The first cohort of thirteen LIFE STEM Scholars will arrive on the Longwood campus this August and will engage in a week-long summer bridge program at Hull Springs Farm. Hull Springs is an ideal location for these new students to bond as a group and be introduced to college life. Through a week of guided inquiry and explorations with their faculty mentors at Hull Springs and other locations around the Chesapeake Bay, including a trip to Tangier Island and an excursion with a working waterman, these new students will gain insights into the issues facing the health of the Bay. At the same time, they will be practicing skills and habits of mind that will serve to pave the way for a successful college career. Longwood University’s LIFE STEM Program is funded through the National Science Foundation, and offers wrap-around support to talented science students. Through innovative coursework, dedicated faculty mentors, and financial assistance, LIFE STEM Scholars will grow as scientists and citizen leaders.