Marsh and Ocean Environments

This full-day, outdoor program accommodates grade pre K-12. It is recommended for large groups (over 50) and provides an introduction to the salt marsh and barrier beach environment. The program is divided into two parts: a salt marsh exploration and a beach hike. Students will become involved in hands-on learning activities at both sites.

At the Marsh

Through discussion and instruction, your NJMSC/NJSG Instructor will cover the following key concepts during the salt marsh portion of the program:

Geographic orientation
Structure, function and importance of an estuary
Structure, function and importance of a salt marsh (habitat)
Human impact on the bay and marsh environment
An overview of native salt marsh plants and animals (adaptation)
An introduction to the watershed concept
Marine food webs (producer, consumer, predator)

Students will participate in the following activities while at the salt marsh:

Seining (boots, nets and buckets supplied by NJMSC/NJSG)
Salt Marsh Orientation
Plant Identification Walk (conditions permitting)
Benthic Sampling (conditions permitting)
Optional Activities (require advance notice and are subject to time constraints:) Water Quality Testing, Plankton Sampling/Identification

At the Ocean

Through discussion and instruction, your NJMSC/NJSG Instructor will cover the following key concepts during the barrier beach portion of the program:

Geographic orientation
Formation, structure, function and importance of the barrier beach
Beach processes (waves, currents, tides)
Zones of the beach (dunes, backshore, foreshore, nearshore)
Human use and impact on barrier beach environment (erosion, replenishment)
An overview of barrier plants and animals
Identification of seashells and other shoreline “finds” (bivalves, univalves, crustaceans)

Students will participate in the following activities while at the beach:

Shell Collecting and Identification
Beach Hike
Optional (require advance notice and are subject to time constraints:) Beach Profiling, Longshore Current Measurement, Sand Sampling

An overview of the history of Sandy Hook is integrated throughout the program.

This program supports NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.5, 4.3, 4.10, 4.11, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.9, 5.10, 5.12, 6.9

Program limited to thirty (30) students per class. Multiple classes accommodated daily.
Fee: $210.00 per class

Reserve your Marsh and Ocean Environments field trip online or contact Cindi Valkos, Webmaster & Administrative Assistant, for the Education & NJ Sea Grant Extension Programs (732) 872-1300 ext. 13.

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