Fall Highlights from the New York State Marine Education Association (NYSMEA)

President Lisa Breslof and Treasurer Sarah Richards at the NYSMEA table at the City Island Oyster Reef 5th Annual Viva la Sound Environmental Festival on September 13

Members of the New York State Marine Education Association (NYSMEA) have been busy this fall sharing ocean and coastal science across the state! Through a variety of outreach events, our members have connected with the public to teach about horseshoe crabs, share educational materials, and promote ocean literacy.

At each event, NYSMEA educators distributed NMEA rack cards, NYSMEA brochures, educational stickers, and Ocean Conservancy volunteer ocean trash data forms, while engaging attendees with lessons and discussions about marine life and conservation. A sign-up sheet was available at every table to add new contacts to our mailing list—these new subscribers will now receive The Strandline, NYSMEA’s monthly newsletter.

The weather cooperated beautifully throughout the fall, and each event provided valuable opportunities for networking, outreach, and community engagement.

Recent Outreach Events

NYSMEA members recording data from horseshoe crab molts at the event at Plumb Beach on September 6

  • Horseshoe Crab Counting – Plumb Beach, Brooklyn (September 6)
    Participants joined Trip Leaders Dr. Mark Botton and Dr. Lisa Jean Moore for a Horseshoe Crab molt data collection walk, gathering 90 molts and studying age and growth patterns.

  • City Island Oyster Reef “Viva La Sound” – Bronx (September 13)
    NYSMEA members joined local organizations to celebrate the environment and share marine resources on this incredible day of energy, learning, and hope for the future of the Long Island Sound.

  • Croton Aquefest – Westchester County (September 20)
    Treasurer Sarah Richards shared information about NYSMEA and talked about the wonders of Horseshoe Crabs with children, their parents, and grandparents at Old Croton Aqueduct Aquefest.

  • Sunken Meadow and Huntington Green Schools Beach Cleanup – Long Island (October 11)
    Smithtown School District students and community members collected more than 80 pounds of trash at the beach at Sunken Meadow while learning about marine debris, data collection, and coastal stewardship.

Smithtown School District students and community members at the Sunken Meadow Beach Cleanup on October 11

Member Social

NYSMEA members at the August 30 social aboard the Baylander

On August 30, members also gathered aboard the Baylander, a retired naval aircraft carrier turned floating restaurant, for a summer social. It was a great opportunity for members to connect informally, enjoy the harbor views, and celebrate the close of another active season.

Looking Ahead

NYSMEA has an exciting slate of upcoming events to round out the year and beyond:

  • Science Council of New York City (SCONYC) Conference – Brooklyn, November 15

  • NYSMEA Holiday Party – Waterfront Museum, Brooklyn, December 6

  • Annual Conference – Stony Brook University Southampton, Long Island, May 30, 2026

Stay tuned for more details in upcoming issues of The Strandline and on our NYSMEA website.

About NYSMEA

The New York State Marine Education Association is one of 15 regional chapters of the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA), working to promote ocean and aquatic literacy across New York. By connecting educators, students, and community members to marine and coastal science, NYSMEA supports NMEA’s mission of helping everyone understand the ocean’s influence on us—and our influence on the ocean.

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