All field trips will take place on Saturday, July 17, 2021. Make your selection on the Conference Registration Form. There is limited space available on all field trips. Reserve early as they may sell out quickly! If you can not make the conference, you can still attend a field trip if there is space available; simply use the registration link below. Field trips can also be added to your registration after you register through your NMEA member profile. If you do edit your registration, please ensure that you don’t de-select conference registration, as that will cancel your conference registration.
Field trip registration is now closed. Enjoy your trips!
FMSEA Field Trip—Kayak at Fort De Soto
St. Petersburg, Florida
Due to Red Tide the FMSEA field trip has to be cancelled.
GAME Field Trip—Hunting for Shark Teeth on Jekyll Island
Jekyll Island, Georgia
Sharktooth Beach is one of Jekyll Island’s best kept secrets. Join a local naturalist who has lived and worked on Jekyll Island for over 15 years as he takes you on a guided walk through this riverside shell rake and shares his tips and tricks to finding sharks teeth in addition to identifying other fossilized items occasionally found by visitors. While success is not guaranteed, your guide will also take advantage of the nearly one mile walk to and from the beach to provide interpretation of the island’s flora and fauna. Come prepared for adventure and opportunity to network with other marine educators and share ideas.
Note : Jekyll Island Authority charges $8 parking pass per car to access the island.
Time: 9:30am – 11:30am
Place: Jekyll Island, Georgia
Restrictions: Ages 5 and over; must be able to walk 2 miles
Guests: Yes
Price: $10
Limit: 20 participants
GOMMEA Field Trip—Whale Watch Cruise
Rye, New Hampshire
Join us on a GOMMEA Whale Watch! On Saturday, July 17th, we will depart Rye, NH harbor at 2:00 pm. Spots are limited, so sign up soon! We will spend 4-5 hours enjoying the scenery and learning about whales, as well as getting to meet or re-connect with each other! Granite State Whale Watches are led by experienced and qualified naturalists who enjoy sharing their love of the marine environment with our passengers. On board are educational materials, kids books, and posters. Their staff is always available for questions!
Parking is available on site for an additional $5.00 in the NH state lot. Questions about the whale watch cruise? Reach out to Dari at dari.christenson@unh.edu.
Start Time: 2pm EDT (Please arrive at 1:30pm)
End Time: 6-6:30 pm EDT
Location: Granite State Whale Watch, Inc. | 1870 Ocean Blvd (Rte 1A) | Rye, NH 03870
Restrictions: None
Guests allowed: Yes
Price: $25 (Infants 3 and under are free, but please contact us to confirm because they need to be included in the head count).
Max capacity: 30
MAMEA Field Trip—Paddle & Nosh
Milton, Delaware
Come enjoy a 2-hour relaxing kayak along the Broadkill River and check out the MacCabe Nature Preserve followed by appetizers and drinks on the outdoor patio at Irish Eyes Pub! We will meet at the Milton Memorial Park in Milton, DE at 12:30 pm on Saturday, July 17, to gather and load the kayaks from the boat launch. We will kayak 1-3 pm and then walk over to Irish Eyes for snacks (included) and drinks (on your own) from 3:30-5 pm.
Time: 12:30 - 5:00 pm EDT
Place: Milton Memorial Park, Milton, Delaware
Age restrictions: none
Price: $30 (single kayak), $40 (tandem kayak)
MME Field Trip—Kayak Adventure on The Castle Neck River
Ipswich, Massachusetts
One of the best ways to enjoy the natural beauty of the Massachusetts North Shore is kayaking the placid waters of the Great Marsh—the largest continuous stretch of salt marsh in New England, extending from Cape Ann to New Hampshire. The Castle Neck peninsula on the Crane Estate is a vast barrier beach that protects the tidal estuary of the Essex River basin. Running along its back side is the Castle Neck River, a superb location for paddlers of all skill levels to explore these sheltered waters.
This intimate kayak tour offers the perfect vantage point to observe the unique environment of the salt marsh and the wildlife that calls it home. Keep your eyes peeled for herons, egrets, and other shore-birds—with luck we may even spot an osprey soaring overhead! Depending on the wind and tide conditions on the day of the trip, destinations may include a beach landing on Castle Neck or one of the various islands in the Crane Wildlife Refuge.
This is a guided trip offered by the Trustees of Reservations.
Time: 2:00-4:30 PM
Place: Crane Beach on the Crane Estate, Ipswich, MA
Restrictions: Participants must be competent swimmers and age 15 or older. While appropriate for all levels of kayak skill, this trip is physically demanding.
Guests: yes
Price: $35
Limit: 12 participants
NAME Field Trip—In-seine Day at Padilla Bay
Bay View, Washington
Unfortunately, we have had to cancel this field trip due to low enrollment. Please continue to follow NAME for more events and opportunities
NYSMEA Field Trip—Jones Beach Day
Wantagh, New York
Come enjoy a guided tour of the new interactive displays at the Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center, which will be enhanced by curriculum shared ahead of the trip to all registrants. After the tour and curriculum discussion, participants who bring their bikes have the option of exploring the beautiful beach vistas via the new amazing bike trails that just opened this year. No bike? Don't worry! There's plenty to do! Other options include joining us for a beach clean up, attending a poetry reading at the Center, or just enjoying your time on the beach with some unbeatable views!
Registration for this event includes free curriculum and feedback is expected on the day of the event. Since we want to make sure you have time to take full advantage of this great opportunity, participants must register by July 14th.
Time: 9:30am- 2pm EDT
Place: Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center, Wantagh, NY
Restrictions: None
Guests: No
Price: Free
SAME Field Trip—Pascagoula River & Marsh Kayaking Tour
Moss Point, Mississippi
We’re inviting marine educators to step away from the ocean and beach for a little while to go upriver! Rivers are crucial waterways connecting people, land, and the ocean. Located in downtown Moss Point, Mississippi, the Pascagoula River Audubon Center offers nature-based experiences on scenic bayou walkways & observation decks, a nature play garden, interactive exhibits, aquaria, excellent birding, and more. NMEA members attending this field trip will take a river and marsh kayak tour on the Pascagoula River, the largest undammed river (by volume) in the continental United States. We’ll have a networking lunch at the center, and lunch is included through your field trip fee. Adult guests are allowed, especially if they’re an educator!
Time: 9am – 1pm CDT
Place: Moss Point, MS
Restrictions: Adults Only
Guests: $10
Price: $10
Limit: 25
SCMEA Field Trip—Morris Island and Estuary Boat Cruise
Folly Beach, South Carolina
Join SCMEA aboard the Tideline with Capt. Weatherly Meadors for an exciting adventure through the Folly Beach salt marsh! Dolphins abound in this area, and you can (almost) guarantee to see wild dolphins and multiple species of birds as you cruise these waters full of amazing wildlife. You’re sure to be in awe of the resident dolphins as they swim and play in their natural habitat.
Prepare to have a wonderful, educational adventure on this Charleston dolphin tour and salt marsh experience! This trip is great for the whole family, including kids and teens.
Time: 8:45am – 11:00am
Place: Sunset Cay Marina: 66 9th St W, Folly Beach, SC
Restrictions: Mask required for unvaccinated participants (including children)
Price: $25
Guests: $25
Limit: 17 participants
Tideline Tours website: https://www.tidelinetours.com/
SCMEA website: https://www.scmarineed.org/
SENEME Field Trip—Marine Life Study Cruise
Norwalk, Connecticut
Unfortunately, the vessel is experiencing a technical issue that will prevent them from going out the next few days, so we will have to cancel this field trip.
