Stewardship
the act of caring for our natural environment
Become an official
Back to the Bays Steward
-or-
Sponsor a Stewardship Site
About
Back to the Bays was founded in 2015 to engage the public and stakeholders in CCE Marine’s shellfish and habitat restoration work. Our Back to the Bays Stewardship Program (formerly, Membership) connects our supporters with hands-on involvement opportunities.
Much of what we do through the Back to the Bays Initiative is centered around stewardship, defined in our case as the act of caring for of our coastal and marine environments. The work we accomplish annually at our Back to the Bays Stewardship Sites is having a meaningful impact on water quality improvement, marine and coastal habitat restoration, clam and bay scallop population enhancement, and expansion of oyster reefs in our bays.
Enroll as a Back to the Bays Steward and join this growing, community-based initiative. Your contribution ensures the continuation and expansion of this important work we reach our 10 year anniversary!
2025 Steward + Sponsor Enrollment
Benefits of joining our Stewardship Program:
Stewardship Package mailed to you, including Official Back to the Bays Decals, featuring new artwork each year
(*Those who enroll/donate after Nov. 1st, will receive 2026 packages the first week in January)Digital subscription to monthly Back to the Bays newsletter
Opportunities throughout the year to participate in Stewardship Sessions, alongside CCE Marine’s habitat and shellfish restoration experts
10% Discount on our Marketplace (Code will arrive in an email)
Additional discounted events, and special Steward-only educational and hands-on opportunities
Option to direct your funds to a particular Stewardship Site or project area (select from dropdown)
The knowledge that you are actively enhancing the health of our local marine environments!
Levels of Stewardship:
STEWARDS: Attend our Stewardship Sessions, where you can help CCE staff restore and protect local shellfish, eelgrass, coastal plants, seahorses, and horseshoe crabs. Join as an Individual ($25), Family unit ($50), or Supporting Steward ($100+).
SITE SPONSORS: Make a custom contribution over $1,000 to enroll as a Stewardship Site Sponsor and receive all the Steward Benefits + Name or Business recognition on our list of Site Sponsors.
Prefer to enroll by mail?
Print and complete this Steward/Sponsor Enrollment Form
Make checks out to: Cornell Cooperative Extension w/ Back to the Bays in the memo
Mail to: CCE Marine Program Attn. Back to the Bays, 3690 Cedar Beach Rd, Southold, NY 11971
Did you receive a Complimentary Steward Package?
Please complete your enrollment by filling out the Comp Registration Form
Want to support restoration + education in a particular area?
Read below to learn more about our Stewardship Sites
Stewardship Sites
We established our Back to the Bays Stewardship Sites to serve as community supported, long-term receiving areas for shellfish seeding, spat-on-shell oyster reef deployments, and coastal and marine habitat restoration. Learn more about each site, by clicking on the tiles below.
Future Stewardship Sites
If you would like to support the creation of a new stewardship site, please contact
Back to the Bays Director, Kimberly Barbour, at kp237@cornell.edu.
Back to the Bays is an Initiative of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, a registered 501(c)(3). Our EIN is 11-6081424 and contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. An official acknowledgement letter will be issued upon receiving your contribution.
Stewardship Sessions
We offer public workshops throughout the year where Stewards can participate in hands-on shellfish and habitat restoration, meet CCE staff, and learn about our marine environment.
*We have slowed down for the winter, but there are still plenty ways to get involved and Give Back to the Bays!
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