The NJ Coastal Management Program and the NJ State Council on the Arts are partnering on a Risk Communication Art Installation Grant Program. The Arts Council released a Call for Artists to select artists that will be paired with 4 community based organizations in the coastal area. The organizations are Atlantic City Arts Foundation, the Bayshore Center at Bivalve, Monmouth Arts, and Passaic County. Below is additional information.
This grant program is just one component of a larger Risk Communication Campaign that the CMP and JCNERR are undertaking over the next year with funding from NOAA.
Learn more about local environmental issues and support Climate Education by participating in the New York & New Jersey Climate Education Youth Summit. For more information, please click here.
Are you curious about what ocean acidification (OA) is? Are you curious about what a more acidic ocean could mean for the fish you target? Would you like to learn how seagrass plantings can buffer changes in water chemistry and help with oyster reef restoration? Are you eager to try out a new app that provides short-term forecasts for pH and hypoxia in coastal waters? Come join us for the “Hooked on Ocean Acidification” mini-series on Thursday evenings, from February 18 to March 11. All four sessions will be held virtually, via ZOOM, from 6:30-8:00 PM. For more information click here.
Explore Sandy Hook from Your Classroom with the EVERY KID OUTDOORS Program – FREE to 4th Grades!
Whether your students are in class or learning from home, we can enhance their educational experience with a fun “virtual” field trip! For more than 30 years, school groups from New Jersey and neighboring states have enjoyed learning about coastal ecosystems with New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC) at Sandy Hook, a unit of Gateway National Recreation Area. NJSGC is proud to partner with the National Park Service and Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy to offer FREE virtual programs to 4th grade students for Spring 2021.
As part of the Every Kid Outdoors initiative, 4th graders (along with their families and teachers) are encouraged to visit national parks to experience the natural wonders and cultural history that can be found there. NJSGC headquarters has long been located at Sandy Hook, thus bringing this unique national park experience to tens of thousands of students since 1976. Given the current circumstances, the talented educators at NJSGC have now taken these outdoor experiences and adapted them for remote learning. Educators with 4th grade students interesting in participating in the Every Kid Outdoors program through NJSGC can choose from 2 FREE virtual programs led by NJSGC educators:
Coastal Ecosystems – Based on our most popular and comprehensive field trip, Marsh & Ocean Environments, students learn about the estuaries, maritime forests, and barrier beaches found at Gateway National Recreation Area and the NY-NJ Harbor Estuary. Explore the importance of the plants and animals found there, and how human interactions with these environments can both positively and negatively impact them. Discover the concepts of watersheds and marine food webs through a lively interactive and game-enhanced presentation.
Terrific Terrapins – Meet New Jersey’s estuarine turtles, the Northern Diamondback Terrapin, in this fun program that teaches students why these animals are so unique and important to our coastal ecosystems. Students will participate in an interactive presentation with a LIVE Northern Diamondback Terrapin to answer questions about and discover this reptile’s adaptations, anatomy, habitat, and more. Students will also learn about the impacts humans are having on terrapin populations, and what some local groups and scientists are doing to help protect this charming turtle.
All programs support New Jersey Learning Standards and can be modified for learning abilities. To encourage interaction amongst participants, each program is 45-60 minutes and accommodates 1 class of up to 25 students.
Participation in NJSGC’s Every Kid Outdoors program requires that 4th grade educators complete the following requirements with their students:
Complete a pre-program “Web Quest” to familiarize students with program concepts;
Participate in a virtual NJSGC-instructor led program; and
Provide NJSGC with your completed program feedback form
Looking for information about New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium’s Marine Science Day Camp for Summer 2021?
NJSGC educators are hard at work planning a highly-interactive and fun program focusing on a variety of fascinating marine science topics. This summer we expect to offer both in-person and virtual camp weeks, so campers can enjoy learning about the ocean and NJ’s coast no matter where they are!
Due to popular demand, NJSGC will again be offering Marine Science Camp-in-a-Box which will include a variety of unique science activities and fun crafts that can be done on your own or during your camp week.
Check back here in late February for further information and additional details, including dates. In the meantime, inquiries can be directed to Rosemary Higgins, College and Special Programs Coordinator, at rhiggins@njseagrant.org.
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Summer 2020: Virtual Marine Science Day Camp and Marine Science “Camp-in-a-Box” (no longer available, new dates coming for 2021)
This summer, join New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium for our new Virtual Marine Science Day Camp! This daily alternative to our annual in-person program utilizes fun, interactive 60-minute Zoom sessions with experienced NJSGC Education Staff focused on ocean sciences that are sure to engage and excite your child. We offer two weeks of camp depending on your child’s grade level as of September 2020:
– Sea Creatures of the Jersey Shore takes place July 13-17 for grades 3, 4, 5 and will be held virtually from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. This week will focus on the marine animals found along New Jersey’s coast and will include a special Sharks vs. Rip Currents session that teaches children about the importance of ocean swimming safety.
– Coastal Ecosystems and Oceanography takes place July 27-31 for grades 6, 7, 8, and will be held virtually from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. This week will focus on the ocean processes that affect our weather & climate and shape our shorelines , and will include a special Magnifying Plastics session that helps children understand how plastics affect marine life and, ultimately, us!
Virtual Marine Science Camp includes NJSGC’s new Marine Science Camp-in-a-Box, filled with fun activities to help your child explore the uniqueness of marine animals and the interactions of ocean ecosystems. Marine Science Camp-in-a-Box comes with the supplies needed to complete 12 activities and investigations such as building animal models, investigating beach sand, examining the effects on climate change on marine organisms, and exploring animal habitats. Camp-in-a-Box also includes a special smartphone clip-on microscope to encourage in-depth investigations of the natural world!
Marine Science Camp-in-a-Box (kit only) — $50 per child. Use our curbside pickup option to receive your Marine Science Camp-in-a-Box order to save on the shipping & handling fee. Additional shipping and handling fee for all deliveries ($10 each).
Mail order deadline is Thursday, July 2nd when registering for Session 1 of Virtual Marine Science Camp and Marine Science Camp-in-a-Box to allow for sufficient shipping time.
Mail order deadline is Thursday, July 16th when registering for Session 2 of Virtual Marine Science Camp and Marine Science Camp-in-a-Box to allow for sufficient shipping time.
All fees are NON-REFUNDABLE
To register for Virtual Marine Science Camp: contact Rosemary Higgins, Camp Coordinator, to reserve your spot and receive access information.
How to obtain your Marine Science Camp-in-a-Box: contact Rosemary Higgins, Camp Coordinator, to place your order. USPS shipping rates will apply. Curbside pickup is strongly encouraged.
In 2019-2020, contributions from donors like you allowed us to:
Continue supporting marine, coastal, and social science research to help further promote and enhance healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries/aquaculture, resilience communities/economies, and environmental literacy/workforce development throughout the Garden State.
Provide direct instruction to nearly 20,000 schoolchildren from over 30 different legislative districts throughout NJ on a broad range of environmental topics through our diverse, interactive education programs.
Disperse nearly 65,000 NJ Fish and Wildlife marine recreational fishing regulation cards to and posters to over 260 marinas throughout the State, from over 24 different legislative districts. Of these, more than 100 have operating pumpout stations (including nine pumpout boats) thanks to NJSGC’s involvement with the New Jersey Clean Vessel Act Program.
Accept four graduate students from prestigious institutions throughout NJ into the highly-competitive John A. Knauss Marine Policy fellowship program.
And while combating the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium continues developing several outstanding programs and projects, including:
Virtual education initiatives appropriate for grades K-12. Taught by experienced environmental education staff, these lively presentations, demonstrations, experiments, and games encourage student interaction on topics designed to excite while meeting educator’s curricular needs, scout leader’s requirements, and/or families’ interests.
A new COVID-19 rapid response opportunity (led by NJSGC’s Aquaculture Program Coordinator Lisa Calvo) that helps support oyster farmers, promote habitat restoration, and advocate local seafood sales.
For the first time in 17 years, NJSGC and its partners hosted a virtual Ocean Fun Days event. Online video presentations, teacher/parent resources, and other printout activities from over 25 exhibitors provided eco-friendly fun focused on ocean discovery, coastal stewardship, and energy conservation.
In partnership with New York Sea Grant, NJSGC created a BEach SAFEly campaign to remind beachgoers to stay safe while still having fun at the Jersey Shore (and beyond).
And more to come in 2021!
Despite such trying times, we hope you choose to help so that we can continue our mission to promote the wise use of New Jersey’s marine and coastal resources through research, education, and outreach. To make a year-end, tax-deductible contribution to NJSGC for 2020, please click HERE.
If you prefer to mail your gift, kindly address your contribution to:
New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium
22 Magruder Road
Fort Hancock, NJ 07732
NJSGC will host an informational “Knauss 101” Zoom meeting with Acting Director Dr. Peter Rowe on Wednesday, January 6th at 10 a.m. Please contact our Communications Specialist for more information on how to join the session.
For more information on the fellowship, please visit our website.
From the Sea Grant National Office / Since 1990, Sea Grant’s joint fellowship program with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has helped strengthen collaborative efforts and further fulfill broad educational responsibilities. The two opportunities – Population and Ecosystem Dynamics and Marine Resource Economics – have been combined into one NOFO for 2021. Separate review panels will still be held; therefore, all applicants must indicate their concentration – either Population and Ecosystem Dynamics (PED) or Marine Resource Economics (MRE) – on their cover sheet. The request for federal funding has been increased to $53,000 per year for up to three years. Please click HEREfor the full instructions package, or view the official announcement for more information.
This combined Federal Funding Opportunity can also be accessed on Grants.gov.
The primary goals of this program are:
– To encourage qualified applicants to pursue careers in either population and ecosystem dynamics and stock assessment or in marine resource economics.
– To increase available expertise related to these fields.
– To foster closer relationships between academic scientists and NOAA Fisheries.
– To provide real-world experience to graduate students and accelerate their career development.
And for more information on all current fellowships, please visit the NJSGC website.
Applications submitted to NJSGC must be received by 5pm on January 26, 2021. New Jersey students are encouraged to contact Dr. Peter Rowe with any questions or concerns.
The notice of federal funding opportunity for the 2022 Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship is now open. The fellowship provides a one-year, paid experience for highly-qualified early career professionals to work on issues related to coastal, marine and Great Lakes science and policy in offices within the executive or legislative branch of government in Washington, D.C.
Graduate students interested in marine science policy should explore the information about the fellowship as soon as possible and talk to their local Sea Grant program (or the National Sea Grant Office) at least one month prior to the February 19, 2021 deadline.To be eligible for the 2022 fellowship (which lasts February 1, 2022 through January 31, 2023):
A student must be enrolled towards a degree in a graduate program at any point between the onset of the 2020 Fall Term (quarter, trimester, semester, etc.) and February 19, 2021;
The student’s graduate degree program must be through an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or U.S. Territories;
Students are eligible regardless of nationality; domestic and international students at accredited U.S. institutions may apply; and
Applicants must have an interest in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources.
Please share this opportunity with colleagues, friends and potential applicants!
Celebrating 17 Years with 17 Days of Virtual Family Fun and Education
This year’s family friendly Ocean Fun Days event (originally scheduled to be held at Island Beach State Park and Sandy Hook in May) will now take place virtually starting October 10th and run for 17 days.
Online video presentations from over 30 exhibitors will provide eco-friendly fun focused on ocean discovery, coastal stewardship and energy conservation. Several presentations provide fascinating information about some of our most important local animals, including horseshoe crabs and harbor seals. There will also be videos on boating safety and saving energy and the environment. In addition, you’ll find other fun activities like word searches, crossword puzzles, coloring pages, and more.
The new event platform includes a short “throwback” video from New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium’s famous Fiddler Crab Races, and a quick video on Diamondback Terrapin turtles recorded during our Virtual Summer Day Camp program – culminating in exciting turtle races!
Online experiments (including some from our member college professors and current research being done at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, Fisheries Lab) provide a great resource for teachers to share with students in their virtual classrooms. There are plenty of additional resources, including worksheets, and other learning tools for educators and parents alike.
So, what’s next? We’re hoping for an in-person event come 2021! Save the dates for May 22 at Island Beach State Park and May 23 at Sandy Hook.
Ocean Fun Days is presented by founding sponsor New Jersey Natural Gas, in partnership with New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, Asbury Park Press, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry, National Park Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Please contact our Communications Specialist for more information.
