Spring 2015
B AY LINES
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Camp Navigator Get Ready to Explore
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Volunteering Takes the Helm Nooks and Plankton Ocean Day Beach Clean Up featured on page 10
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Creature Feature Spinner Shark
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Following the Brownlee Return to the Delta
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Thank You! Sponsors and Donors Find Upcoming Events, and After School Programs on pages 2 and 3 !
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Heading home to Redwood City
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BAYLINES MSI Event Line-Up Afternoon Ecology Afternoon Ecology is an after-school program designed to enrich your child's science education in a collaborative small-group setting with hands-on activities and animal interactions. Afternoon Ecology is a wonderful way to learn about local marine habitats through scientific discovery.
To learn more about this program email Carlie@sfbaymsi.org
Our Spring Session (April 6-May 11) is a series of six classes. During these sessions, students use real scientific equipment to catch, study and care for animals. Each week, they record data and practice different aspects of marine science. Students will gain confidence in using tools, asking scientific questions and working within a group. Registration for Afternoon Ecology opens on March 2, and is limited to a small group of 8-15 students.
EVENT
L O C A TI O N
DATE
Redwood City EcoVoyages**
Marine Science Institute
Saturday, March 7 1-3pm and 3-5pm
Shark Day
Marine Science Institute
Saturday, March 21 10:00am-12:00pm
Elephant Seal Walk
Año Nuevo, SMC
Saturday, March 28 10:00am-1:00pm
Summer Camp Fair
Serramonte Center
Sunday, March 29 1:00pm-4:00pm
Canoes and Sloughs**
Marine Science Institute
Saturday, April 4 9:00am-2:00pm
Low Tide Walk and Seal Rookery
Bean Hollow, Pescadero
Saturday, April 11 9:30am-11:30am
Marine Science Institute
Saturday, April 18 10:00am-5:00pm
CSU Monterey Bay
Saturday, April 25 9:00am-3:30pm
Marine Mammal Center
Marin Headlands, Sausalito
Saturday, May 2 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Low Tide Walk
Pillar Point, HMB
Saturday, May 9 9:00am-11:30am
Pescadero
Saturday, May 30 10:00am-12:30pm
Free Family Event
Earth Day on the Bay
check website for day of attractions Free Event
Sanctuary Currents Symposium Citizen Science Opportunities
Private Tour
Lunch in a Tree
Marsh Excursion
SIG N UP AT W W W. SF BAYM SI.O RG
advanced registra-on required, **par-cipants must be 5 yo+, must wear close toed shoes
www.sfbaymsi.org
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BAYLINES Camp Navigator What to Expect? Get ready to explore By Felicia Van Stolk Marine Science Camp As summer approaches, we’re getting ready Line Up for another season of science, discovery and excitement. Marine Science Camp offers a All camps run Mon – Fri magical opportunity for young biologists to starting on the dates below. explore science in the field, interact with live animals and get their hands wet as they are Plankton Pioneer immersed in a fun outdoor learning grade: K – 1 environment. Learning outdoors is hard and June 15, June 29, July 13, rewarding work, and campers go home each August 3, August 10 Ocean Explorer grade: 2 – 5 June 15, June 22, June 29, July 6, July 13, July 20, July 27, August 3, August 10 Bay Explorer grade: 2 – 5 June 15, June 22, June 29, July 6, July 13, July 20, July 27 Naturalist
(returning campers only)
grade: 4 – 5 July 20, August 3, August 10
Underwater Investigator grade: 6 – 8 June 22, July 6, July 27 Project Discovery grade: 9 – 12 July 20 !
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Plankton Pioneers are always ready for the paparazzi
day having exercised both their minds and bodies with interactive science-focused activities. What adventures await your camper? What lessons? What fun? When you pull up in the morning, don’t be surprised to be greeted by an instructor in costume, with music blasting to get everyone excited for the day. When you pick up your camper in the afternoon, you’ll see the same costumes and faces smeared with smiles, mud, and possibly fish scales! During the time in between, campers will enjoy diving into different areas of marine science, habitats and animals. Interspersed with educational games, songs, stories and crafts, campers will learn about the natural world. They will use scientific equipment to make discoveries and observations. Days spent at our shoreside facility may include explorations in our teaching aquarium, science center or touch tanks. They’ll spend time outdoors, searching for creatures
BAYLINES Camp Navigator Marine Camp Scholarships
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Hooray for mud (and scholarships)
A truly amazing observation
under the docks and in the mud during low tide. On field trips, including one day aboard our 90-foot research vessel, campers will head out into nature to learn how scientists study in the field. At the beach or in the marsh, they will learn to observe their surroundings and find life all around them. Nothing excites the MSI staff more than to see campers arrive prepared for adventure. Well-prepared campers come ready to get dirty and wet (with closed-toed shoes!), and have thought-provoking questions to stump our staff of marine scientists. They bring trashfree lunches and reusable water bottles. Most of all, our campers arrive curious and eager to learn. They’ll leave with new excitement about science and as stewards of the environment.
Our Summer Camp Scholarship Fund provides opportunities for children from families with demonstrated financial need to enjoy the fun, learning and benefits of summer camp. This fund is supported entirely by the charitable donations of our community. We have been touched by the generosity of families, individuals and even other children who have raised funds and contributed. By giving to this fund, local families are investing in the future of young scientists. Please consider supporting this fund today.
For a limited time only, donations to this fund will be matched!
CLICK HERE to make a contribution
Visit our Scholarship page to learn more and to apply for a scholarship. www.sfbaymsi.org
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BAYLINES Volunteering Takes the Helm Winter Internship - Nooks and Plankton By Nina Blois
During the two weeks I was visiting California from Texas, I designed and painted the Open Sea mural for MSI. It is now being used as the Plankton Lab. I was very excited when I initially heard about the project, but when I actually saw the blank nook I was supposed to paint (which is about 8' tall and 16' wide), I was, to be honest, a bit intimidated.
The first step, of course, was research and sketching. I decided to loosely base the mural on the Open Sea exhibit at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. For me, it is so beautiful and awe inspiring, and I wanted my mural to convey that feeling of wonder. Planning was hard. I wanted to fit in every ocean creature that exists, but in the end, I had to narrow it down to a few favorites. The next step was actually painting. I had never completed a project so large prior to this, and although it may seem obvious, I was still surprised at how long it took. One day I spent nearly 8 hours painting! There were many other challenges I faced while painting. Did I want the animals to be perfectly to scale? How exactly would light look in the open ocean? Figuring out each problem and progressing further really boosted my confidence. It was so exciting to be a part of this amazing experience, from the first sketch to the last brushstroke. It taught me about patience, confidence, and how to plan and have a good work ethic. Everyone at MSI was so supportive, helpful and welcoming, and made my time there so much fun. Overall, it was an incredible experience that I will never forget. Murals are being created to stylize the nooks that groups use during Marine Science Camp. If you are interested in painting our next mural(s) contact us at volunteer@sfbaymsi.org 6
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BAYLINES Creature Feature ~ Spinner Shark, Carcharhinus brevipinna You may have heard of Spinner Dolphins, but have you heard of Spinner Sharks? The Spinner Shark, Carcharhinus brevipinna, was named for its short fins, but earned its common name from the way it moves while feeding. This species of shark is fast, spinning through the water and schools of fish, attacking in all directions. These sharks have even been spotted spinning out of the water to catch their prey. In the U.S., the Spinner Shark swims in schools off the Florida and Louisiana coasts, migrating closer to shore to feed and reproduce during the spring and summer. Spinner Sharks are viviparous (embryos live off a yolk sac placenta in the mother and are born alive) and birth their pups in higher salinity estuaries. Mother Spinner Sharks have 3-15 pups, which grow approximately six inches within the first six months. The Spinner Shark has been designated “Near Threatened” by The World Conservation Union. Similar in shape and size to blacktip sharks, Spinner Sharks are often misidentified as blacktip sharks in the fishing industry. There are currently no conservation efforts for Spinner Sharks. Follow our Creature Feature, published weekly on our Blog at sfmsi.wordpress.com.
Photography Credits: Valerie Taylor http://www.arkive.org/spinnershark/carcharhinus-brevipinna/
Mark Mohlmann http:// australianmuseum.net.au/ image/spinner-sharkcarcharhinus-brevipinna Marty Snyderman http://www.sharks.org/species/ spinner-shark Unknown http://flylifemagazine.com/ feature-spinner-sharks-fliesand-a-little-history-of-shark-ona-fly/
By Hayley Usedom www.sfbaymsi.org
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BAYLINES Following the Brownlee ~ Return to the Delta Lodi students experience a day of discovery in the San Joaquin Delta. By Kyla Cathey/News-Sentinal Staff Writer The net splashes down into the water. A dozen fifth graders from Heritage Elementary School peer carefully over the stern of the Robert G. Brownlee, watching as the net drags out behind the boat.
The Brownlee at Antioch Marina
Thanks to the contributors that made these programs possible
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Delta Discovery Voyages take place every January and February
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As the boat chugs in lazy circles in Broad Slough, the Students at the benthic and ichthyology station instructor talks about the “Ho!” fish they might catch. The Slowly, the distance between the students fidget while they listen, boat’s stern and the net trailing waiting for the signal to haul the behind it shrinks, and the net back in. students’ anticipation rises. The sun is shining on the Delta, What treasure would they haul and the day is surprisingly warm up from under the water? for January. Reeds along the shoreline wave gently in the cool, A visit with Sandhill cranes slightly salty breeze, and in the At 7 a.m. that cold, foggy Monday distance, windmills slowly spin. morning, a few children waited The fog has cleared away for around the flagpole at Lodi High now. School, blinking the sleep from A few minutes later, the their eyes. instructor gives the signal and But as more students gathered, the kids hurry — not running — the silence gave way to excited to grab the ropes, ready to see chatter. what they’ve caught. The students — members of the “Are you ready?” the instructor Earthkeepers programs at asks. Heritage Elementary and Lodi The children cheer. Middle schools, and Storm Drain Detectives from Lodi High School “When I say, ‘Heave,’ you say, were sacrificing a school holiday ‘Ho!’” she says. “Heave!” and the chance to sleep in for a “Ho!” the students yell, laughing Delta adventure. and hauling on the ropes. “Heave!”
BAYLINES Following the Brownlee ~ Return to the Delta Kind Words from Extraordinary Teachers
Students piled aboard the charter bus, giggling voices getting louder, until they were hushed by teacher chaperones and Kathy Grant, the city of Lodi’s watershed education coordinator. “Is everyone awake?” Grant asked. “No!” the kids yelled.
“This was a great, and valuable field trip! Instructors were great!” ~ Al Garcia, Vista Grande “Fabulous Day! Outstanding, amazing instructors! Efficient, patient, enthusiastic, great role models. 100% focus on student learning!” ~ Steve Slater, Wren Avenue Students always smile when joining the mud club
And then they were on their way to their first stop: The Isenberg Crane Reserve. The trip out to the SacramentoSan Joaquin River Delta had a lofty goal: Teaching students about where Lodi’s water comes from, where it goes, who uses it,
and how the people who use it affect the local environment and wildlife. Grant offered an example: As area farmers began building levees to take advantage of the Delta’s rich soil, the wetlands began draining away. Since Sandhill cranes rely on standing water for protection when they sleep, they began disappearing from California. By the 1940s, she said, there were only five or six breeding pairs left in the state. After local and state agencies worked with the farmers to flood fallowed fields, along with other land management programs, the cranes began returning. About 2,500 birds winter in the state now, Grant said.
Students use pictoral keys to identify the fish they caught
“All around amazing program and instructors! This is a favorite field trip year after year! Thank you for making learning so fun! ~ Kim Dobrzensky, Carmen Dragon “This trip never fails to amaze me and engage the children. This is such an important message!!” ~ Jeanette Shearer, Valhalla Elementary
Students looking at plankton.
Read the entire article and view more pictures at Lodi News
A very special thank you to Kyla Cathey and the people at Lodi News for bringing the adventure, learning, and discovery of Heritage Elementary, Lodi Middle schools, and Lodi High School students to life in print. Your article following the Delta Discovery Voyage on January 19, 2015 was inspiring and truly conveyed the spirit of exploration and stewardship.
Rinsing down benthic samples to look for more life
www.sfbaymsi.org
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BAYLINES Special Events
The Marine Science Institute is excited to take part in the 22nd annual Kids Ocean Day Adopt-A-Beach Clean-Up. This cleanup unites students along California’s coast, from Humboldt County to San Diego, in a project that is relevant, interactive and empowering. Over the next few months, MSI’s instructors will visit schools in San Francisco and Marin to teach students, through engaging assemblies and classroom visits, about their important role in keeping our water clean and healthy. Students will see how every neighborhood is connected to the ocean and how communities near and far are connected through the watershed. Everyone can impact the marine environment and make a positive change, and participants in Adopt-A-Beach will be empowered to do so right here in the Bay Area. On May 8, more than 500 students will To learn more about this program visit OCEANDAY.NET converge on Ocean Beach in San Francisco to participate in a huge beach clean-up. This fun field trip will not only bolster the lessons learned at school, but will also motivate students to put these lessons into action by taking part in this statewide, hands-on project. As a final celebration of the students’ achievement, a photograph will be taken by helicopter of the students on the beach as they form the image of a leopard shark and the words ”Unite for the Sea.”
Food and drinks for our invaluable volunteers are being generously donated by Whole Foods Market ® 10
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BAYLINES Thank You to Our Donors MSI is a non-proďŹ t education organization that relies on the generous donations of individuals, foundations, corporations, and government agencies to ensure that program costs remain within reach for schools. We thank the donors listed in part below who have made it possible for us to serve 55,000 students of all ages for the past 12 months. We salute these generous supporters’ commitment to high-quality science education and cultivation of environmental stewardship. If you would like to learn how you or your company can support MSI programs, please contact Janeen Tuitupou, Development Director, at 650-364-2760 x14 or Janeen@sfbaymsi.org. $50,000 and Above Moore Family Foundation National Fish and Wildlife Foundation The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
$5,000 - $9,999 Atkinson Foundation Cargill* Jim and Jaynemarie Crawford Danford Foundation
$25,000 - $49,999 Central Contra Costa Sanitary District Contra Costa Water District Genentech Foundation National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminsitration (NOAA) Oracle Sand Hill Foundation
The Dirk and Charlene Kabcenell Foundation Kohl's Matson Navigation Company Mt. View Sanitary District Peninsula Aquatic Center Scandling Family Foundation** Turner Designs
$10,000 - $24,999 Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation Delta Diablo Sanitation District Furnessville Foundation
$500 - $4,499 Anonymous ChildCare Careers
Heising-Simons Foundation Homestead Foundation Rossi Family Foundation Science by Nature Collaborative Silicon Valley Clean Water
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Chung The Cooley-Wetzel Family The Cottonaro Family Doering Family Foundation The East Creek Fund Mr. and Mrs. Chris Espinosa Household Expansion Capital Group Facebook Local Community Fund Ms. Vicki Friedberg The Gilbert Family Google
$500 - $4,499 continued Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jones Jason Jones Kilohana Outrigger Club Lakas Parrenas Shimizu Philanthrophy Fund Lyngso Garden Materials Denise Malmquist-Little and Dave Little Jennifer Martin Julian Osinski Patagonia The Patterson Family Port of Redwood City Provident Credit Union The Repass-Rodgers Family Foundation The Robert Brownlee Foundation James and Susan Roberts Ronald C. Wornik Jewish Day School San Mateo County Harbor District Sequoias Portola Valley SIMS Metal Management Solano County Water Agency Charles Spirakis The Strober Family The Surfer's Journal Chris Throm Janeen and David Tuitupou Velvet Voelz Whole Foods Market support * Multi-year An Advised of Silicon Valley ** Community Fund Foundation
We strive to make this list as accurate as possible. If we have omitted anyone by mistake, we sincerely apologize and ask you to contact Janeen@sfbaymsi.org so that we can correct this oversight immediately. www.sfbaymsi.org
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B AY L I NE S 2015 Spring Edi7on
MSI’s Mission Statement The Ins-tute's mission is to cul-vate a responsibility for the natural environment and our human communi-es through interdisciplinary science educa-on. We achieve this goal through innova-ve marine science educa-on programs that: • Place students of all ages in direct contact with the natural environment • Emphasize the interdependence of all living things, their connec-on to the physical environment, and the special responsibili-es of humans to the environment • Facilitate ac-ve learning through the use of observa-on, cri-cal thinking, and problem solving skills in a coopera-ve seHng • Ins-ll confidence, encourage involvement, and inspire accomplishment by providing posi-ve role models.
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500 Discovery Parkway •Redwood City •CA 94063 •650-364-2760 •sfbaymsi.org