STUDENTS BECOME "SCIENTISTS FOR THE DAY" AT SECOND ANNUAL CAPE MAY STUDENT SUMMIT
Cape May Harbors, Trails, and Beaches Become Outdoor Classrooms at Clean Ocean Action’s Student Summit – October 5th
Cape May, NJ – On Thursday, October 5th over 150 middle school students and teachers from six schools in southernmost New Jersey were scientists for a day in an outside classroom at Clean Ocean Action’s 2nd Annual Cape May Student Summit. Hosted at the Nature Center of Cape May, local students experienced hands-on marine environmental education by participating in a roundtable of six activities and 6 interactive field excursions. The harbors, beaches, and trails served as the outdoor classroom for the seaside symposium.
Students participated in hands-on roundtable activities, taught by student volunteers from Lower Cape May Regional (LCMR), a local high school in Lower Township, Cape May. These activities had the middle-schoolers learning about horseshoe crabs, studying invertebrates, observing models of nonpoint source pollution, discussing the lethal effects of litter on the marine environment, and witnessing baby terrapins recently rescued from storm drains. The high school leaders were all members of LCMR’s marine science class taught by COA Board of Trustees Vice President, Jeff Martin, who helps organize this event.
“The student summit provides the perfect forum for what I believe is the highest level of education, where older students reach out and teach their younger peers,” said Jeff.
In addition to the roundtable segment, students attend a field excursion led by naturalists and other education professionals throughout the park. Some students used seine nets to collect and identify common marine species of the harbor. Other trips involved collecting marine debris in a beach cleanup, scoping the shore in a seaside scavenger hunt, identifying harborside mollusks and crustaceans, or traversing trails with Nature Center botanists and birders!
“During the Summit, field leaders and LCMR high school students share their knowledge with the middle school participants creating positive connections with the coastal environment. This program has the ability to spark passion and environmental stewardship that students may carry with them for the rest of their lives,” said Kristen Grazioso, COA Education & Volunteers Coordinator, and organizer of the program.
“COA is thrilled that Cape May students and teachers have embraced the Student Summit! The program is inspiring and successful thanks to the student leaders from LCMRHS and our hosts the Nature Center of Cape May,” said COA Executive Director, Cindy Zipf.
This free event is made possible by the Nature Center of Cape May, Lower Cape May Regional high school, volunteer field trip leaders, and, of course, our incredible sponsors. Waves of thanks to our sponsors The John Ben Snow Memorial Trust and special thanks to Eloise & John Pound for their support in memory of Anne Inman Webster.
About COA’s Student Summits:
For 35 years, Clean Ocean Action’s Summits have reached thousands of school students in New Jersey, expanding learning beyond the classroom. The Summit program is designed to present students with an interdisciplinary marine and environmental education experience that complements the NJ Science Standards.
COA invites northern and central New Jersey public and private schools to the Spring Student Summit, which is held in mid-May at Sandy Hook. The Fall Student Summit is held in mid-October at Island Beach State Park for southern public and private schools. The Cape May Student Summit was introduced to reach our southernmost schools and takes place in early October. Schools are mailed applications prior to the Summits and are accepted based on the application and availability.
For information on additional COA educational programs or events, visit
www.CleanOceanAction.org or call COA’s Main Office at (732) 872-0111.
