GAMBRILLS, Md. (AP) — Students from Maryland and Virginia are spending an alternative spring break working on environmental projects and learning about the Chesapeake Bay, rather than escaping to Cancun or the Caribbean.

The Capital reports students from Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia spent the past week working with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. They have been working on a massive tree planting at a farm in Gambrills, Md., and building concrete “reef balls” for oysters, among other activities.

On Saturday, a week of service begins for students from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Many of the students are studying environmental science or agriculture so they say a week working on bay projects is a good opportunity for hands-on learning. The students paid for their room and board.

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