connections to the Eastern Shore’s rural landscapes, we’d love to hear them. Land conservation isn’t just about acres and easements; it’s about preserving the moments, heritage, and quiet beauty that make this place so special. 

SHARE YOUR STORY