Carried by waves, currents, and wind, beach sands are in constant motion. Students will hike about a mile to the end of Bluff Point Coastal Reserve in Groton to the barrier beach. Students will measure elevation, percent cover of vegetation, and sediment type and layering along a transect running across the barrier beach from the Sound to a protected salt pond. Out on the bluff while looking at the spectacular view across Long Island and Fishers Island Sounds, students will learn about the glacial history of Long Island Sound, local island formation, and deposition and erosion dynamics.

To prepare for this trip: Students will walk about 1 mile down a  dirt path to reach the barrier beach.  It takes about 30 minutes to walk  the mile.  After completing the study students will have to walk a mile back to the parking lot.  Comfortable walking shoes are suggested.

Bluff Point State Park is entirely outdoors- there is no gazebo or covered area. There are picnic tables available for meal times before or after the program. The park is a carry in-carry out space, there are no trash cans on site.  There are restrooms available at the picnic area closest to the parking lot. A note for buses: if using a charter bus, there is a bridge at the entry of the park that is too low  to allow the charter bus to pass through (school buses do fit under this bridge). Charter buses can  make a drop off before the bridge and participants can walk to the picnic areas (about a 5 minute walk).