NMEA 2026 Annual Conference: Meeting of the Waters

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Mid-Atlantic Marine Educators (MAMEA) is excited to host the NMEA 2026 annual conference - a special event that brings together hundreds of professional educators dedicated to teaching about our marine, coastal and aquatic environments.

This registration page is for:

IN-PERSON CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

EXHIBITORS

PLEASE READ INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE REGISTERING

Important things to know before clicking the "Register Now" button:

Clicking the "Register Now" button will bring you to the start of the registration. The email you use here will determine whether you will receive Member pricing or Non-Member pricing.

Member Pricing vs Non-member Pricing

Member Conference Registration = reduced member conference pricing:
- You must be a current member to get member conference pricing.
- Not a member? - click here to purchase your NMEA membership.
- You will need to use the PRIMARY EMAIL associated with your NMEA membership to get member conference pricing (you DO NOT need to know your password as you do not need to log into the membership portal to register).
- Not sure if you are a member?, what your primary email is associated with your membership? or need to renew your membership? - click HERE
- If you use the primary email associated with your NMEA membership when you register, you will be directed to the following page to purchase your registration. If this is not the page you are directed to, you have used the wrong email address and you will be registering as and paying non-member conference rates.
Non-Member Conference Registration
- Registering with a non-member email will be directed to the following page:
- After contact information is provided, you will be able to select your tickets.
- Non-members will receive a professional membership at the conclusion of the conference.

Extra Tickets for Conference Registrants and Guest Tickets

Extra Tickets for Conference Registrants - When selecting the options to add to YOUR registration, please make sure to purchase a REGISTRANT ADD ON TICKETS, this will give you the ability to add optional workshops, field trips, evening events, t-shirts and programs . Please make sure you understand what events come with your registration before adding additional tickets. If you are bringing a guest to an event, you will purchase a separate ticket specifically for them - you should not purchase their tickets with your conference registration ticket (see next bullet for purchasing a ticket for your guest).
Extra Tickets for Guests - All conference guests (guests of a Super Full, Full or Single day conference registrant) should have their own individual ticket purchased. GUEST TICKETS can only be purchased for FIELD TRIPS AND EVENING EVENTS.
- You can purchase tickets for up to 4 different guests. If you bringing more than 4 different guests please contact Jackie at nmea@marine-ed.org
- The guest ticket will have a $0.00 price tag. Select the number of guest you are purchasing ticket for and then select the options for that guest within their ticket - this will create a price for the ticket.

Register for an Exhibit Table

Super Full and Full Confernence Registrants can add an exhibit table to their registration for $100 (no additional staffing comes with this option). You can purchase up to two additional staff spaces per day.
Exhibit Table Only - for those organizations/individuals not registered for the conference or only registered for a single day. This option allows for 1 individual to staff the table for 2 days (lunch and snacks provided - no conference admittance allowed). You can purchase up to two additional staff spaces per day.

Payment Options

All registrations must be completed online. At checkout, payment may be made via check or credit card (preferred). Check payments MUST be received by June 25, 2026 to guarantee your registration. Checks should be made payable to NMEA and mailed to NMEA, Attn: Jackie Lewis, 12385 Holly Road, Ridgely, MD 21660.
Need to pay with a Purchase Order? To pay with a PO, please complete the online registration, select “pay by check” at checkout and use that invoice for your PO. POs should be submitted electronically to NMEA Executive Administrator, Jackie Lewis at nmea@marine-ed.org. If NMEA needs to be a registered vendor with your organization, please contact Jackie.

If you have any questions or issues, please reach out to Jackie Lewis at nmea@marine-ed.org or 240-393-6508.

NMEA 2026 Annual Conference: Meeting of the Waters

July 12 - 16, 2026
Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina
100 Heron Blvd
Cambridge, Maryland
United States
21613

Additional Tickets

Skipjack Sail

July 16, 2026 09:45 - 12:00
Fee: $50.00
Seats Remaining:12

Cost Per Person: $50
Time: 9:45am-12:00pm
Transportation: On own
Lunch: Not needed
Age Limit: None

Description:

Celebrate the Chesapeake Bay through a guided 2-hour sail of the Choptank River - explore the waterways, dredge for oysters, learn from docents, and maybe even steer the boat.

Accessibility Description: The Skipjack Nathan is accessible for wheelchairs and people with limited mobility, however it does not have a wheelchair accessible restroom onboard.

Exploring Blackwater

July 16, 2026 09:00 - 12:00
Fee: $10.00
Seats Remaining:28

Cost Per Person: $10
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Transportation: On own
Lunch: None needed
Age Limit: None

Description:

Explore Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge to learn about the Eastern Shore’s marshland ecosystem, wildlife, and seasonal changes. Spot bald eagle nests, herons hunting, turtles basking, songbirds fluttering in the meadows, and more while learning about natural and cultural history of Dorchester County, Maryland.

Accessibility Description: This field trip includes walking through two visitor centers as well as a guided walk on a wildlife trail in the refuge with uneven ground up to 3 miles.

Birding With Audubon

July 16, 2026 08:15 - 12:45
Fee: $50.00
Seats Remaining:13

Cost Per Person: $50
Time: 8:15am - 12:45pm
Transportation: Provided
Lunch: Not needed
Age Limit: None

Description:

Explore over 150 acres of restored habitat at Pickering Creek Audubon Center. Along the way, you’ll discover which birds benefit from these changes - spotting grassland species, waders like glossy ibis, forest birds, and the living shoreline along tidal Pickering Creek.

Accessibility Description: This field trip is a guided walk on the birding trail with uneven ground up to 3 miles.

Resilience On The River: A Guided Paddle

July 16, 2026 09:00 - 12:00
Fee: $75.00
Seats Remaining:14

Cost Per Person: $75
Time: 9am-12pm
Transportation: On own
Lunch: Not needed
Age Limit: None

Description:

Join Choptank Riverkeeper Matt Pluta for a paddle on Cambridge Creek, where you’ll explore a quintessential Maryland waterway while learning how science-based advocacy, restoration, and community action are protecting the Choptank River and building local climate resilience.

Accessibility Description: This field trip involves a two-hour paddle through an urban creek with low current and wave energy.

Resiliency On The Eastern Shore

July 16, 2026 08:30 - 15:00
Fee: $50.00
Seats Remaining:26

Cost Per Person: $50
Time: 8:30am-3pm
Transportation: Provided
Lunch: Provided
Age Limit: None

Description:

Discover how science meets the shoreline with a tour of the Cooperative Oxford Laboratory (COL) with hosts from the NOAA Environmental Science Training Center, followed by a guided walk through Oxford highlighting real-world resiliency projects addressing sea-level rise and environmental changes (and a stop by the world famous Highland Creamery). This field trip offers a behind-the-scenes look at research, community planning, and innovative solutions protecting coastal towns.

Accessibility Description: This field trip includes an indoor lab tour and a guided walk through the town of Oxford totaling 1.2 miles on paved terrain.

Poplar Island Tour

July 16, 2026 07:45 - 13:00
Fee: $45.00
Seats Remaining:22

Cost Per Person: $45
Time: 7:45am-1:00pm
Transportation: Provided
Lunch: Not needed
Age Limit: None

Description:

Enjoy a scenic 30-minute boat trip to Poplar Island, followed by a 2-hour guided bus tour highlighting the beneficial use of dredged material for habitat restoration, salt-marsh habitat, island history, and an overview of construction efforts on the island. You'll get to see science in action and meet with the researchers in the field!

Accessibility Description: While this is a low-energy activity, it would require the passengers to travel from the vehicle to the boat launch over uneven ground. The climb in and out of the boat will require some maneuverability. Participants will be transportd across the island by vehicle getting out at various stops to engage with researchers.

Blue Technology Education Workshop

July 16, 2026 08:30 - 17:00
Fee: $50.00
Seats Remaining:16

Dive into innovation at the first Blue Technology Education Workshop, hosted by NOAA Ocean Exploration at the 2026 NMEA Annual Conference in Cambridge, MD! This full-day professional development opportunity is designed for early-career educators eager to bring the excitement of ocean engineering and exploration technology into their classrooms.