Ocean Exploration for Homeschoolers

We just finished off the 2015-2016 Ocean Exploration for Homeschoolers program with a field trip to a muddy shoreline. It was a beautiful morning to head out with shovels and buckets to explore. We found a great diversity of animals including blood worms, milky ribbon worms, red-lined worms, moon snail egg cases, clams, sand dollars, burrowing anemones, green crabs and a jonah crab.

Everyone having fun getting muddy and wet!

Releasing the jonah crab back into the deep water.

One of the cute little red-lined worms.

Throughout the winter months from November to February we also had programs at the Huntsman Fundy Discovery Aquarium. The children explored a rocky intertidal zone, studied plankton using the microscopes, used live animals to study classification and conducted a right-side up experiment with sea stars and urchins.  The children also assisted with feeding the animals in the aquarium.

Collection of animals from the rocky beach.

Studying the life in a drop of water.

Observing a hermit crab while studying classification.

Conducting an experiment with sea stars and urchins.

Preparing food for the touch tank.

Watching the halibut being feed. 

Feeding the tidal tank with food prepared by the children.

We hope to offer a program for homeschool families again in the fall.  Keep an eye on our website for updates. 

Toronto Waldorf School 2016

This week on the Huntsman campus we have welcomed Grade 11 students from the Toronto Waldorf School.  While here the students have collected specimens from the bay while aboard our research vessel, explored the intertidal zone, gathered data on the invasive green crab, collected marine debris, toured the Huntsman Fundy Discovery Aquarium, completed a kayaking trip in the bay with Eastern Outdoors, learned Canadian history while touring Ministers Island, studied plankton, subtidal invertebrates, seaweeds and echinoderms in the lab, got up close with deep sea organisms at the ARC, and completed behaviour experiments with sea stars, urchins, blood stars, sunstars and barnacles.  It has been a great week of marine biology and history.

Also, we really enjoyed their thank you song!

In the lab observing the animals collected during the boat trip.

This waved whelk was putting on a show!

Exploring the intertidal zone.

Fun at the aquarium touch tank.

Studying the anatomy of sea stars and urchins.

An urchin through the microscope.

Investigating the diversity of seaweeds and marsh plants.

Cleaning up marine debris from Pottery Creek.

The collection included a comforter, a mini disco ball, a tire and a syringe.

The top ten items collected.

On the hunt for the invasive green crab.

Data is gathered on the crabs gender and size before they are marked and released.

Does the size an echinoderm determine how quickly it can flip right side up?

Testing the strength of tube feet.

Touring Van Horne's summer cottage.

Covenhoven has 17 bedrooms and 11 fireplaces.

The beautiful bath house along the shore.

Van Horne had an extensive farm operation that sent food by rail to him in Montreal during the winter months.

Touring the Huntsman's research museum, the ARC.

A cool crab from the deep sea.

The tour finished up with the chance to kiss a shark!

How does temperature effect the feeding rate of barnacles?

Glenview Senior Public School 2016

It has been a fun and exciting week hosting forty Grade 8 students that travelled to St. Andrews from Glenview Senior Public School in Toronto. We have introduced the students to a number of different marine habitats and a great diversity of animals from the bay, as well as a bit of history and art.  For many I am sure they will say the highlight was seeing Slice the minke whale while on a wildlife watching trip with Quoddy Link Marine. One of the first whale sightings of the season. Below are some pictures from our adventures this week.

Studying plankton, the base of the marine food chain.

Through the microscopes the students found worms, copepods and lots of phytoplankton.

Touring the Huntsman Fundy Discovery Aquarium.

Gathering specimens from the bay while aboard the research vessel.

Plankton samples.

Sample of invertebrates collected from the bottom of the bay.

Exploring the intertidal zone while the tide is out.

Excited to find sea stars!

Identifying and observing their specimens in the lab.

Including this lovely little shrimp. 

On the hunt for the invasive green crab. 

Data is collected on the crab's size and gender.

Collecting marine debris from Pagan Point.

Seventy-eight lobster bands collected from the shore.

Armed with buckets and shovels the students searched the beach for marine worms.

A blood worm that has four jaws on the end of an extendable proboscis.

Excitedly watching the blood worm shoot out its proboscis.

The students found masses of squid eggs on the beach.

Touring Ministers Island, the historic summer estate of Sir William Van Horne.

The beautiful bath house built of sandstone.

The grand summer cottage, Covenhoven.

For more pictures of our adventures check out the Huntsman Education Department twitter account.