Students Learn Marine Science At Island Beach State Park

SEASIDE PARK, NJ — Last week, Island Beach State Park became an outdoor classroom for nearly 250 middle school students, affording them the opportunity to learn all about the coastal environment.

Ten schools came to participate in Clean Ocean Action's 35th Annual Fall Student Summit on Oct. 12. Students participated in a roundtable of six environmental workstations, as well as in interactive field activities, learning ways to protect the coast.

"COA's Student Summits provide a rare opportunity for middle schoolers to see, hear, and feel the lessons learned in textbooks and the classroom come to life! The Summits also provide leadership opportunities for high schoolers to experience the joy of teaching. It all comes together thanks to the remarkable and dedicated environmental education and stewardship community who help make it an extraordinary success. COA is grateful to all," said Cindy Zipf, Executive Director of Clean Ocean Action (COA).

Seniors from the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science (MATES) served as peer teachers for the day, leading the roundtable segment of the Summit and helping on field trips.

"The middle school students get hands-on experience and really get to interact with nature. Even our students from the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science (MATES), not only get to share their knowledge, but they also get to teach about the environment and become better stewards! Hopefully, the students that are here today will do the same," said Dr. John Wnek, Supervisor of Science and Research at MATES and Research Coordinator for "Project Terrapin."

The topics covered by the MATES students during the roundtable included horseshoe crabs, invertebrates, nonpoint source pollution, stormwater runoff, marine debris, and Project Terrapin.

Local naturalists and other marine education professionals led students on various field excursions throughout the park, with the help of MATES students.

Field trips included Summit participants seining at the park’s bayside, traversing trails on a nature walk, and observing different beach dwellers on a beachside scavenger hunt. Other trips included learning of common beachcombing shells and critters, identifying various mollusks and crustaceans, participating in a beach sweep, and learning how to properly beach profile.

"The Student Summit provided an essential opportunity to get students outside and educated about the importance of being good advocates for a healthy environment," said Kristen Grazioso, COA’s Education & Volunteer Coordinator. "We couldn’t do this without MATES, as well as the fantastic field trip leaders who are some of the region’s most notable scientists, naturalists, and educators. These incredible environmentally minded individuals, many of whom participate year after year, come to help create a morning of hands-on environmental education, sharing their knowledge to create core memories and lasting impressions."