What a difference this winter has been from last winter so far. Although we’ve had some cold temperatures, shorts and t-shirts have been the norm several days during December and January. People are still walking the beach barefooted, kayaking or paddle-boarding, or sleeping with open windows. However, I’m sure the cold air will be here before too long.

Speaking of warmth and beaches, I spent the holidays exploring Costa Rica. Here are some of my photos from our adventures down south.

These white-faced capuchins at Manuel Antonio came out to see us.

A bare-throated tiger heron along the Rio Sierpe, Costa Rica.

We enjoyed a colorful sunset over the Pacific on New Year’s Eve 2011.

Kent and I enjoyed the surf at Playa Dominicalito.

I hope you’re geared up for an eventful winter. This is the time of year to be planning your summers. Many professional-development opportunities have early application deadlines, so keep an eye out for something to do. Try to take advantage of these wonderful conferences, workshops and more. Keep reading for unique events and ideas for educators. There is a lot going on in North Carolina and beyond!

Coastwatch Offer
www.nccoastwatch.org

Coastwatch, North Carolina Sea Grant’s magazine, has a special deal for educators. Until June 30, buy one subscription and get another free for $10. Use the code “2012 Education.” Mail your checks to Coastwatch, North Carolina Sea Grant, NC State University, Box 8605, Raleigh, NC 27695-8605. For more information, call 919/515-9101 or e-mail sandra_harris@ncsu.edu.

In Praise of the Scotch Bonnet

Tina Clark, North Carolina Sea Grant’s fall semester intern, is a poet. While she was with us, Tina shared her talents by writing two poems for Coastwatch. Tina graduated in December and we wish her the best of luck. Here’s one from the Winter 2012 issue.

Song of the Scotch Bonnet

We find you coiled on yourself,
A clef note left in the sand,
We find you abandoned, an empty case
Which once held chords and organs,
The melody of a hidden life.

Years ago, you composed
Your movements to the rhythm
Of the earth’s fleshy core,
The pulse felt deep beneath the seafloor.

We press your hollow chambers
To our ears, and still hear each note rise
And fall, a body of music
A chorus of lost voices.

Environmental Educators Honored

The North American Association for Environmental Education not only brought its annual meeting to Raleigh, it also offered honors to educators with North Carolina ties.

Sheila Jones of the Wake County Water and Soil Conservation District received the NAAEE 2011 national award for Outstanding Service to Environmental Education by a K-12 Educator. Jones also received a 2011 Outstanding Practitioner Award from the Environmental Educators of North Carolina.

Rosanne Fortner was presented NAAEE’s highest honor, the Walter E. Jeske Award. She was cited for three decades of environmental education at Ohio Sea Grant, NAAEE, The Journal of Environmental Education, the Centers for Ocean Science Education Excellence and the National Marine Education Association. Fortner now lives at the North Carolina coast.

Elizabeth Burke received the award for Outstanding Service to Environmental Education by an Individual at the Regional Level. Burke now lives in Virginia, but has remained active in EENC.

Several other state awards were presented by EENC at its fall meeting. They include:

• 2011 Environmental Educator of the Year: Lisa Rider, Onslow Solid Waste assistant director and county Big Sweep coordinator.
• 2011 Exceptional Environmental Education Program: Kathleen Clay Edwards Library in Greensboro, programs coordinated by Melanie Buckingham, environmental resource librarian.
• 2011 Outstanding Partner: North Carolina State Parks.
• 2011 Outstanding Practitioner: Tanya Poole, Pisgah Wildlife Center education specialist.

North Carolina Sea Grant was among the NAAEE conference sponsors. For more information on the organizations and awards, go to: www.naaee.org and www.eenc.org.

NC Office of Environmental Education Overhauls Website
www.eenorthcarolina.org

Take some time to explore the updated and expanded website for the N.C. Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs. Learn about the EE Certification program, discover professional development opportunities in your area and beyond, and explore the multitude of grants available for classroom teachers.

Blue Heron Bowl
www.ecu.edu/icsp/bhb2012/

East Carolina University’s Institute for Coastal Science and Policy and the Office of Continuing Studies are hosting the 2012 Blue Heron Bowl in Greenville on ECU’s campus. The event is scheduled for Saturday, March 3.

Ten schools will be at the bowl this year, each represented by five students and a coach. The winning team will go to Baltimore, Md., to compete at the national level in April. Second- and third-place teams will win prizes. The team demonstrating the most sportsmanlike attitude also receives a special award.

The Blue Heron Bowl is North Carolina’s regional competition for the National Ocean Sciences Bowl. The national academic competition for high schools is coordinated by the Consortium for Ocean Leadership.

More information is available at www.ecu.edu/icsp/bhb2012/, including volunteer and sponsorship information.

2012 National Marine Educators Association Conference
www.pacname.org/conf.shtml

Join the National Marine Educators Association for their conference in Alaska, titled North to Alaska’s Seas: A Confluence of Science and Culture. This annual event is scheduled for June 24 to 28 in Anchorage, which is also known as “Tikatnu” or the “big ocean river,” place of the Dena’ina Athabascan Indians on Cook Inlet.

Held at the University of Alaska, the meeting will be hosted by the Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators and the Alaska Center for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence.

Early registration ends April 14. Regular registration will be available starting April 15.

Earth Day Celebrations along the Coast

Earth Day is on April 22 this year. Join Carteret and Dare counties for some planet celebrations.

Carteret County: Come celebrate Earth Day at the beach and party for the planet! The third annual Crystal Coast Earth Day Festival will take place in Atlantic Beach on Saturday, April 14. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., you can meet environmental educators from dozens of environmentally focused organizations, learn about local conservation efforts, and enjoy hands-on activities and games. Enjoy art by area artists and live music, too. All activities are at the Coastal Education and Visitor Center at Fort Macon State Park. For additional information, contact Sarah Phillips, N.C. Coastal Federation, at sarahp@nccoast.org.

Dare County: Everyone is invited to enjoy Earth Day at Jennette’s Pier, Nags Head, on Sunday, April 22 from 1 to 4 p.m. Activity and information booths will be staffed by various educational and environmental organizations, including the N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island, North Carolina Sea Grant, Jockey’s Ridge State Park, N.C. Coastal Federation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and others. Fun for all ages is guaranteed. There is no rain date, so this event will happen, rain or shine. Come on out and celebrate the Earth! For additional information, contact Lydia Courtright, Jennette’s Pier, at Lydia.Courtright@ncaquariums.com.

Registration Open for 2012 Sustainable Forestry Teachers’ Academies
www.ncsu.edu/sfta

If you are looking for a summer professional-development opportunity that will take you into forests and mills, provide hands-on experiences with technologies used in the forest industry, and provide fun networking opportunities with teachers statewide, then the Sustainable Forestry Teachers’ Academy is what you have been waiting for.

This summer, the Coastal Academy, based in New Bern, will be held on June 25 to 29. The Mountain Academy, located in Asheville, is scheduled for July 23 to 27.

The Academy is a four-day, residential program that focuses on the social, economic and environmental aspects of sustainable forestry. Teachers will visit forests and mills to learn about natural resource management and how various wood products — such as paper, furniture, plywood and lumber — are manufactured. They will participate in tours and hikes in forests under a variety of ownership and management plans. Trips to museums, state forests, experimental forests and environmental learning centers round out the experience.

Participants should expect a fast-paced week, with extended moderate walking, great food, networking and lots of fun. In addition, extensive materials and discussions prepare the teachers to transfer what they have learned to the classroom.

Meals, lodging and transportation during the Academy are provided. However, participants are required to submit a $100 deposit, which will be returned upon arrival. Continuing education unit renewal credits will be awarded (20 to 25 contact hours).

Visit www.ncsu.edu/sfta to read about the Academy and apply. Applications are due by April 6.

Multiple teachers from the same school, and teachers of all disciplines and grades, are encouraged to apply. This opportunity is available only for teachers associated with a school district within North Carolina. Non-formal educators do not qualify. Questions? Contact Renee Strnad at 919/515-5518 or renee_strnad@ncsu.edu.

Curriculum/Activity Guides Still Available

The Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence SouthEast’s The Educator’s Guide to Marine Debris: Southeast and Gulf of Mexico is a regional introduction to three main categories of marine debris: litter, derelict or abandoned boats, and lost or abandoned commercial and recreational fishing gear. To download this publication, go to www.cosee-se.org/ForEducators/ and follow the link for Human Impacts and Stewardship, and then select the link for the PDF. The guide also is available in hard copy, while supplies last.

N.C. Big Sweep’s publication, Undercurrents: A Big Sweep Middle School Teacher’s Guide, includes litter-awareness lessons that are correlated with state learning objectives for 8th grade science and math, as well as for healthful living, language arts and information skills. Undercurrents is available free to North Carolina educators while supplies last. Big Sweep celebrated its 25th cleanup last October. See the article in the Autumn 2011 issue of Coastwatch at www.nccoastwatch.org.

The Coastal Processes and Conflicts curriculum includes extensive background information for teachers, as well as student lessons that are relevant in any setting — not just the island environment. It is appropriate for middle- and high-school students. The curriculum can be downloaded free from www.ecu.edu/educ/csmte/coastal_processes.cfm. Or you can order a hard copy ($10 includes postage), which comes with a CD containing color copies of figures used in the student activities.

Each of these education resources is available from Terri Kirby Hathaway, North Carolina Sea Grant, terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu.

Need to Contact Me?

If you ever have information to share with other marine educators, please don’t hesitate to send it my way for inclusion in a future issue of the Scotch Bonnet. Let me know what you’re hearing from the sea!

Please share this website with others — and share my e-mail address with anyone who wants to receive a message when each Scotch Bonnet is available online! Thanks for all you do for students and for other educators!

My contact information is: North Carolina Sea Grant, PO Box 699, Manteo, NC 27954; phone: 252/475-3663; fax: 252/475-3545; e-mail: terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu.

Best Fishes!

Terri Kirby Hathaway
Marine Education Specialist
North Carolina Sea Grant
terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu

I’d like to share a book I’ve been enjoying this summer.

• Witherington, Blair and Dawn Witherington. 2011. Living Beaches of Georgia and the Carolinas: A Beachcomber’s Guide. Sarasota, FL: Pineapple Press, Inc. ISBN 978-1-56164-490-2

Blair and Dawn Witherington from Florida published Florida’s Living Beaches back in 2007. I purchased a copy immediately because many of the same flora and fauna occur in our coastal area. Recently, they have come out with a sequel that focuses on three states north of Florida.

I truly like the way the Witheringtons have organized the book. Chapters include Beach Animals, Beach Plants and Beach Minerals. My favorite chapter, Hand of Man, includes beach finds that humans have contributed to, including shipwrecks and artifacts, fishing discards, containers and packaging, beach heroes (drift toys), and sea glass.

Two more favorite parts are the page on mollusk bits and pieces that helps you identify the origin of shell parts and the page on “verte-bits” — bony pieces of vertebrates that occasionally wash up on the beach.

This book is a must-have for any beachcomber’s library!

This is another book I’ve recently purchased.

• Pilkey, Orrin H. and Keith C. Pilkey. 2011. Global Climate Change: A Primer. Durham, NC: Duke University Press. ISBN 978-0-8223-5109-2

This book is the basis for the current traveling exhibit at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh. Through Nov. 6, Our Expanding Oceans: The Blending of Art and Science features the beautiful batiks of Mary Edna Fraser and the thought-provoking words of Orrin Pilkey and his son Keith.

Both exhibit and book are great examples of what happens when you combine art and science to tell a story. Plan your trip before the exhibit ends in November.

I’ve also been busy writing this summer. Check out the Summer 2011 issue of Coastwatch for my article on eating our landscapes, titled “Wild Coastal Edibles: Stalking the Wild Sea Lettuce.” See it at ncseagrant.org/s/wild_edibles.

For more information about Coastwatch, or to subscribe, go to www.nccoastwatch.org.

Explore and enjoy this issue of the Scotch Bonnet. There are many professional development opportunities and family explorations for all of us. Try to take advantage of these wonderful conferences, workshops and more. Keep reading for unique opportunities and ideas for educators. There is a lot going on in the Tar Heel state and beyond!

Thanks to Windy Arey-Kent, Allison Besch, Linda Boyer, Mike Campbell, Lisa Lawrence and Carolyn Robinson for their contributions to this issue.

Mid-Atlantic Marine Education Association Conference
www.mamea.org/conf.html

The Mid-Atlantic Marine Education Association’s (MAMEA’s) annual conference will be held at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va., on Oct. 7–9. MAMEA is teaming up with the Virginia Environmental Educators to offer an outstanding weekend of field experiences and concurrent sessions on marine and environmental science education.

The conference will open with a presentation and book signing by famed scientific illustrator Val Kells who has just co-authored A Field Guide to Coastal Fishes: From Maine to Texas.

On Saturday, sessions will kick off with invited plenary speaker Dr. Tracey Sutton from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science who will share his work on the census of marine life.

Concurrent and poster sessions will round out the day, with the annual dinner and auction as the finale.

Pre- and post-conference field experiences — including a kayak trip, canoe trip, and visits to Colonial Williamsburg and The Watermen’s Museum — are available for those who can extend their stay.

For more information on the conference and to register, go to www.mamea.org/conf.html. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Bay-Watershed Education Training program are conference supporters. We hope to see you all there!

40th International Environmental Education Conference in Raleigh
www.naaee.net/conference

Don’t miss the 2011 40th Anniversary Conference of the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) in Raleigh on Oct. 11–16. Climate Change is one of six strands for study.

Regardless of your learning style or your audience, if you want to update your knowledge of climate change science, Raleigh is the place to be in October.

• Select from 55 sessions in the climate change strand that cover climate change education from pre-K through adult learners.
• Attend a very special update by one of Al Gore’s climate presenters about The Climate Reality Project, that was introduced worldwide on Sept. 14 and to us exactly one month later, on Oct. 14.
• Ask the experts at a panel discussion on Thursday, Oct. 13. Scientists from Canada, Mexico and the United States will share their experiences and information on “Climate Change, Oceans and Society.”
• Hear uplifting real solutions to this real problem. Presenters will explain how currently available alternative energy sources can be implemented all over the world and show how attendees can help to generate their communities’ energy needs.
• Enjoy Mary Edna Fraser’s wall-sized batiks that portray the impact of climate change on our coastlines. Only in the world of environmental education, where art and science are integrated, can something so treacherous be portrayed in such a stunning way. You will treasure this opportunity to learn against the backdrop of batik.

Go to www.naaee.net/sites/default/files/conference/NAAEE2011-ConfBrochure-H.pdf and download the conference brochure. Don’t miss this wonderful chance for professional development. Check the website for registration information.

The Environmental Educators of North Carolina (EENC) is hosting this event. Visit www.eenc.org to join EENC or for conference updates.

You may register for the Research Symposium, Field Experiences or Workshops without attending the full conference. Or you may register to attend only one day of the conference. But after learning about all that is offered, we know you won’t want to miss a thing! Share the fun with a friend by purchasing guest tickets to special events.

Joint South Carolina, Georgia Marine Educators’ Conference
www.scmarineed.org/conferences.htm

Registration is open for the 2011 joint South Carolina Marine Educators Association (SCMEA) and Georgia Association of Marine Education (GAME) Conference that will be held on beautiful Skidaway Island, Ga., from Oct. 21–23.

Join fellow educators and scientists for a weekend packed with fun and educational events designed to celebrate the shared shoreline. Some highlights of the agenda include: a sustainable seafood dinner, a plenary panel, concurrent sessions, field trips, and live and silent auctions. Deadline to register is Sept. 30.

Visit the SCMEA website at www.scmarineed.org/conferences.htm or the GAME website at www.gamarine-ed.org/events.htm to access the registration packet.

Questions? Contact Angela Bliss (GAME) at acbliss@uga.edu or EV Bell (SCMEA) at elizabeth.vernon@scseagrant.org.

Sea-Beans and Beachcombing: A One, Two Knockout Punch for Fall!
www.seabean.com/symposium/2011
www.beachcombingconference.com

Anyone emotionally or physically involved with the beach will want to learn more about — and possibly attend — these two events this fall.

The 16th annual Sea-Bean Symposium is set for Oct. 22–23 in Cocoa Beach, Fla. And yes, I’ll be there! You’ll find a detailed schedule at the event website. This year’s keynote speakers are Blair and Dawn Witherington, co-authors of Florida’s Living Beaches and the just-published Living Beaches of Georgia and the Carolinas. Their Saturday evening talk, titled “Georgia and the Carolinas, a Beachcombing Odyssey,” will focus on their new book.

Friday’s talks include:

• “The Context of Beachcombing” by Deacon Ritterbush, author of A Beachcomber’s Odyssey: Treasures from a Collected Past;
• “Wall Across the Atlantic” by Curtis Ebbesmeyer, author of Flotsametrics and the Floating World; and
• “Eyes of the Ocean: Glass Fishing Floats, Their History, Use, and Beauty” by Ann and Dan Sherwood.

Before the keynote address on Saturday evening, enjoy these talks:

• “I Think It’s a Jellyfish” by David McRee, author of Florida’s Beaches; and
• “Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know about Sea Glass” by Deacon Ritterbush.

Sarah Falkowski from Naples, Fla., with Kent and Terri Hathaway at the 2010 International Sea-Bean Symposium in Cocoa Beach, Fla.

White ibis feeding at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

The 2010 symposium offered the Bean-O-Matic spinning board for identifying sea-beans.

Catch up on all things sea-beans by reading The Drifting Seed, an online newsletter found at www.seabean.com/newsletters/.

The 3rd annual International Beachcombing Conference will take place Nov. 3–6 at the University of Delaware’s Virden Retreat Center in Lewes with a good mix of lectures, field trips and workshops that will bring joy into every beach lover’s life.

A detailed schedule of events is available on the conference website. Lecture topics include coastal fossils, sand, beach pottery, history of English sea glass, sea-beans, beach tracking and Google Ocean, and more. Workshops and field trips include making sea-glass jewelry; photographing your beachcombing treasures; and hunting for sea glass, pirate booty and fossils.

In addition, vendors will be offering their wares — this is a great time for some early Christmas shopping. And beachcombers will be sharing and swapping their extra treasures. Bring your extra beachcombing goodies to trade and go home with some new booty!

Don’t miss these two chances to learn new things about the seashore that we all love.

N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission
www.ncwildlife.org

Coastal Educator Mike Campbell offers numerous opportunities for educators during the fall. Here are just a few.

Fall Birds: Coastal North Carolina is home to many species of resident and migratory birds. Explore various habitats to identify these birds before they head south for the winter. These workshops are open to the general public, ages 16 and up. It will qualify for Component II of the N.C. Office of Environmental Education (OEE) certification and Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credit for public-school teachers. There is no charge for this workshop. Pre-registration is required.

There are two Fall Birds events planned.

1. Halyburton Park, Wilmington; Oct. 4; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact Andy Fairbanks at Andy.Fairbanks@wilmingtonnc.gov or 910/341-0075 for more information.
2. Goose Creek State Park, Washington; Oct. 19; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Contact John Fullwood at john.fullwood@ncdenr.gov or 252/923-2191 with questions.

Reptiles: Through hands-on fieldwork and classroom presentations, participants will learn about basic biology, habitat requirements and human interactions with snakes, turtles and lizards. This workshop is held in conjunction with Weyerhaeuser at the Cool Springs Environmental Education Center in New Bern and is open to the general public ages 16 and up. It will qualify for Component II of the N.C. OEE certification and CEU credit for public school teachers. There is no charge for this workshop. Pre-registration is required. This event is scheduled for Oct. 6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, contact Mike Campbell at mike.campbell@ncwildlife.org or 252/670-0090.

For more opportunities, go to www.ncwildlife.org/Education_Workshops.

N.C. Maritime Museum
www.ncmaritimemuseums.com

Here is a noteworthy fall program at the N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort. Additional program offerings can be found on their website.

National Estuaries Day, Sept. 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn about estuaries and ways to preserve these vital marine ecosystems with the N.C. Coastal Reserve and the N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort. Stop by the education tent at the museum or take a field trip to the Rachel Carson component of the N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve for a marine debris cleanup. No cost. For trip reservations, call 252/838-0886.

For information, contact the museum at 252/728-7317. The N.C. Maritime Museum is located at 315 Front Street in Beaufort.

N.C. Estuarium
www.partnershipforthesounds.org

The Estuarium offers an array of education programs in the facility and on the water. Here are a few selected opportunities. Check the Web for additional programs.

Hurricanes, Rising Seas, and Rushing Rivers: A Glimpse into North Carolina Coastal Hazards Past, Present, and Future: Sept. 21, 7–8 p.m., cost: $2. Most eastern North Carolina residents remember September 1999 and Hurricane Floyd. Join Tom Allen, geographer and director of the Renaissance Computing Institute (RENCI) at ECU, and other RENCI staff for an interactive discussion looking back at our experiences of Hurricane Floyd and others. Explore how technology is allowing us to better visualize and forecast future hurricane impacts.

Home School Days: Nov. 16–17. Programs are suitable for students ages 6–12. There is a $4 adult admission fee and $2 student admission fee to the museum exhibits. If attending only the stated program, there is a $2 program fee per child. Please call 252/948-0000 for pre-registration and more information.

Tellabration: Nov. 19, 1–2 p.m., admission fee: $2. What is a Tellabration? It is a day of storytelling held around the world traditionally on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Storytellers are members of the Inner Banks Storytellers Group. Stories are suitable for school-age children and adults. Please call for pre-registration: 252/948-0000.

Mistletoe River Roving: Dec. 13–15, 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The Estuarium’s pontoon boat makes its annual voyage to gather mistletoe, a holiday tradition. No admission fee or other cost is involved for the trip, but advance reservations are required. Children must be at least 6 years old. Please call for pre-registration and more information: 252/948-0000.

Enjoy a new art exhibit each month during the fall season.

• September: Fabric artist Pat Carlson uses fabrics, yarn, paint, thread and more to depict a journey from the North Carolina mountains, through the cities and farm lands, to the Atlantic.
• October: George Hunter of New Bern displays his regional paintings.
• November: Washington photographer Tom Whelan shows his photos of the people and places of eastern North Carolina.
• December: Pete Hickey, a Pitt County painter, displays watercolors of the region.

The Estuarium is located at 223 E. Water Street in Washington and is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for students. Please call ahead for program information as space may be limited. Visit the website for additional information and program listings.

The Estuarium is a Partnership for the Sounds facility, an organization promoting ecotourism and sustainable economic development in the Albemarle-Pamlico region. For more information, visit www.partnershipforthesounds.org, or contact estuarium@embarqmail.com or 252/948-0000.

Interesting Apps for Smart Phones

The Marine Debris Tracking App from the University of Georgia lets you enter locations of various categories of marine debris. This app works on both Androids and iPhones. See what others are recording on the website at www.marinedebris.engr.uga.edu/.

Everyone will want the Phytoplankton app from NOAA’s Phytoplankton Monitoring Program. Only for Android phones, this app has two functions. One part lists different species, offers microscopic images of each species, and pronounces the species’ name. The second is a flash-card quiz to assist with identification. Fun and educational! Check out www.gano.name/shawn/phyto_android/.

Please let me know of other marine/aquatic applications for smartphones!

Communicating Climate Science Workshop

On Friday and Saturday, Nov. 18–19, the N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores will be hosting a free teacher workshop to help formal and informal educators better understand the science and methods for communicating the critically important topics of climate science and ocean health to their audiences.

There will be an overnight stay at the Aquarium beginning on Friday at 6 p.m., with activities and curriculum for formal and informal educators. In addition, a Geodome program will focus on climate change and marine mammals. Spend the night in front of the Living Shipwreck exhibit, the largest saltwater tank in the state. Small stipends are available to participating educators.

On Saturday, scientists and researchers will be presenting their latest findings, as they relate to North Carolina, on different aspects of climate change, including sea level rise, ocean acidification, coral bleaching and alternative energy. Saturday’s program will end at 1 p.m. Food and resources will be provided at the workshop.

Please call the Aquarium at 252/247-4003 ext. 229 or ext. 257 for more information, or email windy.arey-kent@ncaquariums.com. Registration is now open.

Curriculum/Activity Guides Still Available

Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence SouthEast’s (COSEE SE’s) The Educator’s Guide to The 3rd annual International Beachcombing Conference will take place Nov. 3–6 at the University of Delaware’s Virden Retreat Center in Lewes with a good mix of lectures, field trips and workshops that will bring joy into every beach lover’s life.

A detailed schedule of events is available on the conference website. Lecture topics include coastal fossils, sand, beach pottery, history of English sea glass, sea-beans, beach tracking and Google Ocean, and more. Workshops and field trips include making sea-glass jewelry; photographing your beachcombing treasures; and hunting for sea glass, pirate booty and fossils.

Marine Debris: Southeast and Gulf of Mexico is a regional introduction to three main categories of marine debris: litter, derelict or abandoned boats, and lost or abandoned commercial and recreational fishing gear. This publication is available for free download on the COSEE SE website at www.cosee-se.org/marinedebris.php and is also available in hard copy, while supplies last.

N.C. Big Sweep’s publication, Undercurrents: A Big Sweep Middle School Teacher’s Guide, includes litter-awareness lessons that are correlated with state learning objectives for 8th grade science and math, as well as for healthful living, language arts and information skills. Undercurrents is available free to North Carolina educators while supplies last.

The Coastal Processes and Conflicts curriculum includes extensive background information for teachers, as well as student lessons that are relevant in any setting — not just the island environment. It is appropriate for middle- and high-school students. The curriculum can be downloaded free from www.ecu.edu/educ/csmte/coastal_processes.cfm. Or you can order a hard copy ($10 includes postage), which comes with a CD containing color copies of figures used in the student activities.

Each of these education resources is available from Terri Kirby Hathaway, North Carolina Sea Grant, terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu.

Need to Contact Me?

If you ever have information to share with other marine educators, please don’t hesitate to send it my way for inclusion in a future issue of the Scotch Bonnet. Let me know what you’re hearing from the sea!

Please share this website with others — and share my email address with anyone who wants to receive a message when each Scotch Bonnet is available online! Thanks for all you do for students and for other educators!

My contact information is: North Carolina Sea Grant, PO Box 699, Manteo, NC 27954; phone: 252/475-3663; fax: 252/475-3545; email: terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu.

Best Fishes!

Terri Kirby Hathaway
Marine Education Specialist
North Carolina Sea Grant
terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu

Welcome to the newest online issue of Scotch Bonnet. This marine education newsletter is also available as a portable document format (.pdf) — if you’re like me and want to keep a hard copy!

I’ve been an avid reader my entire life, beginning in Humpty Dumpty Kindergarten when I would read stories to my classmates (or so I’ve been told). To this date, I read every night before I fall asleep, even if it’s just a page or two.

For the past few years, I’ve tried to sprinkle some nonfiction tomes between my favorite fiction books, and I want to share some of the good books that I’ve read that focus on natural history and marine topics. Try some of these for yourself — you’ll be glad you did!

• Warner, William W. 1976. Beautiful Swimmers: Watermen, Crabs and the Chesapeake Bay. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-004405-1
  This classic book explains the life history of the blue crab the way people who catch them know it, tying in the scientific background. It should be required reading for anyone who has ever caught, eaten or harassed a crab. Beautiful Swimmers is a great way to learn about one of North Carolina’s valuable sea creatures!
• Clover, Charles. 2006. The End of the Line: How overfishing is changing the world and what we eat. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-25505-0
  The book presents an interesting perspective on world fisheries. It includes an overview of how species are harvested and handled, and how the general public doesn’t pay much attention to where the seafood on their plate was caught! End of the Line is eye opening, but should also be read with an awareness of the continuing search for current and accurate data.
• Greenberg, Gary. 2008. A Grain of Sand: Nature’s Secret Wonder. Minneapolis, MN: Voyageur Press. ISBN 978-0-7603-3198-9
  This book fascinated me, but I am an arenophile (someone who likes — and collects — sand). Presented more like an art book, it contains close-up photos of sands from different beaches from all over the world, and you can see how varied sand is . . . REALLY! Chapters focus on the shapes, colors and patterns in sand grains and where those sand grains originated.

These are just three of more than 20 on my list. I’ll be sharing more natural history books with you in upcoming issues of Scotch Bonnet!

It wouldn’t be the same if I didn’t share some of my personal travels with you! My husband and I were lucky enough to spend a week cruising around the Sea of Cortez aboard the Don Jose V. Abaroa. We enjoyed snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, birding and watching whales. Hope you enjoy a few of our photos from this fabulous trip. Contact me if you want to see more.

A large sea lion begging for food from a fishing boat at the Cabo San Lucas marina.

A huge pod of common dolphins swims in the Sea of Cortez.

Sea lions sun themselves on rocks around Los Islotes in the Sea of Cortez.

Explore this issue — there are many professional development opportunities and family explorations for all of us. Try to take advantage of these wonderful events. Keep reading for unique opportunities and ideas for educators. There is a lot going on in North Carolina!

Thanks to Dia Hitt, Daryl Law, Sarah Phillips, JoAnne Powell, Martha Regester and Larry Warner for their contributions to this issue.

Jennette’s Pier at Nags Head
www.jennettespier.net

Courtesy N.C. Aquariums.

The all-new Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, also featured in the Spring 2011 issue of Coastwatch, will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, May 21, at 11 a.m. The first ever Family Fishing Tournament will be held two weeks later on Saturday, June 4. This massive concrete fishing pier also features a 16,000-square-foot pier house, which houses fish exhibits, a tackle shop, alternative energy displays and a large, state-of-the-art classroom overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Educational opportunities abound at Jennette’s Pier. A full schedule of activities is set for 2011, including school and scout programs, invertebrate labs, plankton studies, science camps, marine mammal studies, sea turtle night treks and more.

But don’t forget about the fishing. Anglers can enjoy 1,000 feet of fantastic fishing at Jennette’s Pier. The taller, wider and longer pier offers anglers a variety of depths and fishes to target. Try jigs near the beach, bottom fishing along the middle, or pin rigs on the end.

Rods and reels are available for sale or rent, as are other fishing necessities, such as lures, bottom rigs and weights. Fishing workshops are planned. There’s also a gift shop and snack area where visitors can sip their gourmet hot coffee or ice-cold drink while seated by an oceanfront window.

Upstairs, Jennette’s Pier features Oceanview Hall complete with an outdoor deck overlooking the pier. The room has a drop-down screen and additional audiovisual aids to facilitate presentations for seminars and classes.

On your next trip to the Outer Banks, stop by for a visit or to wet a line. Jennette’s Pier is a satellite facility of the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. For more information, call 252/255-1501.

North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island
www.ncaquariums.com/roanoke-island

This summer at the N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island, you’ll have the opportunity to save your own sea turtle in OPERATION: Sea Turtle Rescue, a fun, hands-on exhibit that simulates the steps taken to rehabilitate endangered sea turtles! These gentle creatures face many threats year-round affecting their continued survival. Aquarium staff and volunteers from N.E.S.T. (Network for Endangered Sea Turtles) donate countless hours to nurse stranded sea turtles back to health.

When you enter the new exhibit, you can “rescue” a small turtle replica and take it to a diagnostic station. The turtle replica is programmed with one of six possible stories, which is activated when it is placed on the diagnostic station. You will be prompted to perform a mock X-ray, blood test and physical exam to determine what has affected your turtle.

At a nearby rehabilitation station, a video featuring a staff aquarist explains what procedures are needed to heal your turtle. Based on lessons from the video, you will perform simulated treatment and place your turtle replica in a rehabilitation tank. Finally, the turtle will be returned to the “sea,” allowing the next visitor to have a similar experience.

OPERATION: Sea Turtle Rescue will help you learn what it takes to preserve one of North Carolina’s most beloved treasures!

The Aquarium will offer a full slate of education programs this summer. During the new Predators on the Prowl program, visitors can learn how animals capture and eat their prey, and avoid being eaten. They will also discover that some of the smallest animals on the planet are actually the most amazing predators. Each Thursday, starting June 9 through August, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Aquarium will feature craft tables, live animal encounters and hands-on activities to teach visitors about the world of “eat or be eaten.”

Help the N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island celebrate the oceans on World Ocean Day! On June 8, the Aquarium will feature interactive programs, costumed characters and more to help visitors learn how the ocean impacts our everyday life and how we can impact the ocean’s health. They’ll be having oceans of fun so come and play.

Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station
www.chicamacomico.net

For maritime history buffs, a visit to Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station is a dream come true! This unique historic site is a seven-acre, eight-building complex and is considered the most complete remaining U.S. Life-Saving Service complex in the nation.

There are eight buildings available for tours, including the original station from 1874 that was used as a boathouse and storage shed after the “new” building (also open to the public) was opened in 1911. In addition, stables, two cook houses and the 1907 Midgett House are open for viewing.

This year is the centennial celebration of the 1911 replacement station. Many public programs are scheduled for this summer, including meeting the Real Taffy of Torpedo Junction on Wednesdays.

On Thursdays throughout the summer, observe the Beach Apparatus Drill. Black powder, a Lyle gun and breeches buoy are used in the drill. Chicamacomico is now the ONLY place in the United States that performs the full Beach Apparatus Drill reenactment for the public during the summer months. It is also the only drill reenactment in the world performed by active duty U.S. Coast Guard personnel.

Coast guard personnel prepare the Lyle gun during the Beach Apparatus Drill. Photo: JoAnne Powell.

The breeches buoy is deployed during the drill. Photo: JoAnne Powell.

N.C. Coastal Federation’s Summer Programs
www.nccoast.org

The N.C. Coastal Federation has been helping the coast since its inception in 1982. Its mission is to provide citizens and groups with the assistance they need to take an active role in the stewardship of North Carolina’s coastal water quality and natural resources.

All three NCCF regions have educational programs scheduled throughout the summer. From ecology programs to marsh cruises to restoration projects, you can find something for everyone in the northern, central and southern regions of the North Carolina coast. To find specific offerings and details, go to the NCCF website at www.nccoast.org and click on “Events Calendar.”

For further information, please check the NCCF website, or contact the office nearest you.

Natural Science Center of Greensboro
www.natsci.org

For readers in the piedmont area, plan a visit to the Natural Science Center of Greensboro this summer. Educational opportunities for all ages abound!

From 2–4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8, join hundreds of other educational institutions, conservation organizations and thousands of individuals around the world to celebrate our shared ocean. World Ocean Day is an opportunity to celebrate our ocean and our personal connection to the sea. Enjoy face painting, crafts and other fun activities. Free with admission/membership.

Discover the wonders of reptiles during Reptacular, a celebration of tails and scales, on Saturday, June 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors will enjoy many activities during this special event. Get nose-to-nose with local non-venomous snakes, witness the weighing of the center’s giant Burmese python, watch live croc feedings, and enjoy face painting and reptile crafts. Activities free with general admission/membership.

Summer camps for ages 3–16 run throughout the entire summer. Also, don’t miss the family of endangered maned wolves on exhibit — mom, dad and three young ones are entertaining, as well as educational, to observe! If you can’t see them in person, you can check out the blog following their day-to-day activities (and photos/videos) at manedwolf.blogspot.com.

Curriculum/Activity Guides Still Available

Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence SouthEast’s The Educator’s Guide to Marine Debris: Southeast and Gulf of Mexico is a regional introduction to three main categories of marine debris: litter, derelict or abandoned boats, and lost or abandoned commercial and recreational fishing gear. This publication is available for free download on the COSEE SE website at www.cosee-se.org/marinedebris.php and is also available in hard copy, while supplies last.

N.C. Big Sweep’s publication, Undercurrents: A Big Sweep Middle School Teacher’s Guide, includes litter-awareness lessons that are correlated with state learning objectives for 8th grade science and math, as well as for healthful living, language arts and information skills. Undercurrents is available free to North Carolina educators while supplies last.

The Coastal Processes and Conflicts curriculum includes extensive background information for teachers, as well as student lessons that are relevant in any setting — not just the island environment. Appropriate for middle and high school students, the curriculum can be downloaded free from www.ecu.edu/educ/csmte/coastal_processes.cfm. Or you can order a hard copy ($10 includes postage), which comes with a CD containing color copies of figures used in the student activities.

Each of these education resources is available from Terri Kirby Hathaway, North Carolina Sea Grant, terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu.

Need to Contact Me?
If you ever have information to share with other marine educators, please don’t hesitate to send it my way for inclusion in a future issue of the Scotch Bonnet. Let me know what you’re hearing from the sea!

Please share this website with others — and share my e-mail address with anyone who wants to receive a message when each Scotch Bonnet is available online! Thanks for all you do for students and for other educators!

My contact information is: North Carolina Sea Grant, PO Box 699, Manteo, NC 27954; phone: 252/475-3663; fax: 252/475-3545; e-mail: terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu.

Best Fishes!

Terri Kirby Hathaway
Marine Education Specialist
North Carolina Sea Grant
terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu

We’ve already had our first snowfall of the season. OK, it was just snow flurries. But at the coast, any snow is exciting! Winter is a great time to do inside work — such as attending professional development workshops, taking inventory of your books and props, developing a new activity or program, or looking for summer opportunities for you and for your students. I’m sure you’ll find something of use in this issue of Scotch Bonnet!

I hope you’re geared up for an eventful winter. There are many professional development opportunities for all of us. Try to take advantage of these wonderful conferences, workshops and more. Keep reading for unique opportunities and ideas for educators. There is a lot going on in North Carolina!

Banana Slug String Band’s New CD
www.bananaslugstringband.com

The Banana Slug String Band’s latest CD is here! Whoo hoo — finally!

Dive in! Swim with us, alongside sea turtles and whales, on a musical odyssey into the Earth’s one mysterious, marvelous — and precious — ocean.

Only One Ocean is 14 rockin’ new songs from the award-winning Banana Slug String Band, all designed to inspire young people and their families to learn about and care for the ocean. Special guests include George Winston, Brett Dennen, Zach Gill, and Grammy winners Victor Wooten and BeaSoleil avec Michael Doucet.

To order, visit the Banana Slug String Band’s website. Be the first one on your block to sing along with “Kingdom of the Crab” or “Turtle Ate a Jelly”!

In partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Exploration and Research, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, the Centers for Ocean Science Education Excellence, the National Marine Educators Association, and Lawrence Hall of Science, Only One Ocean supports Ocean Literacy’s essential principles and fundamental concepts.

A Visit to Your School or Facility by Author Kevin Kurtz
www.kevinkurtz.homestead.com

Kevin Kurtz, author of the children’s books A Day in the Salt Marsh and A Day on the Mountain, is available to visit schools in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina throughout the 2010–2011 school year. Kevin has a master’s degree in elementary education and more than 10 years of experience teaching school groups of all ages. He has presented A Day in the Salt Marsh to teachers at conferences and to students from kindergarten to 8th grade, as well as to high school biology classes. A visit from Kevin can include:

• A reading of A Day in the Salt Marsh or the new A Day on the Mountain.
• An informative discussion based on grade-level science standards of the habitats featured in the book and the animals and plants that live there.
• A discussion about the process of writing a children’s book.
• A question-and-answer period.

A Day in the Salt Marsh, published in 2007, was a finalist for the 2007 Green Earth book award and the 2008–2009 Chickadee award. Kurtz’s new book, A Day on the Mountain, was published in August 2010. Both books are written in fun-to-read, rhyming verse and beautifully illustrated by Consie Powell and Erin Hunter respectively. The books introduce students to the plants and animals of important and unusual ecosystems, while teaching them about adaptations and the interrelationships of the living and nonliving things found there. A Day in the Salt Marsh can also be used to teach about tides and the differences between land and marine ecosystems. A Day on the Mountain can be used to teach about the impact of elevation and climate on habitats.

Kurtz’s rates are as follows:

• All-day visit at one school. Includes five 45-minute reading programs (maximum 125 students per program) and book signings; Cost: $500.
• All-day visit at one school. Includes five 45-minute writing workshop programs (maximum 30 students per program) and book signings; Cost: $500.
• Split with nearby schools into separate morning and afternoon visits. Each would include two 45-minute programs (maximum 125 students per program) and book signings; Cost: $250 for each school.
• Evening PTA program. Includes 45-minute program plus book signing; Cost: $200.
• Schools outside of Charleston, S.C., need to add travel expenses to the program rates.

To schedule a visit, e-mail Kurtz at kevkurtz@gmail.com or go to www.kevinkurtz.homestead.com to learn more.

Project WET Workshops
www.ncwater.org/Education_and_Technical_Assistance/Project_WET/

Project WET — or Water Education for Teachers — is an interdisciplinary water science and education program for formal and nonformal educators of K–12 students. The keystone of Project WET is the Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide that consists of 91 water education activities that were developed, field tested and reviewed by more than 600 educators and resource managers working with 34,000 students nationwide. The activities are meaningful and relevant to children and are correlated to the N.C. Standard Course of Study in all major subjects for K–8 and for high school science and math.

The guide is only available through a 6-hour Project WET workshop. The schedule for upcoming workshops:

• Saturday, March 12, at the N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island
• Thursday, March 24, at Jordan Lake State Park
• Saturday, April 9, at the N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

For more information, please contact State Coordinator Holly Denham at 919/715-5433 or holly.denham@ncdenr.gov.

Sustainable Forestry Teachers’ Academy
www.ncsu.edu/sfta

Registration is now open for the 2011 Sustainable Forestry Teachers’ Academy. The Coastal Academy is based in New Bern and is offered June 20–24. The Mountain Academy, based in Asheville, is set for July 25–29. Online applications and more information, including sample agendas, can be viewed at www.ncsu.edu/sfta.

The Sustainable Forestry Teachers’ Academy is a four-day residential program that focuses on the social, economic and environmental aspects of sustainable forestry. Teachers will visit a variety of forests and mills to learn about forest management and how various wood products — such as paper, furniture, plywood and lumber — are manufactured. Teachers participate in tours and hikes in forests that are under a variety of ownership and management plans. Excursions to museums, state forests, experimental forests and environmental learning centers round out the experience.

Meals, lodging and transportation during the Academy are provided. Continuing Education Units renewal credits will be awarded. Multiple teachers from the same school, and teachers of all disciplines and grades, are encouraged to apply! This opportunity is available only for teachers associated with a school district within North Carolina. Nonformal educators do not qualify. Contact Renee Strnad at 919/515-5518 or renee_strnad@ncsu.edu for details.

Events at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences
www.naturalsciences.org

Don’t miss these family events this winter!

• Marine Mammal Day, Jan. 29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Spend a day exploring the ocean in Raleigh! Learn about the marine mammals along our coast — including whales, dolphins and seals — and the challenges these magnificent creatures face in today’s world!
• Groundhog Day, Feb. 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Meet Sir Walter Wally the groundhog and get his weather prognostication for the next six weeks!
• Darwin Day, Feb. 12, 12–5 p.m. Spend an afternoon learning about famed naturalist Charles Darwin, take a closer look at his theories and their impact on modern science, and meet some of the scientists who are continuing his work.

Here are a few educator opportunities hosted/sponsored by the Museum this winter.

• NASA Educator Trek – Exploring the Forces of Flight, N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh. Feb. 12, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Cost: $25 deposit (will be returned upon completion of workshop). Participants will conduct hands-on investigations into the forces of flight, the effects of these forces on aircraft, calculating airspeed, flight simulation and modeling, the engineering design process, and even flying saucers! In particular, this workshop will focus on helping students address curriculum strands including Forces & Motions, Science as Inquiry, and Science & Technology.
• NASA Educator Trek – Humans & Robotics: Exploring Space Together, N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh. Feb. 19, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Cost: $25 deposit (will be returned upon completion of workshop). Learn about human space flight and robotic missions that explore space! Educators will participate in a hands-on workshop that involves spacesuit activities, robotic activities, and a virtual tour of websites. Take home classroom resources and learn how to connect them to your curriculum!
• Project Learning Tree (PLT) Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood – Spring, N.C. Museum of Forestry, Whiteville. April 2, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Cost: $20 (includes PLT activity guide and other resource materials). Day Care Credit: 6 hours. For preschool and elementary school teachers. The newly released PLT Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood guide is designed as a resource for educators that work with early childhood audiences ages 3–5 years. PLT Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood encourages children to explore, discover and communicate in expressive ways, and provides an introduction to environmental education at a key developmental period in children’s lives.
• Creating Interpretive Trails, Prairie Ridge Ecostation, Raleigh. April 2, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Cost: $40 (includes bluebird box and resource materials). Join us at the Museum’s Prairie Ridge field station for a day of exploration as we share ideas for creating learning stations and nature trails in outdoor areas on school grounds and nature parks. Take home ideas for creating outdoor learning areas just in time for Earth Day celebrations.

What’s New at the N.C. Maritime Museum
www.ncmaritimemuseum.org

Here’s a sampling of what you can see and do at the N.C. Maritime Museum this winter!

See the Outer Banks in the winter season with Heritage and History at Shackleford Banks on Jan. 15, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Take part in our coastal heritage as we hike the east end of the island, experiencing “Banker” ponies and superb shelling. Reservations required. Cost: $30.

Calling all crafters for the Sailor’s Valentine Workshop on Feb. 11, 1–3 p.m. Bring your best shells and join us to learn the history and practice this traditional craft. An experienced crafter will share tips and tricks for making your own sailor valentines. Reservations required. Cost: $15.

Prohibition may have ended, but the history of Rum Runners lives on. Join the Museum at a local restaurant on Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. for this presentation on the ships that smuggled rum. Pre-registration preferred. Call for secret program location. No password necessary.

To make program reservations, or to find out more about educational programs offered at the Maritime Museum, visit www.ncmaritimemuseum.org or call 252/728-7317.

Winter at the N.C. Estuarium
www.partnershipforthesounds.org

Art exhibits scheduled for the fall include:

• January: Watercolors by Linda Boyer
• February: Photographs by Doward Jones
• March: Wall hangings by Pamlico River Quilters
• April: Paintings by Plein Air Painters from the Brushstrokes group

Program highlights for January:

• Drawing and Painting from Nature: Tuesday afternoons, 1–3 p.m., Jan. 11 – March 1; or Wednesday mornings, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Jan. 12 – March 2; Cost: $25. Learn about watercolors and basic drawing techniques. Open to beginners and more advanced artists. Call for materials list and pre-registration.
• Waterfowl Identification Program: Jan. 20, 1–2 p.m.; Cost: $2. Winter is a great time for bird watching in the area. Learn some of the basics of identifying area waterfowl and the best locations.

Program highlights for February:

• Valentine Tiramisu Demonstration: Feb. 9, 1–2 p.m., Cost: $2. Curator Amy Van Staalduinen presents a demonstration of this quick and easy dessert. Learn how to prepare it and enjoy a taste also!
• Children’s Decoy Painting Workshop: Feb. 12 (two classes), 9–10 a.m. and 10:30–11:30 a.m.; Cost: Free; pre-registration is required. Children must be between the ages of 4 and 12. This annual event is co-sponsored by the East Carolina Wildfowl Guild in conjunction with the Wildlife Arts Festival.

Program highlights for March:

• Those Crazy Crabs: March 10, 10:30–11:30 a.m.; Cost: $2. Teacher workday for Beaufort County Schools. Learn about blue crabs of the Pamlico area and make a crab craft to take home. Suitable for school-age children (K–6). Call for reservations.
• Nature Photography Seminar: March 12, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Cost: $50. Taught by Sol Levine, a professional nature photographer, this program is open to beginners, as well as advanced photographers. Topics range from choosing a digital camera to getting the best close-up shots of wildlife. Pre-registration and pre-payment required. Bring a bag lunch. Call for reservations.
• Native Plants of the Coastal Plain: March 23, 1–2 p.m.; Cost: $2. Learn about native plants of the area, then stroll through the Estuarium gardens and along the boardwalk to see native plants beginning to bud. Call for reservations.

Program highlights for April:

• River Roving Educational River Tours: Learn about the history and habitats of the Washington waterfront. These boat tours cruise the Pamlico River Wednesdays through Fridays at 10:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m., and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. No admission fee or other cost is involved for the tour but advance reservations are required. Riders should check-in 15 minutes in advance. Children must be at least 6 years old to ride; a responsible adult must accompany children under 16. Call for reservations.
• Migratory Bird River Roving: April 13, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Take a pontoon boat ride with the Estuarium naturalist and observe migratory birds returning to area woods and streams. Possible sightings include ospreys, purple martins and warblers. No admission fee or other cost is involved for this trip, but reservations are required. Children must be at least 12 years old for this special trip.

The Crab Pot Gift Shop is full of unique gifts with a natural flair. North Carolina products and books are featured — a great place for shopping for that special one-of-a-kind gift.

The Estuarium is located at 223 E. Water Street in Washington, N.C., and is open Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for students. Please call ahead for program information as space may be limited. The Estuarium is a Partnership for the Sounds facility, an organization promoting ecotourism and sustainable economic development in the Albemarle-Pamlico region (www.partnershipforthesounds.org). For more information or for reservations, contact 252/948-0000 or estuarium@embarqmail.com.

N.C. Coastal Federation’s Upcoming Programs
www.nccoast.org

The N.C. Coastal Federation (NCCF) has been protecting ocean and estuarine shorelines since 1982. Its mission is to provide citizens and groups with the assistance they need to take an active role in the stewardship of North Carolina’s coastal water quality and natural resources.

NCCF has several opportunities for community participation in the central coastal region. Meet at the NCCF headquarters in Ocean to help fill mesh bags with oyster shells. The bags eventually will be used to create an oyster reef that will help control erosion. Native salt marsh seedlings planted behind the reef will help restore the marsh. The oyster reef and marsh will become valuable habitat for important species of commercial and recreational fish and shellfish. The reef also will improve water quality by filtering sediment from the water.

Dates and times for oyster shell bagging events at NCCF Headquarters in Ocean: Jan. 11 and 20, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Feb. 4 and 21, 1–4 p.m. For details, please check the NCCF website at www.nccoast.org, or contact the office nearest you.

Curriculum/Activity Guides Still Available

Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence SouthEast’s (COSEE SE’s) The Educator’s Guide to Marine Debris: Southeast and Gulf of Mexico is a regional introduction to three main categories of marine debris: litter, derelict or abandoned boats, and lost or abandoned commercial and recreational fishing gear. This publication is available for free download on the COSEE SE website at www.cosee-se.org/marinedebris.php and is also available in hard copy, while supplies last.

N.C. Big Sweep’s publication, Undercurrents: A Big Sweep Middle School Teacher’s Guide, includes litter-awareness lessons that are correlated with state learning objectives for 8th grade science and math, as well as for healthful living, language arts and information skills. Undercurrents is available free to North Carolina educators while supplies last.

The Coastal Processes and Conflicts curriculum includes extensive background information for teachers, as well as student lessons that are relevant in any setting — not just the island environment. It is appropriate for middle and high school students. The curriculum can be downloaded free from www.ecu.edu/educ/csmte/coastal_processes.cfm. Or you can order a hard copy ($10 includes postage), which comes with a CD containing color copies of figures used in the student activities.

Each of these education resources is available from Terri Kirby Hathaway, North Carolina Sea Grant, terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu.

Need to Contact Me?

If you ever have information to share with other marine educators, please don’t hesitate to send it my way for inclusion in a future issue of the Scotch Bonnet. Let me know what you’re hearing from the sea!

Please share this website with others — and share my e-mail address with anyone who wants to receive a message when each Scotch Bonnet is available online! Thanks for all you do for students and for other educators!

My contact information is: North Carolina Sea Grant, PO Box 699, Manteo, NC 27954; phone: 252/475-3663; fax: 252/475-3545; e-mail: terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu.

Best Fishes!

Terri Kirby Hathaway
Marine Education Specialist
North Carolina Sea Grant
terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu

What a fabulous summer; I hope yours was as filled as mine! I participated in the mobile 2010 Marine Mammal Institute (MMI) and traveled from North Carolina through Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts and then back to Washington, D.C., learning about how climate change affects marine mammals. The 19 educators who traveled together will never forget this opportunity!

To follow our adventures, please check our online blog at www.marinemammalinstitute.wordpress.com and enjoy the photos, as well as our travelogue. Watch for a GeoDome presentation at a facility near you! Each MMI participant will be hosting a GeoDome event at his or her free-choice learning facility, or at one nearby.

I hope you’re geared up for an eventful fall. There are many professional development opportunities for all of us. Try to take advantage of these wonderful conferences, workshops and more. Keep reading for those unique opportunities and ideas for educators. There is a lot going on in North Carolina!

Sea-Beans and Beachcombing — A One-Two Knockout Punch for Fall!
www.seabean.com/symposium/2010
www.beachcombingconference.com

Anyone emotionally or physically involved with the beach will want to learn more about (and possibly attend) these two events this fall!

The 15th annual Sea-Bean Symposium is set for Oct. 22–23, in Cocoa Beach, Fla. And yes, I’ll be there! You’ll find a detailed schedule at www.seabean.com/symposium/2010. This year’s keynote speaker is meteorologist John Pendergrast who will share “A Weather Map for Finding Seaside Treasures” on Saturday evening, Oct. 23.

Talks on Friday, Oct. 22, include:

• “The Archaeology of Beachcombing” by Deacon Ritterbush, author of A Beachcomber’s Odyssey: Treasures from a Collected Past;
• “A Sea-Bean’s Journey” by Blair Witherington, co-author of Florida’s Living Beaches; and
• “What’s Floating in Our Ocean Now?” by Curtis Ebbesmeyer, author of Flotsametrics and the Floating World.

Before the keynote address on Saturday evening, enjoy these talks earlier in the day:

• “I Think It’s a Jellyfish” by David McRee, author of Florida’s Beaches; and
• “Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know about Sea Glass” by Deacon Ritterbush.

Catch up on all things sea-beans by reading The Drifting Seed, an online newsletter found at www.seabean.com/newsletters/.

The 2nd annual International Beachcombing Conference will take place Nov. 12–14 at the University of Delaware’s Virden Retreat Center in Lewes, the site of the 2009 Mid-Atlantic Marine Education Association conference. A day of lectures followed by a day of field trips and workshops will bring joy into every beach lover’s life!

A detailed schedule of events is available on the conference website. Saturday, Nov. 13, lecture topics include: shipwrecks and beach booty, coastal fossils, beach rocks from Maine to Florida, storing and caring for beach treasures, sea glass origins, English sea glass and more. On Sunday, Nov. 14, you can hunt for sea glass and fossils, make sea glass jewelry, create flowers with oyster shells and photograph your beachcombing treasures.

In addition, vendors will be offering their wares (a great time for some early Christmas shopping) and beachcombers will be sharing and swapping their extra treasures. Bring your extra beachcombing goodies to trade and go home with some new booty!

Don’t miss these two chances to learn new things about the seashore that we all love!

Help Spot Jellies!
www.jellyfish.appstate.edu

Two researchers from Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., are stalking jellies along the North Carolina coast — and they’re asking for your help!

Vicki Martin and Monique Eckerd raise box jellies in their lab in Boone, conducting temperature and feeding studies. They have discovered that jellies can survive in just about any situation. With climate change still in the news and with blooms of jellies occurring around the world, Martin and Eckerd decided to delve more deeply into jellies on our coast and wanted to involve citizens in their research. They’re enlisting the help of fishermen, beachcombers, homeschoolers and more.

Everyone can assist with this scientific research! If you’re anywhere on the coast of North Carolina and you see a cabbage head, a moon jelly or any other jelly, visit www.jellyfish.appstate.edu and help Martin and Eckerd collect data and track jellies. I have submitted some jelly sightings on the site, so I’m helping, too!

And for more information about jellies and their durability in various water conditions, check out the article in the August 2010 issue of Smithsonian Magazine at www.smithsonianmag.com/specialsections/40th-anniversary/Jellyfish-The-Next-Kings-of-the-Sea.html.

Roanoke Island Festival Park
roanokeisland.com

This fall, Roanoke Island Festival Park welcomes the artistic eyes of Duane Raver, wildlife illustrator, and Jeff Lewis, nature photographer. From Oct. 3 through Nov. 29, the collective works of these two talented gentlemen will be exhibited in the Art Gallery.

Raver has provided the art for more than 200 Wildlife in North Carolina covers and also for North Carolina Sea Grant’s Coastwatch magazine and Shark Sense brochure. He illustrated the Fisherman’s Guide: Fishes of the Southeastern United States by Charles S. Manooch. Lewis is the gardens and nursery manager of the Elizabethan Gardens in Manteo and an avid birder and amateur naturalist. He’s had more than 1,000 photos published in books, magazines, newspapers and a variety of other media.

The opening reception for this extended exhibit is set for Sunday, Oct. 3, from 2–4 p.m. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays to Fridays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

On Friday , Nov. 12, at 7–9 p.m., Duane Raver and Charles S. Manooch will discuss their book project and share anecdotes during a public lecture in the Art Gallery. The two combined their talents for the Fisherman’s Guide: Fishes of the Southeastern United States, a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning about our coastal fishes.

For more information, please contact Roanoke Island Festival Park at 252/475-1500.

Fall Special Programs at N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island
www.ncaquariums.com/roanoke-island

What: Wild Women on the Outer Banks Weekend
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 15–17

The N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy’s Nags Head Woods Preserve, is hosting the Wild Women on the Outer Banks Weekend. This popular program incorporates field opportunities like kayaking, hiking, wild edibles, digital photography and more with contemplative explorations into nature through journaling and field sketching. Adventurous women can “sleep with the sharks” on Saturday night! Fee includes meals, as well as the instruction and equipment needed to explore our sense of place. Space is limited to 22 women. Cost is $250 (discounts for Aquarium members) and does not include housing. For registration, call 252/473-3494, x232. For more information, call 252/473-3494, x266.

What: Astral Explorations
When: Wednesday, Nov. 10, 6–8 p.m.

Stars have mystified humans for centuries, inspiring mythological stories, providing navigation and stimulating a desire to view the night sky closer. Join the N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island on Wednesday, Nov. 10, at 6 p.m. for Astral Explorations, an investigation of those celestial bodies that enthrall everyone. The evening will begin with guest speaker and physicist Bob Bateman using Science on a Sphere®, a 68-inch diameter globe with projected images of the sun, stars and planets. There will also be a discussion on celestial navigation, the technique mariners used to find their way for centuries. After nightfall, participants will go outside to observe the stars in all their glory, picking out constellations, planets and galaxies. Afterwards, they will gather around a fire while roasting marshmallows and listening to stories inspired by the stars. The program is free to the public. Pre-registration by Nov. 9 is required. For registration and additional information, please call 252/473-3494, x232.

What’s New at the N.C. Maritime Museum
www.ncmaritimemuseum.org

Here’s a sampling of what you can see and do at the N.C. Maritime Museum this fall!

Learn something new at lunch with our Brown Bag Gam program held on select weekdays from noon to 1 p.m., September through May. Pack a snack and meet at the museum during your lunch hour for informal presentations on topics of maritime history, culture and the natural environment of coastal North Carolina. Topics rotate weekly and are posted at www.ncmaritimemuseum.org.

A brand new course, Kayak Fishing Basics, will be held Oct. 8 and Oct. 27, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Learn the basics of saltwater trout fishing from a kayak. Kayaks are provided, and your own fishing license and rod are required. Space is limited, reservations required, cost is $80.

Spend a night at the museum, Friday, Oct. 29, 5:30¬–8 p.m., for Fright Night. Don’t miss the spooky haunted exhibit hall, sweet treats and a few tricks at this unique museum event. Hear tales of Maritime Myths and Legends at 7 p.m. Proceeds from this partnership event benefit the Museum Education Fund and the East Carteret High School Drama Club.

A new exhibit opens this fall featuring marine life and seaside environments by local artist Martha Bruno. The exhibit opens Nov. 20 and will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The opening reception will be held Nov. 20, 6–8 p.m.

To make program reservations, or to find out more about educational programs offered at the Maritime Museum, visit www.ncmaritimemuseum.org or call 252/728-7317.

Fall at the N.C. Estuarium
www.partnershipforthesounds.org

Art exhibits scheduled for the fall include:

• October: Bird photographs by Durham photographer Bill Majoros
• November: Watercolors by Bath artist Billy Jones
• December: Photographs by Mary Jean Peters

Program highlights for October include the following:

• River Roving Educational River Tours: Learn about the history and habitats of the Washington waterfront. These boat tours cruise the Pamlico River Wednesdays through Fridays at 10:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m., and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. No admission fee or other cost is involved for the tour, but advance reservations are required. Riders should check in 15 minutes in advance. Children must be at least 6 years old to ride; a responsible adult must accompany children under 16. Call for reservations.
• Big Sweep River Roving Clean Up: Oct. 1, 12:45 p.m. to 3 p.m. Help clean up the beaches along the Pamlico-Tar River. Wear old clothes and closed-toe shoes and bring work gloves. Children must be at least 8 years old to ride; a responsible adult must accompany children under 16. Call for reservations. Contact the Beaufort County Coordinator, Linda Boyer, at the Estuarium or www.ncbigsweep.org if you are interested in participating in N.C. Big Sweep in your community.
• Nature Photography Seminar: Oct. 9, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; cost = $50. This seminar, taught by professional nature photographer Sol Levine, is open to beginners as well as advanced photographers. It includes a morning classroom session and an afternoon photography session on the Tar River aboard the Estuarium’s River Rover pontoon boat. Pre-registration and pre-payment required. Bring a bag lunch. Call the Estuarium for more information, or check www.naturesimagesbysol.com.
• Paddle for Clean Water: Oct. 14, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.; cost = $2. Enjoy highlights of Pamlico-Tar River Foundation Riverkeeper Heather Jacobs Deck’s paddle down the Tar River to Washington to raise awareness of the need for clean water. Please call for reservations.
• Washington’s Constructed Wetland and the Positive Impact it Makes on the Community: Oct. 21, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.; cost = $2. Join Mike Apple, Washington’s storm water management technician, as he talks about the history and the success of the constructed wetlands project adjacent to the Estuarium.

Program highlights for November include the following:

• Home School Days: Nov. 17 and 18; admission fees = $4 per adult; $2 per student; program fee = $2 per student. Special program for Nov. 17, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Native Americans of Eastern Carolina; special program for Nov. 18, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Critters of the Pamlico. Programs are suitable for students age 6–12.
• Tellabration: Nov. 20, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.; cost = $2. What is a Tellabration? It’s a day of storytelling held around the world traditionally on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. The storytellers are members of the Inner Banks Storytellers Group. Stories are suitable for school-age children and adults. Please call for pre-registration.

Program highlights for December include the following:

• Holiday Cookie Swap and Candy Mints Demonstration: Dec. 1, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; cost = $2. Please bring one dozen cookies and a cookie recipe to swap. Also enjoy a demonstration in making pull mints, a southern traditional holiday favorite. Call for reservations.
• Wreath Making with Native Evergreens: Dec. 8, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.; cost = $5. Learn about fragrant evergreens and make a fresh wreath for the holidays. Take a break and enjoy refreshments in the Nature Room. Bring small garden clippers, if possible. Call for reservations.
• Mistletoe River Roving: Dec. 14, 15 and 16, 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The pontoon boat makes its annual voyage to gather mistletoe, a holiday tradition. Children must be at least 6 years old. No admission fee or other cost is involved for the trip, but advance reservations are required.

The Crab Pot Gift Shop is full of unique gifts with a natural flair. North Carolina products and books are featured — a great place for holiday shopping.

The Estuarium is located at 223 E. Water Street, Washington, N.C., and is open Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for students. Please call ahead for program information as space may be limited. The Estuarium is a Partnership for the Sounds facility, an organization promoting ecotourism and sustainable economic development in the Albemarle-Pamlico region (www.partnershipforthesounds.org). For more information or for reservations, contact estuarium@embarqmail.com or 252/948-0000.

Curriculum/Activity Guides Still Available

Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence SouthEast’s (COSEE SE’s) The Educator’s Guide to Marine Debris: Southeast and Gulf of Mexico is a regional introduction to three main categories of marine debris: litter, derelict or abandoned boats, and lost or abandoned commercial and recreational fishing gear. This publication is available for free download on the COSEE SE website at www.cosee-se.org/marinedebris.php and is also available in hard copy, while supplies last.

N.C. Big Sweep’s publication, Undercurrents: A Big Sweep Middle School Teacher’s Guide, includes litter-awareness lessons that are correlated with state learning objectives for 8th grade science and math, as well as for healthful living, language arts and information skills. Undercurrents is available free to North Carolina educators while supplies last.

The Coastal Processes and Conflicts curriculum includes extensive background information for teachers, as well as student lessons that are relevant in any setting — not just the island environment. It is appropriate for middle and high school students. The curriculum can be downloaded free from www.ecu.edu/educ/csmte/coastal_processes.cfm. Or you can order a hard copy ($10 includes postage), which comes with a CD containing color copies of figures used in the student activities.

Each of these education resources is available from Terri Kirby Hathaway, North Carolina Sea Grant, terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu.

Need to Contact Me?

If you ever have information to share with other marine educators, please don’t hesitate to send it my way for inclusion in a future issue of the Scotch Bonnet. Let me know what you’re hearing from the sea!

Please share this website with others — and share my e-mail address with anyone who wants to receive a message when each Scotch Bonnet is available online! Thanks for all you do for students and for other educators!

My contact information is: North Carolina Sea Grant, PO Box 699, Manteo, NC 27954; phone: 252/475-3663; fax: 252/475-3545; e-mail: terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu.

Best Fishes!

Terri Kirby Hathaway
Marine Education Specialist
North Carolina Sea Grant
terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu

I have had some wonderful opportunities for travel since fall 2009, both for personal and professional development.  I’ve attended (and participated in) beachcombing events on the East Coast and West Coast.  I’ve enjoyed hunting for beach glass on the shores of Lake Erie and searching for sea-beans along the Florida’s Space Coast.

Later this summer I will be traveling with 17 educators on a bus from North Carolina through Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, then back to Washington, D.C., learning about how climate change affects marine mammals.  In addition, I will be learning about severe weather at the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, Okla. and exploring freshwater wonders at the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) annual conference in Gatlinburg, Tenn.

And don’t forget about the 15^th annual International Sea-Bean Symposium in Cocoa Beach, Fla. in October.  I’m planning to be there — anyone care to join me for some extraordinary sea-bean hunting and relaxing beachcombing in Florida?  Check out the details at www.seabean.com.

FYI — North Carolina’s Project Learning Tree’s Web site has a new look — check it out:  www.ces.ncsu.edu/plt.  You can check out dates and information for upcoming workshop at www.ces.ncsu.edu/plt/calendar.

I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing, recuperative summer if you’re getting a summer break.  And here’s wishing all the informal educators a successful summer season of camps and public programs!  Keep reading for some unique opportunities and ideas for educators.  There is a lot going on in North Carolina!

Shark Exhibit Opens May 29th at NC Aquarium
www.ncaquariums.com/roanoke-island

This summer treat your entire family to a new experience at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island.  “Sharks” will be the theme for this summer, showcasing these predators in the 285,000-gallon Graveyard of the Atlantic exhibit, and a new exhibit that will transform the Nor’easter exhibit into an exciting display of smaller sharks surrounded by fishes from the “Waters of the Outer Banks.”

Let Dr. Finnegan be your guide through the Aquarium and learn how these ancient fish became successful survivors.  Learn why scientists are so concerned about the future of sharks in our oceans.

Marty Snyderman will present his photography and videos with a focus on sharks, their behavior, human interactions, and conservation on June 8, 9 and 10.  Marty specializes in marine environments. He uses still photography to capture photos that have been seen in numerous publications, including National Geographic, Skin Diver, Natural History, Sport Diver, Time and Newsweek.  An Emmy Award-winning cinematographer, his film The Secret World of Sharks and Rays premiered on the PBS series Nature.  Marty produced and filmed To Be With Sharks (View from the Cage), featured on the Discovery Channel during Shark Week.

George Powell is a self-educated paleontologist who has an extensive private fossil collection.  Many visitors to the Aquarium will remember George from his visit during Shark Week 2009.  He has lectured with scientists, presented at universities, and currently gives tours with PCS Phosphates in Aurora.  His programs will take place on the following dates:  June 22, 23 and 24; July 13, 14 and 15; and August 10, 11 and 12.

Frank Hudgins, director of operations and husbandry, expects the new exhibit to be ready just in time for summer and all of the visitors that will come to the Aquarium.  “We plan to bring in different species of sharks; you will see familiar favorites, exciting new editions, and some sharky freshwater ‘cousins,’ ” he says.  “It will create some real excitement for our visitors this summer.”

NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher
www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher

The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is pleased to announce their inaugural “Surf It, Save It: Aquarium Surf Festival.”  The event is Saturday, June 5 and Sunday, June 6 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day at the Aquarium.

The weekend is designed to encourage environmental stewardship through surfing, as well as to educate visitors about the sport’s culture and lifestyle.  Festival activities include surfing films; an exhibit on the history of surfing, including vintage boards; hula and ukulele demonstrations; a surf simulator; rehabilitated shore birds and turtles; sea oats planting; and clean-ups of Masonboro and Zeke’s islands.  Ocean Cure/Surfer’s Healing mini-camps for autistic children and a search-and-air rescue demonstration by the U.S. Coast Guard, featuring a H60 helicopter and C-130, will be staged on the nearby beach.

Celebrities will also be on hand.  Shaun Tomson, former world-champion surfer from South Africa, will host a private showing of his mid-70s surfing feature film, Bustin’ Down The Door, and will sign copies of his book, Surfer’s Code —12 Simple Lessons for Riding Through Life, available in the Aquarium Gift Shop.  Big wave surfer Garrett McNamara will also make an appearance.  Skipper Funderburg, local author of Surfing on the Cape Fear Coast, will sign copies of his book, and board shapers Sean O’Donnell and Will Allison will discuss the evolution of surfboard design.

Surf and ocean art by photographer DJ Struntz will also be on exhibit, and large, outdoor installations by Sean Ruttkay will be featured in the Aquarium garden.

Sponsorship opportunities are available.  For more information, please contact Amy Kilgore at (910) 458-8257, ext: 211 or Emily Jones at (910) 458-8257 ext. 242.

NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
www.ncaquariums.com/pine-knoll-shores

Take your vacation to new heights this summer and see pelicans, hawks, owls and other native North Carolina birds soar overhead in Big Rock Theater at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.  This new program, “Winging It:  Birds in Flight,” offers a rare chance to see birds on the wing at close range as they respond to cues from an Aquarium “flight crew.”  The raptors and waterbirds deliver important conservation messages along with family-friendly entertainment.

Tickets are $4 per person in addition to Aquarium admission.  Seating is limited.  Tickets are sold at the admissions window the day of the show only.  Sorry, there are no advance sales or reservations, and memberships and discounts do not apply.  “Winging It:  Birds in Flight” is offered daily at 11:30 a.m.

Cousteau Summer Workshop
www.oceanfutures.org

Join Ambassadors of the Environment this summer for a 5-day/4-night teacher workshop offering cross-curricular training on marine, terrestrial, creek and watershed ecosystems, with an emphasis on ecological roles and connections between species.  Participants will receive hands-on K-12 curriculum in sustainable living, renewable energy, our ecological footprint, marine management, recycling, composting, and more.  Led by Dr. Richard Murphy, senior Cousteau educator and marine biologist, the program focuses on curriculum models of Inquiry-Based Learning and teaching practices.  Each day local experts will join us to enrich our learning, and participants will benefit from slices of free time to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Gaviota Coast north of Santa Barbara.

Program includes:  Full lodging in comfortable cabins at El Capitan Canyon (http://www.elcapitancanyon.com) with easy access to hiking trails, beaches, and creek; meals with locally harvested organic fruits and vegetables; vegetarian, and vegan options; and Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment staff, activities and curriculum materials.

Lead Instructors: Dr. Richard Murphy (Director of Science and Research with Jean-Michel Cousteau), Elaine Heath, M.A. in Gifted Education with Mesa State College, Marti McNamee, M.A. in Education and teacher for the Gifted and Talented, and Laura Brands, B.A. Environmental Studies (Ambassadors of the Environment Program Associate with Jean-Michel Cousteau).

Cost: $850.00; Deposit: $425 (50% deposit due immediately; full balance due June 1st, 2010).  Three hours of Graduate Credit from Mesa State College available for only $160.00

For more information please contact:  Elaine Heath, Gifted Education Mesa State College, (970) 261-6422, laneyh@mesa.k12.co.us or Laura Brands, Ocean Futures Society, (805) 899-8899 ext. 104, lbrands@oceanfutures.org

What’s New at the NC Maritime Museum?
www.ncmaritimemuseum.org

A new exhibit, “Science by the Sea,” highlights the achievements of our local marine science research community. Visitors will discover the fields of oceanography, marine mammal biology, marine fisheries, and ecology, and get to know the individuals that made the labs successful. The exhibit features local landmarks dedicated to marine research and a glimpse into a working laboratory (now through Nov. 14).

The Maritime Day picnic at Gallants Channel features activities, tours, boat rides & lunch. This event is free to the public and sponsored by the Friends of the Museum (Monday, May 31, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.).

The Junior Sailing Program uses the fun of sailing to teach seamanship, navigation, boating safety and sailing techniques for beginning to advanced sailors. Classes include two-week sessions, one-week sessions, and Regatta week. Contact the museum for brochure and application (June – August).

Summer Science School for Children investigates the coastal environment and North Carolina maritime history. Class topics include pirates, boat models, seashore life, nature photography, fishing and nautical archaeology. Contact the museum for brochure and application (June – August).

The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources launches this new program series at more than 30 historic sites and museums across the state. The statewide events highlight North Carolina History, Heritage, Arts & Fun — so join us at our Museum for all three events:  June 12 is Maritime History Day; July 10 is Science by the Sea Day; and Aug. 14 is Pirates of North Carolina Day.

Find out about all of the educational programs happening at the Maritime Museum by going online to www.ncmaritimemuseum.org.

Online Professional Development from NOAA’s Ocean Exploration and Research
oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/edu/development/online_development.html

Online professional development offered by NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research provides educators with more in-depth studies into specific ocean science content through the context of ocean exploration.  In partnership with The College of Exploration, an online campus setting provides a venue for educators worldwide to meet, view keynote addresses given by ocean explorers and ask questions of keynote speakers online.

Hands-on and inquiry-based activities, along with other resources, are provided in a facilitated environment.  These courses enable educators to take rich content into a variety of teaching environments in an effort to enhance ocean science literacy and further promote Ocean Literacy Essential Principal #7 — “The ocean is largely unexplored.”

These courses are free for all participants and will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Educators will have the option to receive one graduate credit ($90) or obtain a certificate of completion for each course completed.

Why Do We Explore? Okeanos Explorer Online Teacher Professional Development Series, Offering #2

Date: June 21 – July 2, 2010

This two-week online professional development offering will include a keynote address by ocean explorers who have made significant ocean discoveries, inquiry-based lessons for all grade-levels, and facilitated online reflective conversations about the importance of ocean exploration on a global scale.  Areas of focus include climate change, energy, human health and ocean health.

Scientific presenters will include:  Dr. Charles Fisher, Professor of Biology, Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University; Dr. Shirley A. Pomponi, Executive Director, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution at Florida Atlantic University; and Dr. Edith Widder, Cofounder and President, Ocean Research and Conservation Association (ORCA)

To register, please visit coexploration.org/oe/

How Do We Explore? Okeanos Explorer Online Teacher Professional Development Series, Offering #3

Date: October 11 – 29, 2010

This three-week online professional development offering will include a keynote address by Captain Joseph Pica, Commanding Officer aboard the Okeanos Explorer, and topic introductions by key scientists working in specific areas of ocean exploration.  Topics will include searching for anomalies, selecting sites for exploration, communication tools including telepresence technology, mapping techniques, water column study and operating remotely operated vehicles.  This course will include hands-on and inquiry-based lessons for all grade-levels, and facilitated online reflective conversations about how we approach the study of our largely unexplored ocean.

Scientific presenters will include:  CDR Joseph Pica, Commanding Officer, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer; Webb Pinner, Systems Engineer, Okeanos Explorer Program; Elizabeth Lobecker, Physical Scientist, NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program; Dave Lavolvo, Founder/owner, Eastern Oceanics, Adjunct Professor, Institute for Exploration, ROV Team Lead, NOAA Okeanos Explorer.

A link to registration information will be posted on the NOAA OE website at oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/edu/development/online_development.html in July 2010.

Teaching about the Marine Environment
www.uncw.edu

Can’t get to the shore to teach about the marine environment?  This course developed and taught by Dr. Rosanne Fortner, former President of the National Marine Educators Association and Director of COSEE Great Lakes, offers classroom-based methods for ocean education.  Explore online sources and exemplary print materials for grades 5 to 12, many adaptable for informal learning.  Match the lessons to your curriculum and adapt to your setting with expert assistance.  This course is completely online and asynchronous.

For each topic in the course, background readings will be provided, and the ocean literacy principles and scope/sequence will be discussed.  Participating teachers will match the activities for the topics to the North Carolina standards in science at their grade level.  Activities will be tried with a group of learners and responses discussed online.

Discussion will include advantages and disadvantages of the methodology for different instructional settings.  Guidelines for curriculum development will be built as different lessons are evaluated, and the culminating project will be an electronic portfolio of materials adapted for the individual’s classroom or informal setting.

Text materials are primarily online from Sea Grant, COSEE, NOAA, and other providers, but participants will be required to purchase a copy of the Fall 2009 issue of Science Activities journal and ES-EAGLS Life in the Great Lakes (innovative methods for coastal/aquatic education).

Course is listed as EVS 485/592 (Special Topics in Environmental Science) and offers three (3) credit hours at the undergraduate or graduate level.  Contact Dr. Rosanne Fortner for additional information at fortnerr@uncw.edu.

Summer Programs for the Public

• The North Carolina Estuarium offers a variety of public programs, art shows, and special events each season.  Go online to find out about summer programs and art exhibits:  www.partnershipforthesound.org.  The Estuarium is located at 223 E. Water Street, Washington, N.C., and is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and open Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. from June 13 to Aug. 29.  Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for students.   Please call ahead for program information as space may be limited. The Estuarium is a Partnership for the Sounds facility, an organization promoting eco-tourism and sustainable economic development in the Albemarle-Pamlico region. For more information, check out www.partnershipforthesounds.org. Contact estuarium@embarqmail.com or 252-948-0000.

• On weekdays during June, July and August, Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station offers a regular schedule of public programs, which are free with the site admission fee.  All programs begin at 2 p.m. and are weather-dependent.
  Mondays:  Discover what went on behind-the-scenes during the filming of Nights in Rodanthe.
  Tuesdays:  Explore the forgotten yet fascinating history of the U.S. Life-Saving Service, predecessors of today’s U.S. Coast Guard.
  Wednesdays:  Meet the real Taffy of Torpedo Junction.  Hatteras Island native Carol Dillon entertains visitors with her stories of growing up during World War II.
  Thursdays (my personal favorite):  Watch local U.S. Coast Guardsmen reenact the historic breeches buoy rescue performed by the U.S. Life-Saving Service many years ago.
  Fridays:  Learn more about a local history mystery – what really happened to the “Lost Colony.”  Chicamacomico is located at milepost 39.5 in the village of Rodanthe on Hatteras Island.  For details and directions, visit their web site at www.chicamacomico.net.

• Don’t forget to check out your local National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) for amazing public programs — a lot of the offerings are free of charge.  Alligator River NWR is offering public programs all summer long, including red wolf howlings, canoe tours and free interpretive tours on their new tram.  Pea Island NWR offers bird walks, turtle talks and canoe trips.  A visit to www.fws.gov/alligatorriver/spec.html#schedule will give you a detailed schedule of programs for both Alligator River and Pea Island.  And check out the story on the Red Wolf Recovery Program in the upcoming Summer 2010 issue of Coastwatch magazine.

• Your local National Park  Service locations offer a variety of public programming during the summer months.  Check out these Web sites to find out what’s happening in a coastal area near you!

• Wright Brothers National Monument:  www.nps.gov/wrbr/planyourvisit/events.htm
• Cape Hatteras National Seashore:  www.nps.gov/capa/planyourvisit/events.htm
• Cape Lookout National Seashore:  www.mps.gov/calo/planyourvisit/ranger-programs.htm

New Edition of Nature Guide to the Carolina Coast

For those of you who have used the first edition of Nature Guide to the Carolina Coast:  Common Birds, Crabs, Shells, Fish, and other Entities of the Coastal Environment by Peter Meyer since it was first published in 1991, get ready to purchase a new one!  Meyer, a board-certified emergency physician in Wilmington, has just updated and expanded the reference with more species, more photos and more information.

From a recent press release:  “Nature Guide to the Carolina Coast remains a practical, entertaining, reader-friendly guide to the common animals, plants, and environment of the Carolina coast.  The contents are scientifically accurate, yet written in language the interested public can understand.”

“Nature Guide is an excellent resource for coastal residents and visitors along the North Carolina/South Carolina coast.  The book is entertaining and educational, a beachcomber’s handbook, valuable to any seaside explore.”

Every book ordered directly from the author is shipped free of charge — whether you order one, two, or more!  FYI —Meyer told me that he will give an additional 10 percent discount to anyone who asks for an educator/teacher discount, so mention that you read about it in the Scotch Bonnet and save a buck or two!

Books are $17.95 each; add applicable N.C. sales tax; make checks payable to Avian-Cetacean Press; and mail your order to Avian-Cetacean Press, PO Box 15643, Wilmington, NC 28408.

NC Science Festival
www.ncsciencefestival.org

The North Carolina Science Festival this fall has a special twist:
Rather than a single location on a single day or weekend, events will
take place around the state from Sept. 11 to 26.

“The Festival will highlight the educational, cultural and financial
impact of science in our state. Through hands-on activities, science
talks, lab tours, nature experiences, exhibits and performances, the
Festival will engage a wide range of public audiences while inspiring
the next generation of scientists,” organizers explain.

Check back this summer at the website above to find an activity in your
area. Or find some partners and add an activity of your own.

The N.C. festival will help you lead up to the U.S. Science and
Engineering Festival in October that will include an event at the
National Mall in Washington, D.C. That agenda is at:
http://www.usasciencefestival.org.

Curriculum/Activity Guides Still Available

COSEE SouthEast’s The Educator’s Guide to Marine Debris:  Southeast and Gulf of Mexico is a regional introduction to three main categories of marine debris: litter; derelict or abandoned boats; and lost or abandoned commercial and recreational fishing gear.  This publication is available for free download on the COSEE SouthEast Web site www.cosee-se.org/marinedebris.php and is also available in hard copy, while supplies last.

North Carolina Big Sweep’s publication Undercurrents:  A Big Sweep Middle School Teacher’s Guide includes litter awareness lessons that are correlated with state learning objectives for 8^th grade science and math, as well as for healthful living, language arts, and information skills.  Undercurrents is available free to North Carolina educators while supplies last.

The Coastal Processes and Conflicts curriculum includes extensive background information for teachers, as well as student lessons that are relevant in any setting — not just the island environment.  It is appropriate for middle and high school students.  The curriculum can be downloaded for free from www.ecu.edu/educ/csmte/coastal_processes.cfm.  Or you can order a hard copy ($10 includes postage), which comes with a CD containing color copies of figures used in the student activities.

Each of these education resources is available from Terri Kirby Hathaway, NC Sea Grant, mailto:terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu.

Need to contact me?

If you ever have information to share with other marine educators, please don’t hesitate to send it my way for inclusion in a future issue of the Scotch Bonnet.  Let me know what you’re hearing from the sea!

Please share this web site with others — and share my email address with anyone who wants to receive a message when each Scotch Bonnet is available online!  Thanks for all you do for students and for other educators!

My contact information is:   North Carolina Sea Grant, PO Box 699, Manteo, NC 27954; phone: 252/475-3663; fax: 252/475-3545; email: terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu.

Best Fishes!

Terri Kirby Hathaway
Marine Education Specialist
North Carolina Sea Grant
terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu

Welcome to the Winter 2010 online issue of Scotch Bonnet. And the newsletter is also available as a portable document file (.pdf) a portable document file (.pdf) – if you’re like me and want to keep a hard copy!

This issue features some of my musings about the world’s oceans, as well as opportunities and ideas for educators this winter (below). There is a lot going on in North Carolina!

How Many Oceans?

- An Essay by Terri Kirby Hathaway

What’s the answer to that question? One? Five? Seven? How many oceans are there on the planet? I guess it depends on whom you ask. Most people give the answer as four or five or seven. But others give my favorite answer: one world ocean with five major geographical subdivisions.

Looking at a globe or a flat world map, you can see that the ocean is one interconnected body of water that covers roughly 71 percent of the Earth’s surface. The ocean is separated into ocean basins by the continents. Where no land is found, we use arbitrary lines to delineate the major geographic sections.

The specific names of the ocean basins come in handy when talking about shipping or sailing. Saying that a cruise ship is on the ocean is very broad, but saying that the ship is cruising in the South Pacific is more descriptive and gives a better picture of where the ship is sailing.

In an informal survey of 131 marine educators from the mid-Atlantic states, there was no clear majority. Forty-seven said that there is one ocean and 46 said there were five. Nineteen respondents said there were seven oceans, and 15 answered four oceans. What a conundrum. There is definitely confusion about the number of oceans on our planet!

In North Carolina, the hydrosphere is a main topic in eighth-grade science. The eighth-grade science textbook, published in 2005, states that “the global ocean is divided by the continents into four major oceans.” It mentions the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Indian, and the Arctic as the four major divisions, as does the 2005 edition of Marine Biology by Castro and Huber.

A few years ago, the National Geographic Society, along with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE), the College of Exploration, and the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) developed and adopted standards for ocean literacy. The first fundamental concept says, “There is one ocean with many ocean basins . . . .”

Grant Gross, in his seventh edition of Principles of Oceanography, says that there are four major ocean basins. His list includes the Atlantic, the Indian, the Pacific, and the Southern. In 1995, Gross considered the Arctic as an extension of the Atlantic Ocean.

For many years, oceanographers contended that there were four major ocean basins: Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific. In spring of 2000, the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) decided to delineate a fifth ocean basin, taking parts of the Atlantic, the Indian, and the Pacific Oceans to create the Southern Ocean from 60^o south latitude all around the continent of Antarctica.

So who (or what) is the IHO? The International Hydrographic Bureau (IHB) was officially created in 1921 after sporadic meetings in Washington, DC, St. Petersburg (USSR), and London (England). In 1970, the IHB became an international organization headquartered in Monaco, with a current membership of 80 countries.

The IHO’s priorities include standardizing nautical charts, maintaining reliable and efficient methods of conducting hydrographic and oceanographic surveys, and keeping the science of hydrography current.

During my informal survey, someone asked about the difference between “ocean” and “sea” – I must admit that I wasn’t certain of the answer, so I had to do a little research.

Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary defines the two terms this way:

Ocean – 1: the whole body of salt water that covers nearly three fourths of the surface of the earth; 2: any of the large bodies of water (as the Atlantic Ocean) into which the great ocean is divided.

Sea – 1 a: a great body of salt water that covers much of the earth, broadly: the waters of the earth as distinguished from the land and air; b: a body of salt water of second rank more or less landlocked <the Mediterranean sea>; c: ocean; d: an inland body of water – used especially for names of such bodies <the Caspian Sea>.

According to The Handy Ocean Answer Book (Svarney and Barnes-Svarney, 2000):

Oceans are described as continuous bodies of saltwater surrounding the continents. . . . Each of the individual oceans contains shallower areas that differ physically, chemically, or biologically from one another; these are called seas. Geographers define a sea as a division of the ocean that is enclosed or partially enclosed by land.

In addition, The Handy Ocean Answer Book mentions additional saltwater bodies that are called seas. But, the Caspian Sea, the Dead Sea, and the Aral Sea are all landlocked lakes, isolated from the ocean.

Look up the “seven seas” and you will find even more ambiguity and confusion.

The seven seas of medieval times include the Mediterranean Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Adriatic Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, the Black Sea, and Arabian Sea (part of the Indian Ocean). These were the known bodies of water that surrounded the ancient world of Europe, northern Africa and the Middle East.

After the discovery of North America, sailors used the term “seven seas” to include the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Indian, and the Arctic oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

In the late nineteenth century, British writer Rudyard Kipling came up with the modern idea of “seven seas” that is comprised of all the major navigable waters: the North and South Atlantic, the North and South Pacific, the Indian, the Arctic, and the Antarctic (Southern) oceans.

The World Factbook, located on the Central Intelligence Agency’s Web site, offers a wealth of information about the five recognized ocean basins. Visit that web site to learn more.

As far as I can tell, there may not be ONE correct answer to the question, “How many oceans are there on planet Earth?” Each person’s answer depends on when they learned about the ocean. Although I can’t be certain, I’m pretty sure that I was taught there were four oceans.

I do know that no matter how many ocean basins, all of them are interconnected.

And, no matter when I’m asked, I will always say that Pluto is a planet!

For more views of the world’s oceans from outer space, visit the NASA channel on YouTube.

Winter Ideas and Opportunities For Educators

COSEE SouthEast Summer Institute (New Entry! Updated 2/16)
www.cosee-se.org/teacher/

The 2010 Ocean Sciences Education Leadership Institute is set for June 23 – July 1.  The Institute will begin on the campus of North Carolina State University in Raleigh and will end at the Trinity Center near Atlantic Beach.

COSEE SouthEast is teaming up with regional marine and climate scientists to offer a weeklong investigation into the connections between climate change and our world’s oceans- specifically, those issues pertaining to the southeast region!  Explore the interconnections between global climate change and sea level rise, sea surface temperature, and ocean chemistry.

Activities and resources provided will be aligned to state standards and will specifically address STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) disciplines.  Any formal or informal educator in NC, SC or GA is invited to apply. All lodging, transportation during the workshop, materials and some meals will be provided by COSEE SouthEast.

Application deadline is March 31, 2010 and application materials can be found on the COSEE SouthEast web site:  www.cosee-se.org/teacher/

New Disney Film “Oceans” Opens 4/22/10 (New Entry! Updated 2/16)
www.disney.com/oceans

Coming soon to a theater near you — DisneyNature’s newest film opens on Earth Day, April 22, 2010 in theaters nationwide.  If you think you know the oceans, you haven’t scratched the surface yet!  Don’t miss this opportunity to see never-before-seen film footage of the mysteries of the deep.

During the first week, April 22-28, Disney will donate $0.20 for each ticket purchased to the Nature Conservancy’s “Adopt A Reef” program in the Bahamas.  A minimum donation of $100,000 has been committed by Disney.  Do your part and see “Oceans” during its first week in theaters.

Visit the web site to find an activity guide and a teacher’s guide available for free download.

Ocean Awareness Days with COSEE – SouthEast
www.cosee-se.org/

Climate Change in the Cape Fear River Basin
Where: N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Kure Beach, NC
When: Friday, Jan. 29;,8 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 30, 4 p.m. Rescheduled for Saturday, April 24; 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $20 refundable deposit

Get ready for a hands-on workshop for middle and high school science teachers at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher on April 24! Join science teachers Bill Martin and Diane Vasey, researchers, and other education professionals to discuss climate change impacts in the Cape Fear Region. Animals affected by climate change illustrate impacts from headwaters of the Deep and Haw Rivers to the mid-Atlantic Ocean. Discover how birds, amphibians, and marine mammals respond to changing resources. Learn how to share their stories with your students through activities aligned with N.C. science standards.

Food, lodging, and workshop materials are provided. A $20 refundable deposit is required to register. To register by email, contact ncaff.registrar@ncaquariums.com or call 910/458-7468.

Our Warming Waters: An Oceans and Climate Change Workshop
Where: N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC
When: Saturday, Feb. 20, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Cost: $15 (includes lunch and snacks provided by Acro Café and materials)

Come join our exploration of the world’s oceans and how they are being impacted by climate change. Participants will view demonstrations and participate in hands-on activities and labs that can be used in the classroom.

Participants will watch “Beneath the Blue,” a stunning high-definition production that will take them to the center of an ecosystem that exists thousands of feet below the surface of the Gulf Stream. Participants will have the opportunity to meet and collaborate with an oceanographer. Participants will receive numerous educational materials, posters and other resources. Funding for this workshop is provided by the SouthEast Center for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence and North Carolina Sea Grant.

For more information or to register, contact M.T. Fore at 919/733-7350 x621 or mary.tyler.fore@ncdenr.gov .

Marine Mammals and Climate Change
www.ncaquariums.com/

Calling all informal educators! Are you interested in marine mammals? Are you interested in climate change? Are you willing to spend nine days traveling the east coast, visiting aquariums and learning about how climate change will affect marine mammals? Can you follow up with a special event at your location? Would you like to do this free of charge?

Thanks to a grant from NOAA, the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher and the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences have teamed up to offer a unique learning adventure just for informal educators. During this 10-day mobile Marine Mammal Institute (MMI) you will acquire knowledge, support, and methodology for communicating the effects of climate change on marine mammals. After the Institute, you will be expected to host a Marine Mammal event featuring an immersive theater – the GeoDome – at your informal science center.

Through a series of seminars, activities, and field experiences with partners – including Duke University’s Marine Lab, the Virginia Aquarium, National Aquarium in Baltimore, Mystic Aquarium and New England Aquarium – MMI participants gain an understanding of ocean issues, how they impact marine mammals, humans’ relationship to marine mammals and their responsibility to ensure the continued survival of this compelling group of animals.

During unstructured planning time, participants develop interpretive activities and exhibits for public audiences. Activities will be used independently and as a complement to a portable GeoDome presentation. For more information about the unique GeoDome experience, please visit http://geodome.info/. For ideas of how the GeoDome can be used for different types of programs, visit http://blog.elumenati.com/category/GeoDome/.
Applications are due by Jan. 15! For more information and to request a copy of the application, contact Peggy Sloan at peggy.sloan@ncaquariums.com or Liz Baird at liz.baird@ncdenr.gov or visit sites online: www.naturalsciences.org or www.ncaquariums.com.

Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education (OBCWE)
www.ncwildlife.org/Education_Workshops/Outer_Banks_Center.htm

The OBCWE is offering some wonderful educational programs and field trips this winter. All programs are FREE, but registration is required. Registration is open 30 days prior to date of program.

January programs:
1/22 Identifying Frog Calls: CASP Workshop at Currituck Library
1/27 Exploring North Carolina: Museum of the Albemarle
1/30 Waste to Wonderful: The Magic of Composting

February programs:
2/2 Identifying Frog Calls: CASP Workshop in Corolla
2/6 Roll Out the Rain Barrels
2/9 Currituck Heritage Park Lecture Series: Getting Here
2/10 Exploring North Carolina: Elizabethan Gardens
2/12 Great Backyard Bird Count: Corolla
2/13 Great Backyard Bird Count: Kitty Hawk Woods
2/14 Great Backyard Bird Count: Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge
2/15 Great Backyard Bird Count: Nags Head Woods
2/24 Exploring North Carolina: Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum

Program times and details are available online at https://ncpaws.org/reservations/corolla/CalendarView.aspx.

Howling at the Wolves
www.fws.gov/redwolf

Enjoy the wild wonder of hearing red wolves howl on the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. Wolf howlings are offered during the summer season and around the “howl-o-days.” Check out the schedule for 2010 on the Red Wolf Recovery Program Web site www.fws.gov/redwolf or on the Red Wolf Coalition’s Web site www.redwolves.com.

Red wolf howlings begin at Creef Cut Wildlife Trail, which is located on mainland Dare County, in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. Programs last about two hours. Participants are asked to bring a flashlight and insect repellent, to dress appropriately for the weather, and to leave pets at home! Registration fee is $5 per participant.

To register for any of the 2010 howlings, visit the Red Wolf Coalition’s Web site or call 252-796-5600.

Click here to see more images of red wolves, and hear audio clips of red wolves howling!

What’s New at the NC Maritime Museum
www.ncmaritimemuseum.org

Here are some winter programs at the N.C. Maritime Museum – more can be found on their Web site.

Jan. 26, 2 p.m.
Today’s modern English language is steeped in the history and culture of past generations. Among the most significant influences on our language has been that of ancient mariners, whose nautical expressions have found their way into our everyday conversations. Let author and historian Jay Barnes “show you the ropes” in his program that explores the etymology (word origins) of these words and phrases, and offers many surprising examples of Nautical Terms in Everyday Use. This program, free of charge, will be held Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 2 p.m.

Feb. 12, 6 p.m.
Join museum educators for a new program, Love on the High Seas. Bring your Valentine to hear stories of maritime love and romance while enjoying sweet treats on Friday evening, Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. Call the museum to reserve your space.

Feb. 15, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Classroom teachers and informal educators are invited to a winter workshop entitled Oceans to Estuaries: Conserve the Connection. Discover the secrets of estuaries and how they connect the rivers to the sea. Activities include presentations by local scientists and educators plus reviews of several lesson plans and resources.

Co-sponsored by the Rachel Carson National Estuarine Research Reserve and Carteret County School District, this six-hour workshop, lunch, door prizes, and associated resources are provided free of charge and can be submitted for 0.6 CEU credit. Prior to the workshop, on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., experience educational activities and a natural history hike at the Rachel Carson Reserve. The pre-workshop field trip counts 0.4 hours towards completion of CEU credit.

Advance registration is required, and class size is limited. To register for the teacher workshop, contact Allison Besch at allison.besch@ncdcr.gov, or 252/728-7317. Please direct questions to Allison or to Miriam Sutton at msutt@coastalnet.com.

Find out about all of the educational programs happening at the Maritime Museum on the Web at www.ncmaritimemuseum.org.

Pamlico Joe – For a Rip-roaring Good Time
www.pamlicojoe.com

Pamlico Joe & Clean Water Flow kick off their 2010 world tour of River School in January. River School concerts focus on coastal habitats and how people impact the coast no matter where they live. Animals can’t protect their environment but people can. With the sound of the opening bell, River School takes students on a journey to the coast where animals come first. River School is a great way to recharge students’ love for the planet.
Concerts offer plenty of high energy audience participation songs that focus on a healthy planet from a coastal perspective. River School is adapted for K-5 audiences and special events. Visit www.pamlicojoe.com to schedule a concert in your school or for your upcoming special events.

Curriculum/Activity Guides Still Available

COSEE SouthEast’s The Educator’s Guide to Marine Debris: Southeast and Gulf of Mexico is a regional introduction to three main categories of marine debris: litter; derelict or abandoned boats; and lost or abandoned commercial and recreational fishing gear. This publication is available for free download on the COSEE SouthEast Web site www.cosee-se.org/marinedebris.php and is also available in hard copy, while supplies last.

North Carolina Big Sweep’s publication Undercurrents: A Big Sweep Middle School Teacher’s Guide includes litter awareness lessons that are correlated with state learning objectives for 8th grade science and math, as well as for healthful living, language arts, and information skills. Undercurrents is available free to North Carolina educators while supplies last.

The Coastal Processes and Conflicts curriculum includes extensive background information for teachers, as well as student lessons that are relevant in any setting — not just the island environment. It is appropriate for middle and high school students. The curriculum can be downloaded for free from www.ecu.edu/educ/csmte/coastal_processes.cfm. Or you can order a hard copy ($10 includes postage), which comes with a CD containing color copies of figures used in the student activities.

Each of these education resources is available from Terri Kirby Hathaway, NC Sea Grant, terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu.

Need to contact me?
If you ever have information to share with other marine educators, please don’t hesitate to send it my way for inclusion in a future issue of the Scotch Bonnet. Let me know what you’re hearing from the sea!

Please share this Web site with others — and share my email address with anyone who wants to receive a message when each Scotch Bonnet is available online! Thanks for all you do for students and for other educators!

My contact information is: North Carolina Sea Grant, PO Box 699, Manteo, NC 27954; phone: 252/475-3663; fax: 252/475-3545; e-mail: terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu.

Best Fishes!

Terri Kirby Hathaway
Marine Education Specialist
NC Sea Grant
terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu

Fall is my favorite time at the coast.  There is so much going on, and the autumn environment is always just perfect for me — a little twinge of cool in the air, the sound of sea oats blowing in the stiff breeze, deserted beaches (okay, almost deserted), waves crashing on the shore, etc.  Just writing about fall beachcombing is getting me eager for a walk on the beach.  I think I’m going to leave work right now and go beachcombing!

Keep reading for some fall opportunities and ideas for educators.  There is a lot going on in North Carolina!

Take A Child Outside Week – September 24-30
www.takeachildoutside.org

Join the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences for the third annual “Take A Child Outside” week.  This international event encourages people to help reconnect children with nature.  Parents, teachers and other caregivers are asked to make a pledge to take a child outside, and then to post a description of what they did or where they went on the Web site (www.takeachildoutside.org).  In addition they can find hundreds of partnering organizations offering unique opportunities from across the United States and in four foreign countries.

This event was created in response to the fact that today’s generation of children does not spend significant time outdoors exploring the natural world.  As adults, people who have a strong connection to a special place in the environment are more likely to support conservation efforts.  Children who feel alienated from the environment can experience increased feelings of stress, have trouble paying attention and have a sense of being disconnected from the world.  Studies also link the lack of time outside to increased childhood obesity and increased attention-deficit disorder behaviors.

For more information about the week or becoming a partner, please contact Liz Baird at liz.baird@ncdenr.gov.

MAMEA Conference Set for October 2-4
www.mamea.org/2009conf.html

Come on and join marine educators from North Carolina, Virginia, Delaware, Washington D.C. and Maryland for an exciting professional development opportunity at the Virden Center, University of Delaware’s College of Marine Studies, in Lewes, Del. October 2-4!

“New Inspiration in Marine Education” will offer a variety of educational experiences for marine educators from the MAMEA region.  On Friday, October 2, enjoy field trips including kayaking, a tour of the research labs and a wetlands hike.  Gary Kreamer from “Green Eggs & Sand” will be the featured speaker for Friday evening. He will talk about Delaware’s unique aquatic habitats.

Saturday, October 3, features presentations on the latest marine and aquatic research and how we can include this new and exciting information in our classrooms and education programs; as well as presentations by educators on lessons, activities and resources.  And you don’t want to miss the fun-filled marine auction and accompanying party!

You can choose to stay and take advantage of the free University of Delaware’s Coast Day with exhibits, seafood cooking demonstrations, boat tours, a boat show and much more on Sunday, October 4.  Visit www.ocean.udel.edu/coastday for details about this annual event.

NC Outdoor Classroom Symposium – October 22-24
www.eenorthcarolina.org/outdoor_classrooms_about.htm

The Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Program, the N.C. Botanical Garden, the Environmental Education Fund, the N.C. Office of Environmental Education and the Natural Learning Initiative at North Carolina State University invite you to attend the North Carolina Outdoor Classroom Symposium on October 22-24 at the N.C. Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill.

The symposium will focus on techniques for creating, maintaining and using outdoor classrooms and strategies for integrating outdoor learning into the curriculum.  It will feature sessions on how to create specific types of school gardens and natural areas, how to start farm-to-school programs and how to design and use your school grounds to enhance learning across the curriculum. Pre-symposium workshops will be offered on Thursday. Mobile workshops on Saturday will give participants the opportunity to visit school and community gardens.  Other highlights will include a Friday evening reception, educational exhibits and many opportunities for networking and learning!

Sessions will be appropriate for educators who already have an outdoor classroom and for those who are just beginning to develop their schoolyard areas for outdoor environmental learning. Teachers can earn CEU credits, and all participants can earn credit towards their N.C. Environmental Education Certification. This will be a great opportunity for classroom teachers, teacher assistants, school administrators, parent volunteers, non-formal educators and those involved in the design of outdoor learning and play areas from across the state!

Visit the Web site for a brief agenda and to find out about registration.

Other Interesting Educational Opportunities for Educators

If you enjoy walking the beach, finding neat things, picking them up and appreciating them, then I have got some wonderful events for you this fall!  Sea-beans, sea glass and beachcombing in general are featured in three unique learning opportunities.  I’ll be reporting on at least two of these in upcoming issues of Scotch Bonnet.  Maybe I’ll see some of you there!

October 16-17 — 14^th Annual International Sea-Bean Symposium, Cocoa Beach Public Library, Cocoa Beach, Fla.  www.seabean.com/symposium/2009/index.htm

October 17-18 – North American Sea Glass Festival, Bayfront Convention Center, Erie, Pa.  www.seaglassassociation.org/SeaGlassFestival.php

November 7-8 — First International Beachcombing Conference, Phillip Merrill Environmental Center, Annapolis, Md.  www.beachcombingconference.com

Photography Exhibit at NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher
www.ncaquariums.com/

The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher invites you to view the peaceful moments in life with its new Spadefish gallery art exhibit.  ”Photography by Matt Lettrich” will be on display September through November.  The exhibit showcases breathtaking photographs of coastal landscapes with unique lighting and remarkable perspectives.

After taking a darkroom studio photography course in high school, Lettrich became entranced by photography.  The class credit quickly morphed into a passionate hobby.  Lettrich enjoys engaging in outdoor activities and snapping shots of subjects that enhance his experience.  His camera always accompanies him in case the perfect shot arises ¾ such as waves crashing underneath a pier or a fisherman lifting a cast net out of the water at sunset.  Lettrich currently attends the University of North Carolina Wilmington as a graduate student in the marine science program.

The Spadefish gallery at the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher showcases local artists throughout the year.  Artwork that coincides with the Aquarium’s mission of “Inspiring Appreciation and Conservation of North Carolina’s Aquatic Environment” is located on the second floor, near the auditorium.

North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching
www.nccat.org

The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) provides a collegial and engaging environment for teachers — a place to learn, think, debate, and explore.  NCCAT’s instructional programs are relevant to all subjects taught in North Carolina’s classrooms.  Please consider joining NCCAT for one of the STEM seminars listed below at no expense to you or your school.  Invite your colleagues to apply today, too.  NCCAT covers all program costs, including seminar expenses, meals, lodging and pay for the substitute teacher.  We encourage you and your colleagues to apply for a professional development seminar today by calling Teacher Services at 800/922-0482.

Here is just a sampling of opportunities available with NCCAT.  To view a PDF of all fall seminars, visit http://www.nccat.org/News_Items/Archives/2009/SD_09_fall_revised2.pdf.

Awakening Your Inner Einstein:  Science for the Non-Science Teacher
November 1–5: Cullowhee

Young children enthusiastically embrace learning about the world they live in with fearless abandon.  So why, many years later, do so many adults — including teachers — often consider themselves a “non-science” person?  Somehow many of us have misplaced our instinctive desire to understand the world around us and have walled ourselves off from much of the joy and magic the universe has to offer.  Join us as we seek to rekindle that spark of curiosity that still glows inside us all.

Climbing the Double Helix: Is DNA Destiny?
December 1–5: Ocracoke

Even 50 years after the discovery of the DNA molecule, scientists continue to debate the roles of environment versus genetics with regard to the growth, development and behavior of humans.  Roll up your sleeves, board the Destiny traveling science laboratory and master firsthand the techniques scientists use to identify and sequence bits of DNA.  Prior knowledge of biochemistry is not required for this seminar.

Narrative Images:  Storytelling in the Age of New Media
December 6–10: Cullowhee

We define our world with narrative images.  This seminar will focus on using both digital technology and traditional materials to explore and interpret forms of new media and sequential art narratives.  Enrich your understanding of storytelling and learn new techniques for self-expression that reaffirm your abilities as a participant in an essentially creative, image-driven world.

What’s New at the NC Maritime Museum
www.ncmaritime.org

The N.C. Maritime Museum’s education department underwent several personnel changes this year.  Jeannie Kraus and JoAnne Powell announced their retirements in December 2008 and June 2009, respectively.  Jeannie and JoAnne have each given more than 30 years of service to the museum and have shaped the education department into what it is today.  Patrons who miss their expertise and humor should check upcoming calendars for special appearances in field programs starting this fall.

The department would like to welcome Laurie Streble as Associate Museum Curator.  Laurie came to the museum in July 2009 and will be coordinating public programs for the museum.  She previously worked as Outreach Coordinator at the N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Allegheny College.

The annual museum Calendar of Events can now be found as a pullout section of the museum’s newsletter, the Waterline.  Pick up a copy of the Waterline today for the latest public programs and special events at the museum.

This fall visitors can enjoy a variety of activities including nature trips to Rachel Carson Reserve and Shackleford Banks, a taste of local marine delicacies at the new Maritime Seafood Dinner Series, and tricks and treats at Fright Night at the museum.  Free museum lectures will feature the latest on modern piracy, the archaeology of the Queen Anne’s Revenge and an investigation of storms in the Graveyard of the Atlantic.  For more details and information, visit www.ncmaritimemuseum.org

Manatees Sighted in Carteret County
www.carolinacoastonline.com

Some Carteret County residents were treated to a unique sight in early September –  three manatees exploring in Peletier Creek near Morehead City!  Go to www.carolinacoastonline.com/articles/2009/09/09/news-times/news/doc4aa7c3c00dda2150880821.txt for details!

Sands Teach

http://web.vims.edu/bridge/

An earlier online discussion on scuttlebutt focused on using sand in teaching has generated an exchange of great Web sites that can help you incorporate sand as a teaching tool in your classrooms.  Check out some of these resources and don’t forget to check out the links from the Bridge, (search for “sand.”)

www.sandcollectors.org/ISCSHomeIndexx.html

www.jaster.20m.com/Trading/TradeList.html

www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech080.shtml

www.chariho.k12.ri.us/curriculum/MISmart/ocean/sandintr.html

If you’re not a member of the Scuttlebutt discussion list, join up!  You never know what is going to be announced, discussed or revealed!  Go to the Bridge Web site, click on “Communicate” and follow the link to the Scuttlebutt E-mail List.

Curriculum/Activity Guides Still Available

COSEE SouthEast’s The Educator’s Guide to Marine Debris:  Southeast and Gulf of Mexico is a regional introduction to three main categories of marine debris:  litter; derelict or abandoned boats; and lost or abandoned commercial and recreational fishing gear.  This publication is available for free download on the COSEE SouthEast Web site (www.cosee-se.org/marinedebris.php)  and is also available in hard copy, while supplies last.

North Carolina Big Sweep’s publication Undercurrents:  A Big Sweep Middle School Teacher’s Guide includes litter awareness lessons that are correlated with state learning objectives for eigth grade science and math, as well as for healthful living, language arts and information skills.  Undercurrents is available free to North Carolina educators while supplies last.

The Coastal Processes and Conflicts curriculum includes extensive background information for teachers, as well as student lessons that are relevant in any setting — not just the island environment.  It is appropriate for middle and high school students.  The curriculum can be downloaded for free from www.ecu.edu/educ/csmte/coastal_processes.cfm.  Or you can order a hard copy ($10 includes postage), which comes with a CD containing color copies of figures used in the student activities.

Each of these education resources is available from Terri Kirby Hathaway, North Carolina Sea Grant, terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu.

Need to contact me?

If you ever have information to share with other marine educators, please don’t hesitate to send it my way for inclusion in a future issue of the Scotch Bonnet.  Let me know what you’re hearing from the sea!

My contact information is: North Carolina Sea Grant, PO Box 699, Manteo, NC 27954; phone: 252/475-3663; fax: 252/475-3545; e-mail: terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu.

Best Fishes!

Marine Education Specialist
NC Sea Grant
terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu