Glenburnie School 2017

It's always a fun week when the Grade 8 students from the Glenburnie School in Oakville, Ontario visit the Huntsman. The students are immersed in the life and culture of St. Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick; searching for creatures on the beach, working in the lab, touring the Huntsman Fundy Discovery Aquarium, hiking, collecting animals while aboard a research vessel, gathering data on an invasive crab, conducting a shoreline cleanup, and exploring the historic Ministers Island.

Below are some pictures from the week.

Exploring the intertidal zone.

We found lots of little sea stars.

Heading out on Passamaquoddy Bay aboard the research vessel, the Fundy Spray.

Collecting plankton to study in the lab.

Conducting a benthic drag to explore the diversity of life at the bottom of the bay.

scallops

rock crab

purple sunstar

hermit crab

Viewing plankton in the lab.

Gathering data on the invasive green crab.

Some of the females had eggs.

Measured and marked.

We even found some clams.

Beautiful day for a cruise on the Bay of Fundy.

The Head Harbour Lighthouse on Campobello Island.

Hiking up Chamcook Mountain.

Enjoying the view.

Collecting marine debris on the shoreline.

Sculptures with the debris before it is disposed of properly.

Walking across the ocean floor to Ministers Island.

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

Inside the foyer.

Heading to the barn.

Science Odyssey 2017

The Huntsman is proud to be a part of Science Odyssey, a ten-day national celebration of Canadian science, technology, engineering and math, taking place May 12-21. 

As part of this celebration the Huntsman Education Department invited students from local high schools to participate in hands-on marine biology activities aboard the research vessel, on the shore and in the lab.

Join us on our Science Odyssey! 

On the hunt for the invasive green crab.

Data is gathered on the size and gender of the collected crabs.

Crabs are marked.

We even found a female green crab carrying eggs.

Studying the anatomy of a live sea urchin (madreporite, tube feet, pedicellariae).

One of the seastars obliged and showed us its stomach.

While aboard the research vessel we conducted benthic drags to see the diversity of animals that live at the bottom of the bay.

We found a scallop!

waved whelk eggs

rock crab

sea urchins of many sizes

sea cucumber

blood star with a mutation

sponge

brittle star

Plankton was collected from the surface to study in the lab.

Students used equipment such as a salinometer and secchi disk (pictured) to gain a better understanding of the marine environment.

Using the microscopes to study the diversity of the collected plankton.

Some of the zooplankton collected: polychaete (worm), medusa and copepods.

Students received a certificate.

Students also received a Huntsman reusable water bottle. 

Summer Day Programs - 2017

Do you have a budding marine biologist at home? Check out a list of fun and educational day programs offered at the Huntsman Fundy Discovery Aquarium this summer.

1) Young Explorer Days
Open to ages 5-11.
Every Wednesday this summer, starting July 12.

2) Marine Biology Week
Open to ages 5-11.
Monday, July 31 to Friday, August 4

3) Advanced Explorer Days - NEW
Open to ages 11-15.
Every Thursday in August.

4) Marine Debris into Art
Open to ages 5-11.
Two options: July 17 or August 21
In partnership with Sunbury Shores Arts & Nature Centre.

For all programs pack a lunch, drink and snack and don’t forget to bring rubber boots, jacket, sunscreen and clothing to get wet and dirty! 

More information about all of our courses can be found by following the links to our website, calling (506) 529-1200 or emailing huntsman@huntsmanmarine.ca.

Essex Technical High School 2017

This week Juniors studying Environmental Technology at Essex Technical High School in Massachusetts stayed with us on campus to have a full immersion in marine biology. Below are some pictures from their time in New Brunswick.

Exploring the intertidal zone at Indian Point.

Observing the live animals collected from the shore.

Identifying animals collected using the benthic drag aboard the boat.

We found lots of urchins.

We got to pull a lobster trap.

There are a couple of big lobsters inside.

Experiencing the tide.

Wow! A very large purple sunstar and common sea star the students collected while on the boat.

Studying the live plankton collected from the bay.

Early morning search for marine worms and other animals that live in the sediments.

The students found many species including this milky ribbon worm.

On the hunt for the invasive green crab.

Collecting data on their size and gender.

Behaviour experiment in the lab to determine the effect of temperature on the feeding rate of barnacles.

Hike through the bog at New River Beach provincial park.

Carnivorous pitcher plant.

The views along the hike were amazing.

The students picked up some marine debris along the way.

Studying echinoderm anatomy and behaviour in the lab.