There is something that draws us all to the sea and especially to the fertile estuaries that nuzzle up to its shores. An estuary serves as both a nursery and a grave for sea creatures. This article describes annual trips to three islands in the Chesapeake Bay and the long-term impact these trips have had on students. Although the activities described in this article are centered around the Bay, this example of an immersive field experience could be duplicated in other ecosystems around the country (see "On the web" at the end of this article for information on planning an estuary field trip).