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RESEARCH LAB AND SUMMER PROGRAM UPDATE

 

12/19/2022

 

Unfortunately, we are suspending the Children’s Marine Biology Program, Touch Tank, and Research Lab indefinitely. We thank you all for your support and while we currently do not have any plans to reopen, we do hope that someday we will. If you have any questions we can be reached at our main office 860-669-8681 ext 2 or the contact us form on our website.

 

 

 

 

 Marine Biology Educational Program

Be a Marine Biologist!

 

Summer is the time to be active outdoors and we provide activities including canoeing, swimming, nature walks, and exploring the salt marshes and rocky intertidal zones at Hammonasset State Park.  

Our program participants have the opportunity to spend a week with real marine biologists! We maintain small session sizes each week running with 4 participants and a child to instructor ratio of 2 to 1, which means participants not only form bonds with their peers but also with the counselors. This allows our future scientists to perform scientific experiments that include looking at the abundance of the different species present in numerous habitats. Working in small groups also provides a more personalized setting allowing for fun AND learning.   

Each day of our program begins with launching canoes in Clinton Harbor! We then take tours up the Hammonasset River and through the surrounding salt marshes. At high tide, we go further into the marsh to compare and contrast marsh and harbor animals. At low tide, we visit the mudflats adjacent to our marina, which is always a favorite! 

                                           Students walking through the marshes in Clinton CT                    Seining on CT Shoreline

Under the supervision of our biologists, everyone collects creatures such as crabs and fish! We complete this field collection in areas including rivers, salt marshes, intertidal zones, beaches, and mudflats. Animals caught throughout the week are brought back to the lab to be kept in each group's own saltwater aquarium for identification and observation. 

For summer's hottest days we also have an in-ground swimming pool to cool off in!

Seining in the water        Canoe launch        Summer Camp 2014 activities Clinton Ct

Discover Long Island Sound

Hammonasset State Park

Rocky Intertidal

Participants learn about the ecology, habitats and interactions of Long Island Sound organisms found within this area. 

We bring scientific equipment along so our campers learn how to do field work just like marine biologists. 

Salt Marsh

Critical issues concerning Long Island Sound and its inhabitants are addressed here.

This area is one of our most popular because it is where our participants meet the mud! Children AND biologists have been known to lose shoes in this area! 

We also bring our large seine net to see what's in the water...while we try to wash away the mud.

Beach

The beach isn't just for swimming!

The dunes, wrack line and the first foot of water is home to many plants and animals. Everyone collects these animals to bring back to the lab to put in their aquarium!

horseshoe crab 

 

Summer 2022 Sessions: 

 
ALL SESSIONS ARE FULL AT THIS TIME
PLEASE EMAIL TO BE PLACED ON OUR WAITLIST SHOULD A PLACEMENT OPEN UP
Session 1: June 27 - July 1 FULL
Session 2: July 5 - July 8 *price adjusted FULL
Session 3: July 11 - July 15 FULL
Session 4: July 18 - July 22 FULL
Session 5: July 25 - July 29 FULL
Session 6: August 1 - August 5 FULL
Session 7: August 8 - August 12 FULL
Session 8: August 15 - August 19 FULL

Price: $425

$350 Holiday week

 

Time: 9:00-3:00

Ages: 9-15

 For further information contact us directly at [email protected]  or (860) 669-8681 ext. 119 

**Currently, we are experiencing difficulties with the laboratory phone line. Email is the most efficient way to get in touch at this time.**

 

Current office hours:

Monday through Friday 12 pm to 4 pm

For the fastest response outside of office hours please email

 

selfie 

 

 

There's more!

Additional Activities:

- Canoeing to Hammonasset State Park & surrounding areas

- On-site heated pool 

- Maintaining a saltwater aquarium where campers keep the animals they caught for the week

- Completing experiments in the field

- Instruction and use of scientific instruments

- Water quality sampling

- Keeping a personal scientific journal

Why choose our Educational Program?

- Introduction to:

       - Marine Biology

       - Scientific Method

       - Species Identification

- Hands on experience with marine animals

- Working one on one with real marine biologists

- Team building skills

- Friendships that last a lifetime

Summer camp activities



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