KACHEMAK BAY ONBOARD OCEANOGRAPHY - Programs onboard the M/V Rainbow Connection. Grades 4-12. April-May.
4-hour or 6-hour cruise onboard the 65' Rainbow
Connection. Scientific inquiry-based activities involve students
in small group and whole group study stations.The four-hour program
has a focus on crabs; the six-hour program on oysters and oyster
farming to highlight the productivity of Kachemak Bay. Activities
include water sampling, plankton tow and microscope study, sampling
with a crab pot, and reading charts, nautical charts and tide books.
Mid April to May.
Oceanographic Activities
- CACS staff and volunteers conduct activities at study stations set up on the boat.
- Student groups rotate through the activities during the cruise.
- Activities are inquiry-based.
- A plankton tow is lowered to several different depths. Students view the plants and animals at the bottom of the ocean food chain .
- Students learn to read tide charts and nautical charts.
- Students use scientific instruments to measure water temperature, salinity, pH, and transparency.
- Students observe nesting seabirds at the Gull Island Rookery and other marine birds
- Students participate in a Fish & Game study to monitor the crab populations in Kachemak Bay. They learn about the crab life cycle, observe how to set and pull a crab pot, then assist in counting measuring, and sexing the crabs.
- Students visit an oyster farm in Peterson Bay and have opportunities to learn directly from an oyster farmer (six-hour program only)
Resources
The pre-trip packet can be downloaded here.
The teacher manual with pre- and post-trip activity suggestions, and worksheets for student activities can be downloaded here.
Planning the Trip
Kachemak Oceanography cruises can be schedule between mid-April and Memorial Day.
A ratio of one adult per six students is required for the cruise. Teachers and chaperones are expected to maintain discipline.
Students should spend classroom time prior to the trip studying the manual and preparing for the field activities. Post-field trip activities are also included in the manual.
Reservations
Reservation packets are sent out by email in early September
and later by request. To be palced on the email list to receive
the September mailing, email info@akcoastalstudies.org.
Reservations must be in writing, using the CACS reservation form, and mailed to CACS, P.O. Box 2225, Homer, AK 99603 or faxed to (907)235-6668. Confirmation will be in writing.
A non-refundable deposit of $100 is required to hold a reservation once it is confirmed. Cancellations after February 15 will be charged a $250 cancellation fee. This fee will be refunded if the reservation can be filled.
Full payment is due within ten days after the trip.
Fees
- The fee is $46/person for the four-hour program and $61/person
for the six-hour program. Fees are for students and adults with
one free teacher. Higher program fees apply to Anchorage School
District schools due to the cost of insurance for boat trips.
- CACS is a non-profit organization with youth as our primary
audience for environmental education. We try very hard to keep
our fees reasonable for school groups. Scholarships of up to $500/class
are available through CACS and the ConcoPhillips Sea Stars
to Academic Stars award program. The program information
and application
form can be downloaded.
- The minimum charge is for a group of 25. The maximum group size
is 50 unless prior arrangements are made.
- The Oceanography program can be combined with the Alaska
Coastal Ecology residential program at Peterson Bay Field
Station. The combined fee for the four-hour program as a daytrip
is $95/person; with one overnight is $102/person; and with two
overnights, $117 per person.
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