In 2025, Chesapeake Mermaid proudly celebrates 15 years as the first mermaid in the Mid-Atlantic created specifically to serve as an environmental educator for the Chesapeake Bay. To mark this milestone, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit is launching an exciting year-long celebration of public events, book releases, and immersive educational experiences throughout the watershed.
Over the past decade and a half, the Chesapeake Mermaid has grown to connect with up to 30,000 individuals annually through unforgettable storytelling programs and community outreach—many of whom now return with the next generation of children in tow.
“It’s heartwarming to see the kids we once taught now bringing their own children,” said the Chesapeake Mermaid. “Our passion has become a tradition rooted in love for the Bay.”
A Habitat Reimagined: A Magical Oyster Reef and New Tour
This anniversary year debuts a fully reimagined stage experience that reflects the community’s collective hope and imagination. At the heart of the new set is a glowing, 12-foot-long oyster reef, activated by the audience with the chant: “Wake up, oysters!” This new element was the result of over 200 hours of dedicated work by the nonprofit’s team of artists and engineers, who are constantly innovating and developing fresh ideas. The reef celebrates the ecological importance of oysters while inviting young audiences into a world of learning through light, sound, and play.
“The Chesapeake Mermaid is more than a character—she’s a voice for nature,” said Julia O’Grodnick, a local parent. “She helps kids fall in love with their watershed in a way that sticks with them.”
As a deaf performer and educator, the Chesapeake Mermaid also brings an inclusive and powerful approach to environmental storytelling. American Sign Language (ASL) is woven into every program, creating a space where children of all abilities can experience connection, wonder, and a deeper love for nature.
The tour features dozens of interactive, hour-long performances incorporating storytelling, music, movement, ASL, and actionable steps for environmental stewardship. The programs reach children and families in schools, museums, libraries, festivals, and nature centers, delivering a lasting message: everyone can protect the Chesapeake Bay.
Books That Speak Every Child’s Language
The Chesapeake Mermaid’s growing collection of original storybooks continues to deepen her impact offstage—each with a matching live presentation that can be booked for classrooms, community events, or festivals:
- “The Last Bivalvian”: A beautifully woven tale about the history of the Chesapeake Bay and the ecological importance of oysters in healing its waters.
- “The Giants of the Bay”: An empowering story about the environmental challenges facing the Bay and how anyone can grow to become a “giant” of positive change.
- “Century Island”: A heartfelt journey into the Chesapeake’s disappearing islands, focusing on teamwork, and our lost history.
These live presentations bring each story to life through dynamic performance, ASL integration, and hands-on learning—making environmental literacy fun, inclusive, and unforgettable.
A Special Anniversary Release: “Counting Colors”
To celebrate 15 years of everyday magic, the Chesapeake Mermaid proudly unveils a brand-new book created especially for this anniversary celebration:
“Counting Colors” is a joyful activity book that introduces children to numbers and colors in American Sign Language. Featuring mermaids, native wildlife, interactive games, poetry, and recycled crafts, it’s designed to engage learners of all ages and abilities.
This new release pairs perfectly with the Chesapeake Mermaid’s beloved “Learning Nature” coloring book, which teaches kids over 100 native plants and animals and how to fingerspell them in ASL—all while learning about Chesapeake wildlife and habitats.
Each paperback book is 120 pages, 8.5" x 11", and created with nature lovers, young readers, and educators in mind. Each coloring book stars its own cast of lovable, nature-inspired characters who appear occasionally in live programs as magical stage companions.
“We love the Chesapeake Mermaid and buy all her books!” said Betsy Turner, a local teacher and parent. “My kids are practicing sign language entirely on their own now. Counting Colors is everyday magic.”
Books are available at events, online, and select retailers. Bundles and wholesale orders, as well as live program bookings, can be made at ChesapeakeMermaid.com.
A Nonprofit Built on Purpose and Passion
Chesapeake Mermaid, Inc. is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to original, high-quality environmental education. Every program is grounded in real-world experience through wildlife rescue and habitat restoration.
In 2023, the Chesapeake Mermaid Rescue Team devoted more than 188 volunteer hours and traveled over 6,256 miles in support of wildlife rescue efforts—contributions valued at over $200,000. This exceptional service earned the team the prestigious President’s Volunteer Service Award. In 2024, the team exceeded those benchmarks, contributing over 260 hours and covering more than 8,125 miles. In addition, Mermaid Grove—the team’s five-acre waterfront property—has been carefully restored and has over 300 documented native plant species along with a diverse range of natural habitats for study. As 2025 unfolds, the team continues to build on this momentum, demonstrating unwavering dedication to conservation and community impact.
“Our programs go beyond traditional storytelling,” says Chris Mitchell, Chesapeake Mermaid team member. “We engage, educate, and entertain—with the goal of creating emotional connections to nature that last a lifetime.”
The mermaid’s deaf identity is an essential part of that connection, offering powerful representation for deaf and hard-of-hearing children, and expanding inclusivity across every audience she reaches. Following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, the Chesapeake Mermaid team promptly released a bilingual resource guide in English and Spanish to support children and families coping with grief. With all six construction workers who lost their lives identified as Latino, providing resources in Spanish was especially important to ensure accessibility and compassion for the communities most directly impacted by the tragedy.
As the Chesapeake Mermaid team looks ahead, their mission remains clear: to spark wonder, deepen environmental awareness, and build a more connected, compassionate world—one story, one child, and one ripple at a time.
Book Early. Celebrate Big. Dive Deeper.
The Chesapeake Mermaid’s next live performance will take place at NatureFest 2025 on Saturday, May 31, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the College of Southern Maryland, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata, Maryland. Her interactive, family-friendly show begins promptly at 11:00 AM and will feature “The Last Bivalvian,” a story brought to life through engaging movement, music, American Sign Language, and more—all focused on the native wildlife of the Chesapeake Bay. Visitors can meet her wildlife friends, enjoy VIP photo opportunities, and purchase signed copies of her storybooks and activity books.
As the Chesapeake Mermaid celebrates her 15th year, the team invites families, educators, and organizations to join the next wave of magic, growth, and Bay-saving inspiration. Learn more and book events at ChesapeakeMermaid.com, or follow along on social media at Facebook.com/ChesapeakeMermaid and @ChesapeakeMermaid on Instagram.
