Students' comments from collecting trips:
ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!!! There is no place more interesting, academic and wonderful.
I would like to intern whenever I can, and will talk to, and write to whoever I need to contact
for that.
Going in, I didn't know how I would do but the course was very interesting and the field trips, especially the dredging trip, helped bring what we were learning to life.
I loved the whole thing because I learned at every new corner of Woods Hole we got to see.
It gave me the experiences that I have never had before.
I have never seen a clam move, and it was a really interesting seeing all the species interacting in a way I have never seen.
AMAZING! WE NEED MORE OCEANOGRAPHERS.
This was the best day of my whole life!!
The amount of knowledge that was thrown at us was incredible! It was great!
The enthusiasm was also incredible.
There must be no better place to be.
I was unaware how marine biology research impacts fields outside of biology.
Its amazing how these studies apply to human behavior, and also medicine.
It was a great place for students to learn how exciting biology can be. It was very evident the facility was geared towards education and outreach.
I loved it.
It seemed like a great place I would like to be part of someday.
We can see science if we only open our eyes.
From a Professor at Stonehill College:
...this was the most interesting to students who have usually been to beaches before but have
no inkling as to the community below the low water mark. A huge bonus for some was the
opportunity to collect enough spider crabs, sea urchins, sea stars, and broad-clawed hermit
crabs for six different individual course projects.
From a Teacher at Newton North H.S.
It was our best ever field trip. Can we do this again next year?
From a Falmouth High School teacher
Thank YOU for a fanastic trip and eventful day. The students and I had a great time and learned alot about local science and sea creatures. Amy was a great resource and helped to teach the students some essential lessons about the animals on the spot. Again, thank you for a memorable, educational and fun experience for our students.
The Trip:
Classes will go on a two hour sampling trip on the 36 foot collecting
research vessel R/V Freedom to Vineyard Sound. Our program is
designed to include hands-on activities modeled from actual research
operations conducted at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
(WHOI) and NOAA's Northeast Fisheries Center in Woods Hole.
Marine Biological Activities:
Each cruise will travel two miles offshore to a site where marine
organisms are known to be abundant and richly diverse. Students will
participate in the deployment and retrieval of a naturalist dredge to
collect benthic specimens such as sea urchins, star fish, varieties of
crabs and sponges, and other assorted worms, mollusks, crustaceans
and echinoderms. An on-board naturalist assists in the identification of
the organisms, and will provide an overview of the natural history of each.
In addition, the naturalist will describe how the organisms have been
used in medical research at the institutions in Woods Hole. The
students will also deploy a plankton net to collect zooplankton,
copepods and larval stages of other organisms. The plankton samples
can be taken back to the classroom for further study, allowing students
to post their observations on our website. Students will also haul a
lobster pot to get a sense of how a local commercial fishery operates
.
Oceanographic Activities:
Students will help deploy a sub-surface oceanographic mooring equipped
with a temperature and depth data logger. We will recover it using an
acoustic link and download the data. This data can be taken back to
school, reviewed, and posted on our website. Students may also collect
water samples using a Niskin bottle and measure parameters with a
YSI Sonde. As we introduce students to instrumentation developed at
local oceanographic companies, they will pilot a small ROV dockside
and see how technology plays a role in oceanographic research. Other
activities include lowering a secchi disk at several locations, and using
a chart and GPS to track the vessel’s position.
Tours:
A behind-the-scenes tour of NOAA's
Aquarium is included in every sampling trip. Additional stops can be
arranged to visit the WHOI Exhibit Center or WHOI dock. We also can
take a guided salt marsh tour, where we discuss the habitat,
adaptations by the plants and animals, and the important role of
estuaries.
Activities Based on WHOI research projects:
Through our collaborative agreement with WHOI, we present
focused synopses of several research projects currently being
conducted at the labs. We model our data collection activities directly
from this research, often replicating the techniques used by the
scientists. In our discussion of the questions, results and relevance of
the research, we cover topics such as food webs, ocean circulation,
ocean acidification and climate change.All of our programs are designed
to include collection of data that classes can take back to the classroom,
review, and post to our website.
Fast Facts
Marine Biology Field Activities:
Benthic dredge and plankton tow
Haul a lobster pot
Oceanographic Field Activities:
Oceanographic mooring deployment and recovery
Operate a mini ROV
Secchi disk deployment
Water sample collection using Niskin bottle
YSI Sonde deployment
Plot station position using GPS and chart
Coastal Zone Activities:
Estuary exploration
Core sampling
Seine Netting
Coastal zone discussion
Capacity:
The R/V Freedom can accomodate 22 passengers, Larger classes can
be split into two groups.
Schedule:
Monday through Friday, weather permitting. We typically depart by 10 am.
Please contact us regarding Saturday trips.
