Marine Science Family Programs (Southold)

SUMMER 2022 MARINE SCIENCE FAMILY PROGRAMS AT CEDAR BEACH, SOUTHOLD

For more information or to book a program, contact Mark Cappellino

This summer join a Cornell Marine Program educator as they take your family on

OUTDOOR MARINE SCIENCE LEARNING AND FUN ADVENTURE!

Safety Protocols:

All COVID-19 safety protocolswill be followed using the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County’s safety plan. Educators and participants will wear face masks and adhere to all social distancing and safety protocols. Program materials used will be properly sanitized before and after each family program or will be used once and disposed of.

Program Summary:

All programs will be offered outside, weather permitting at the Cornell Cooperative Extension marine facility at Cedar Beach County Park, Southold, NY. Participants will remain outdoors and not enter any buildings at any time. Risk waivers and health attestations will be collected the day of your program for each participant.

Cedar Beach is a Suffolk County Park and residents of Suffolk County may have to show proof of residence before parking. Parking is free. Participants will park in beach area and not inside of gate.

Group size: 6 maximum (any combination of adults and/or children – group must contain at least one adult).

A ‘family’ is considered a ‘pod’ living in one building, or a combination of adults and children you’re comfortable with. Programs are offered Mondays – Fridays.

2022 MARINE SCIENCE FAMILY PROGRAMS OFFERINGS

SHARKS Program time: 60 minutes   Age: All ages Cost: Groups of 1 - 3 $75 Groups of 4 - 6 $100

Participants will learn about the biology and diversity of sharks. Topics covered will be shark biology, special adaptations, and fun shark facts. Program includes a walk on the beach to a special location to search for fossil shark teeth that participants can take home. In addition, your educator will have large tiger shark jaws, shark skin leather, and a replica of a Megladon shark tooth.

*Participants will learn about and enjoy seeing shark objects from a safe distance.

SHARK DISSECTION Program length: 75 minutes Age: Recommended for ages 8+ Cost: Groups of 1 - 3 $100 / Groups of 4 - 6 $125

For an additional fee, participants can enjoy dissecting a dog fish shark. Your educator will have drawings to show the shark’s major features - internal and external. Scissors will be used for dissection along with disposable latex gloves worn at all times during dissection. Scissors will be sanitized with bleach before and after dissection. One shark per family will be dissected by your instructor and each child and adult will have a chance to participate.

*please let your instructor know if anyone in your group has a sensitivity to latex.

SALT MARSH ECOLOGY Program length: 60 minutes Age: All ages Cost: Groups of 1 - 3 $75 / Groups of 4 - 6 $100

Participants will explore the Cedar Beach salt marsh with their educator and use a seine net to collect local marine species. If scheduled at a low tide period, a hunt for fiddler crabs will also be part of the program. Biology and ecology of aquatic species collected will be discussed. General ecology and importance of salt marshes will also be addressed along with sea level rise and its effects on salt marshes.

*Times of program will be determined by tides.

STORMY WATERS AND THE WATER POLLUTION MYSTERY Program length: 45 minutes Age: children 8 - 12 Cost: Groups of 1 - 3 $75 / Groups of 4 - 7 $100

Participants will be detectives to help solve a water pollution mystery. Children will use paper cups to collect Peconic Bay water samples from Cedar Beach. Participants will then use individual disposal water testing strips to test for pH, nitrogen, and chlorine. After the practice tests children will then be given water samples in cups that came from a hypothetical fish kill that has occurred out in the Peconic Bay. They will determine the type of the pollutant using the test strips that causes the fish kill. Water pollution from stormwater runoff will be discussed.

*Packets of fun worksheets and water pollution fact sheets will be given out to take home!

BEACH WALK Program length: 45 minutes Age: All ages Cost: Groups of 1 - 3 $75 / Groups of 4 - 6 $100

Learn about our local marine life by walking on the beach and seining in the bay. Discover how long do bay scallops live? What does a whelk egg case looks like? And what is a mermaid purse? You’re ‘whelkcome’! Check out our local seaweeds and learn what foods we eat that contain extracts from seaweeds. Participate in a beach scavenger hunt. Use a large seine net to collect and learn how to identify small local fish species.

*Times to be determined by educator and participant based on tides and staff availability.

For more information or to book a program, contact Mark Cappellino

Last updated March 3, 2022