Marsh and Ocean Environments

This full-day outdoor program is suitable from PreK-12 and provides a comprehensive introduction to estuarine and barrier beach environments. The program is divided into two segments: salt marsh exploration and beach hike. Students will engage in hands-on learning activities at both sites.

At the Marsh

Through discussion and instruction, your NJSGC 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 NJSGC)
  • Salt marsh orientation
  • Plant identification walk (conditions permitting)
  • Benthic sampling (conditions permitting)
  • Optional activity (require advance notice and are subject to time constraints) Water quality testing or Plankton sampling/identification.

At the Ocean

Through discussion and instruction, your NJSGC 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, accretion, 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 activity (requires advance notice and is subject to time constraints) Beach profiling,  Longshore current measurement or Sand sampling.

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

This program supports:

Next Generation Science Standards
Grades K-2  PE:K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, K-ESS3-3, 1-LS3-1, 2-LS4-1. DCI: ESS2A,C,E; ESS3.A,C; LS1.A-D; LS2.A; LS3A, B; LS4.D
Grades 3-5  PE:3-LS2-1, 3-LS3-1, 3-LS-2, 3-LS4-2, 3-LS4-3, 3-ESS3-1, 4-LS1-1, 5-LS1-1, 5-LS2-1, 5-ESS3-1. DCI:ESS2.A,C,E; ESS3.A,C; LS1.A-D; LS2.A,C,D; LS3.A,B; LS4.B,C,D
Middle School  PE:MS-LS1-4, MS-LS1-5, MS-LS2-2, MS-ESS2-2, MS-ESS3-1.  DCI: ESS2.C, ESS3.A, C; LS1.B, LS2.A,D; LS4.D.
High School  PE:HS-LS2-6, HS- LS2-8.  DCI:LS4.C, D. ESS2.A, ESS2.C, ESS3.A, ESS3.C

Program limited to thirty (30) students per group. Multiple groups accommodated daily.
Fee: $325.00 per group.

For more information contact the Education Department at reservations@njseagrant.org or by phone at (732) 872-1300, ext. 13. Fill out our program reservation request form HERE!