Marine Science Camp
August 2-8, 2009
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The NorthBay Marine Science Camp will involve students in authentic scientific exploration of a critical estuarine resource: The upper Chesapeake Bay. Students will sample fish, collect bottom samples, evaluate clam populations, capture mark and release turtles, chemically analyze water samples, and work with Remote Operated Vehicles (underwater robots) to answer real research questions concerning relevant threats to our estuaries. Students will even spend a day at the NOAA Oxford laboratory meeting with Ocean Scientists and will experience SCUBA in our pool. Students will experience the adventure of scientific discovery while using state of the art equipment, will learn key physical, chemical, biological and estuarine science concepts, and will explore marine science careers.
Click here for to download our Marine Science brochure.
Click here for to download the 2009 registration form.
Marine Science Summer Camp Tentative Daily Schedule
Monday: Students will be introduced to key estuarine concepts as they explore NorthBay estuarine environments: bay grass beds, sandy beaches, mud flats, and open water. In the afternoon students will board the R/V Miss Nancy to evaluate upper Chesapeake fish populations using an otter trawl.
Tuesday: Students will be introduced to Remote Underwater Vehicles (ROV), and the basic principles of their design and engineering. Students will then construct their own ROV to accomplish a specific mission task. In the afternoon, students will launch and fly an observation ROV from the R/V Miss Nancy to evaluate and visualize bottom habitats, and to qualitatively evaluate the bivalve community. Students will use an eckman dredge to sample the bottom and quantify clam abundance and diversity.
Wednesday: Students will visit ocean scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Oxford to discuss current state of our estuaries and career opportunities in the ocean sciences. Students will also sample and analyze water from a salt marsh and will collect fish using a seine net.
Thursday: Students will Discover SCUBA with Atlantic Edge SCUBA Center in our pool in the morning. Then it’s off to check our turtle traps and mark, measure and release any captured turtles as part of our ongoing turtle population study.
Friday: Students will participate in a mini expedition to Furnace Bay where they will pull an otter trawl to evaluate the fish community, conduct bottom sampling to evaluate the clam community, conduct water chemistry tests and snorkel around bay grass beds to visualize this unique habitat.
