(Sandy Hook, NJ) … One of the spring’s most popular environmental education events, Ocean Fun Days, will be held this year on Saturday May 17 at Island Beach State Park in Seaside Park and Sunday May 18 at the headquarters of the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC) in the historic Fort Hancock section of Sandy Hook. Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.
For the eleventh consecutive year, event admission and parking will be free. Visitors will be able to enjoy educational displays, eco-tours, classes and hand-on activities and exhibits that all celebrate the wonders of the Jersey Shore and how to preserve its natural resources for generations to come.
Join the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium for our 21st annual Ocean Fun Days! This popular all outdoor two-day event takes place on Saturday, May 18 at Island Beach State Park and Sunday, May 19 at Sandy Hook from 11a.m. until 3p.m. both days, rain or shine. Free admission both days! Enjoy hands-on marine and environmental programs and exhibits. There will be giveaways and plenty of excitement. Remember, learning about our coastal environment or about energy conservation tips, will be fun for the whole family. Learn how to use a seine net to catch native fish, crabs and other marine creatures. Test your local coastal knowledge or become a sand sampler and search for natural treasures on a guided walking tour. Hear first hand from New Jersey scientists and researchers all about the inner-workings of the ocean and the coastline and how to protect them for generations to come. Don’t miss these two days of FREE family fun!
(Sandy Hook, NJ) — The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC) has announced and awarded the sixth pair of its Stew Tweed Fisheries and Aquaculture Scholarships, established in 2008 in memory of Stew Tweed, a 27-year veteran of the New Jersey Sea Grant Marine Extension Service, who passed away in early 2007. The scholarship checks were presented by Congressman Frank Pallone (D-6th District) during a special ceremony during Ocean Fun Days at the NJSGC’s headquarters at Sandy Hook on Sunday, June 9th, 2013. Also on hand for the presentation were Stew’s wife Gail and granddaughter Katie Pantelione.
(Sandy Hook, NJ) — Ocean Fun Days will offer two days of free, family-oriented activities with an environmental and educational focus at Island Beach State Park on Saturday June 8th and Sandy Hook on Sunday June 9th. For the tenth consecutive year, this popular pre-summer event will feature eco-friendly hands-on programs and special activities that help explore and celebrate the wonders of the Jersey Shore. Drag a seine net, go on a guided beach hike, learn about seaside birds and much more at Ocean Fun Days. Both Ocean Fun Day locations were hard hit by Hurricane Sandy but have been restored and recently reopened to the public. As a result, event organizers are expecting record crowds this year.
(Sandy Hook, NJ) — Superstorm Sandy is the theme for this year’s Ocean Fun Days Science Fair scheduled for June 8th at Island Beach State Park and Sandy Hook on June 9th. The competition, open to 3rd through 6th grade students from Monmouth and Ocean Counties has become one of the most popular components of Ocean Fun Days, a family oriented, educational celebration that features exhibits, classes, nature tours, and children’s activities all about New Jersey’s coastal environment. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Ocean Fun Days, a cooperative project of founding partner New Jersey Natural Gas, the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, the NJDEP, the NJ Division of Parks and Forestry and NOAA.
Attention schools, libraries and community groups in Monmouth and Ocean County: FREE Ocean Hazards and Beach Safety: Sharks vs. Rip Currents programs are available! With summer less than 100 days away, New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium would like to remind all beachgoers about the importance of staying safe at the beach. Our Rip Current Awareness Program’s Ocean Hazards and Beach Safety: Sharks vs. Rip Currents presentation educates learners of all ages about the perils of rip currents and how to stay safe when faced with one.
Mindy Voss, Education Specialist, presents the sharks vs. rip currents program to a group of interested students.
We all know rip currents can be dangerous, but are they more dangerous than SHARKS? Find out with a lively presentation and interactive Jeopardy-style game that compares rip current mechanics and safe practices to shark biology and ecology, participants gain knowledge and insight that will help to keep them safe while enjoying the beach at the Jersey Shore.
Have fun and keep your community out of harm’s way with the Ocean Hazards and Beach Safety: Sharks vs. Rip Currents program. Suitable for children in grades 3-12 and accessible for all, these are free, hour-long programs that can take place in person at your school/library/center or online in the comfort of your own home. They are only available for a limited time so reserve yours today!
June 2017 – On Friday (June 2nd), the New Jersey Clean Vessel Act Program joined in celebrating Ocean County for successfully operating its growing fleet of pumpout boats over the last 20 years. Such significant contributions have helped improve water quality throughout Barnegat Bay and Little Egg Harbor for the past two decades.
The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium was represented at the Seaside Park Yacht Club by Assistant Director of Extension and the Marine Recreation Agent of Fisheries & Boating, Michael Danko.
The federal Clean Vessel Act was passed 26 years ago, thanks to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection/Division of Fish & Wildlife for requesting and managing the approval of such federal funds. State funds are also provided by “Shore Protection” license plate sales.
The New Jersey Clean Vessel Act Program now operates as a partnership among the Division of Fish & Wildlife, the Monmouth County Health Department, the Marine Trades Association of New Jersey, the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, and Ocean County Planning Department (plus additional public and private entities).
Ocean County Department of Planning Director David J. McKeon was also recognized during the ceremony for such achievements.
Despite initial hurdles and reservations, the program’s first pumpout was successfully installed at Green Cove Marina located on the Metedeconk River. Nowadays, the approval, purchasing, and maintenance procedures for additional fleets run rather smoothly (with a current total of six operating boats). Services are offered free of charge.
The ongoing success of the Ocean County Pumpout Program relies heavily on partnerships with Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholder, Ocean County Planning Department, Ocean County Utilities Authority, Township of Brick, Borough of Seaside Park, Tuckerton Seaport, and the dedicated pumpout boat captains.
We wish the Ocean County Pumpout Program and all associates a very successful future in providing such phenomenal pumpout boat services.
For additional information, please visit the Ocean County Department of Planning website.
Learn more about the Clean Vessel Act Program here.
It may be summer, but don’t forget to read all about our work from over the Spring season in our Spring 2023 ‘COASTodian’ newsletter! Stay up to date on what we’ve been up to during the season! New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium’s ‘COASTodian’ newsletter Spring 2023 is now available online here.
Check out some highlights from this edition of the COASTodian:
– NJSGC held it’s annual State of the Shore Media Event
– Celebrating 20 Years of Ocean Fun Days: Through Rain and Shine, We Had A Good Time!
– Research spotlight: New Jersey Response of Salt Marsh Methane Emissions to Sea Level Rise
– Coastal Health Initiative Grant Awardees Selected for the 2023 Sandy Hook Partnerships in Coastal Studies Research Opportunity
It may be spring, but don’t forget to read all about our work from over the winter in our Winter 2023 ‘COASTodian’ newsletter! Stay up to date on what we’ve been up to during the season! New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium’s ‘COASTodian’ newsletter Winter 2023 is now available online here.
Check out some highlights from this edition of the COASTodian:
-With summer less than 100 days away, New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium would like to remind all beachgoers about the importance of staying safe at the beach. Our Rip Current Awareness Program’s “Ocean Hazards and Beach Safety: Sharks vs. Rip Currents” presentation educates learners of all ages about the perils of rip currents and how to stay safe when faced with one.
– The 20th annual Ocean Fun Days takes place May 20-21st, so be sure to join our official Facebook event page for special highlights and updates.
– Research spotlight: New Jersey Salt Marsh Ponds as Harmful Algae Reservoirs
– Interested in a job where you get to explore Sandy Hook while teaching children about marine science? NJSGC is hiring part-time field instructors. Are you interested in learning the ins and outs of science communications? NJSGC is also hiring a summer communications intern!
In 2021-2022, contributions from important donors like you allowed us to:
Continue funding ocean, climate, and social science research to further promote sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, enhance healthy coastal ecosystems, and create a environmental literate workforce throughout the Garden State.
Provided nearly 20,000 schoolchildren from over 30 different legislative districts the opportunity to experience unique hands-on experiential learning through our robust education programs.
Disperse nearly 65,000 NJ Fish and Wildlife marine recreational fishing regulation cards and posters to over 260 marinas throughout the State, from over 24 different legislative districts.
Influenced more than 150 marinas to have operating pumpout stations (including nine pumpout boats) thanks to NJSGC’s involvement with the New Jersey Clean Vessel Act Program.
We’re looking forward to the bright future ahead of the Consortium as we move forward into our 54th year. In 2022 NJSGC not only continued, but also created several new outstanding programs and projects, including:
Piloting a novel Aquaculture Student Apprenticeship Program to provide students with an understanding of shellfish aquaculture to create a foundation for a career in the emerging field of shellfish farming.
Created a new feature section in the COASTodian Newsletter called “Research Spotlight” focusing on NJSGC’s groundbreaking and innovative coastal, ocean, and climate research.
Hosted a Professional Development Workshop intended for elementary school teachers looking to build confidence in teaching climate science in their classrooms.
And much more to come in 2023!
With your support we can continue to work hard to promote the wise use of New Jersey’s marine and coastal resources through research, education, and outreach. The New Year is just around the corner. Can we count on you to support our mission to steward New Jersey’s marine and coastal environment? To make a year-end, tax-deductible contribution to NJSGC for 2022, please click HERE or kindly address your contribution to:
Deborah Meehan Quinn
New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium
22 Magruder Road
Fort Hancock, NJ 07732
