Fish use estuaries for breeding and as safe nursery areas. Students will use seine nets to collect nearshore organisms along sandy or gravel beaches. They will study diversity and abundance, as well as size related to age of marine organisms. Students will also use field chemistry kits to collect data on water temperature, density, salinity, dissolved oxygen, CO2 and pH.

To prepare for this trip: Students will have the opportunity to wade into the water to use the seine nets. Students should wear shoes that can get wet if the weather is warm.  Old sneakers, Crocs, Keens or other water shoes work well.  No flip flops please. Students may want to bring a pair of dry shoes to change into after the trip.  If the weather is cool, Project Oceanology will  provide  a few pairs of waders or boots for students to borrow. Students should be prepared to change from their shoes into the waders during the activity.

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).