SoundWaters

SoundWaters is at Rippowam

2012-01-27T10:51:00.000-05:00

8th graders at Rippowam Middle School are learning how Earth functions as a natural filter.

3 Steps to a Cleaner Aquarium

2012-01-25T11:30:00.000-05:00

1) Detach the skimmer from reservoir tank

2) Thoroughly clean protein buildup

3) Attach the skimmer to the reservoir and set the flow rate just right!

We depend on them. The fish, crabs, sea stars and all the other animals in the SoundWaters aquarium depend on them too. Who is it you ask that we look forward to showing up every day? Our high school interns!

Every day SoundWaters Interns contribute to the success of our aquarium. Keeping our protein skimmers clean greatly improves the quality of water our animals live in. We are extremely grateful for the pride our interns have in their role here!

Why does a horseshoe crab have a shell?

2012-01-19T14:28:00.001-05:00

After learning about the horseshoe crab, the SoundWaters Eco-tots created their own “helmet head” to protect themselves. During this program, these young scientists learn how various Long Island Sound critters protect themselves and then express their findings through art projects.

What does a horseshoe crab's shell feel like?

2012-01-19T09:28:00.000-05:00

This may be the first experience some of the SoundWaters Eco-tots have with a live horseshoe crab. During this mommy and me program, toddlers have hands on encounters with Long Island Sound animals and are asked how they feel, what they eat, and how they move. All this fun and learning is happening at the Floren Family Environmental Center at Greenwich Point.

How many arms does a seastar have? Show me 5 fingers

2012-01-18T16:34:00.000-05:00

Through holding and touching living seastars, these SoundWaters Eco-tots, ages 2-4, are able to feel the sea stars bumpy skin and count their five arms. The Mommy and Me At The Beach program takes place at the Floren Family Environmental Center at Greenwich Point provide the opportunity for our youngest scientists to use their senses to observe Long Island Sound Animals.

Budding Young Scientists

2012-01-11T11:43:00.000-05:00

As part of our SoundKids program, preschoolers from Stamford's Childcare Learning Center bundle up to explore firsthand the sandy shore! After 3 weeks of learning about and investigating the science of Long Island Sound in their classrooms, SoundWaters SoundKids examine the coastal habitats up close at the SoundWaters Coastal Education Center in Cove Island Park.

5th annual SoundWaters CSI presentation with Eastern Middle School Students

2012-01-05T17:05:00.000-05:00

Last Hoorah!

After ten weeks in the making, Eastern Middle School students in the SoundWaters Coastal Science Investigation program had their last hoorah -a presentation at Greenwich Town Hall! Congratulations, you did an amazing job!

Led by SoundWaters Educators, Amy Arent and Lilia Salas, the students presented their research findings and showcased all the hard work they put into following proper research protocol to parents, EMS staff and faculty and Greenwich town officials.

CSI is designed to increase student knowledge in science, gain field research practice, and leadership. The experiences are an adventure and like nothing else around Long Island Sound.

We are really proud of our EMS scientists!

www.soundwaters.org

Rain or Shine, science happens!

2012-01-05T16:52:00.000-05:00

As Coastal Science Investigators, these Eastern Middle School student scientists prove that science happens in all weather! These students showed great dedication for their research throughout the Long Island Sound watershed. Rain did not put a damper on their day as they still conducted a population study in the Rocky Shore habitat of Cove Island Park!

SoundWaters CSI program with Eastern Middle School Students at the Floren Family Environmental Center,Innis Arden Cottage at Greenwich Point

2011-12-05T16:52:00.000-05:00

Research on the Beach- it doesn’t get much better than that!

Coastal Science Investigators take their studies to Greenwich Point. The Floren Family Environmental Center, Innis Arden Cottage at Greenwich Point is fully equipped for these scientists to conduct their research on diversity of local species and analyze water quality samples collected along the shore. Another day of research at the beach for these EMS students, they did great!

We got framed!!!

2011-11-15T20:45:00.000-05:00

The crew put up the frame for the cover this morning. In the afternoon we put the cover on the frame and began shrink wrapping the cover before the rain arrived.

A stitch in time saves nine

2011-11-10T16:21:00.000-05:00

The crew are busy inspecting SoundWaters suit of sails and repairing any stitching that needs attention.

Harvesting Oysters on the Sound

2011-11-10T11:50:00.000-05:00

A big thanks to Norm Bloom, for taking the SoundWaters educators out on one of his oyster boats. We couldn’t have asked for better weather and crew. We observed the terrific crew and collected oysters for our aquaculture education program. These oysters will find their new home at the SoundWaters Coastal Center and Greenwich High School where (with funding from the Greenwich Alliance for Education) students will conduct a year long study of these amazing animals. Stay tuned for more news on SoundWaters oysters, and thanks again to our terrific community partners at Norm Bloom and Son!

Haul Out 2011

2011-11-08T17:28:00.000-05:00

The sun sets on the 2011 sailing season.

2011-11-02T18:46:00.000-04:00

The Schooner is in the rigging pit at Norwalk Cove preparing to pull the masts first thing tomorrow morning. We'll update the blog and facebook as we are able tomorrow morning.

Downrigging has begun!

2011-11-01T15:32:00.000-04:00

Blink and you will miss it. Three hours ago we docked here in Norwalk since then we have unbent all the sails, down rigged all the gaffs and are in the process of removing booms and downrigging the various lines.

Great final sail

2011-11-01T15:16:00.000-04:00

The crew is enjoying a great final sail from Captain's Cove to Norwalk Cove. We've been broad reaching the entire way averaging between 5.5 and 7 kts. Once we get to Norwalk Cove Marina we will begin downrigging and winterizing the Schooner.

Snow Day in October

2011-10-29T15:35:00.000-04:00

The wintery mix is coming down at Captain Cove Marina. The crew is enjoying a snow day: keeping warm with hot coco and watching videos below decks.

Great sail with Longfellow School

2011-10-25T12:25:00.000-04:00

Moving Out!

2011-10-25T12:08:00.000-04:00

This Flat Claw Hermit Crab has been looking for real estate that is just right. Not too small but just a bit bigger than the moon snail shell it is living in now. It is always a dangerous move for a hermit crab to change shells but a necessary one as they grow. A Channeled Whelk shell might be just what the crab is looking for!

Thank you Ernst & Young

2011-10-21T16:35:00.001-04:00

We had a great group today from Ernst & Young. The group spent the morning doing various landscaping and cleaning projects. In the afternoon a few hearty souls braved the chilly Holly Pond water to seine for fish and other small creatures for the SoundWaters aquarium. Thanks to Ernst & Young for your hard work, you truly made a difference!

The schooner caught a tagged horseshoe crab in the trawl today.

2011-10-15T09:19:00.003-04:00

The schooner just pulled in a tagged horseshoe crab in the trawl today. That is the first tagged horseshoe crab we've caught since we started the tagging program. We'll let folks know where the horseshoe crab came from when we get info on it.

The horseshoe crab tagging program is part of Project Limulus, a collaborative research project led by Sacred Heart University in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

More information about Project Limulus.

Update: The horseshoe crab was tagged on July 31, 2011 on Greenwich Point.

Team building initiative with Waterside 4th graders

2011-10-06T14:48:00.000-04:00

Waterside 4th grade students are using teamwork to build a pipeline to move tennis balls from one side of the field to the other.

Waterside school 5th graders team building with SoundWaters

2011-10-06T13:03:00.000-04:00

The 5th grade students from Waterside school are working together to navigate the schooner SoundWaters out and back to Stamford Harbor.

Top 3 Reasons to be a Diamondback Terrapin

2011-10-05T13:59:00.000-04:00

1) These spots on my skin are one of a kind. I look different than every other terrapin.

2) The Sound is my playground. I am the only brackish water turtle.

3) I am a champion swimmer. Check out my webbed feet.

Come check me out at SoundWaters!!!

Talk about looking for a needle in a haystack!

2011-10-04T14:52:00.000-04:00

The Diamondback Terrapin Working Group meeting hosted at SoundWaters October 1, 2011. Dr. Russell Burke, Hofstra, and Arlyn Kilduff, SW educator, look through this perfect sandy/grassy area in Cove Island Park for possible terrapin nesting sites.

Channeled Whelk Delivery Room

2011-10-04T08:35:00.002-04:00

Over the past week something amazing has been happening in the SoundWaters quarantine tank. Early last week it was noticed that a female channeled whelk that was picked up by the Schooner Trawl net was “laying” an egg case string. It took about a week for it all to come out and it was really fascinating to watch.

The main reproductive time for the channeled whelks is the fall. Egg strings like the one will consist of 40-160 or more egg cases all joined by a tough leathery string. Each case may have as many as 100 eggs inside, though the average number of eggs per case is closer to 40. Not all the eggs in each case are fertilized though and the unfertilized eggs serve as food for the young whelks which emerge from the cases as miniature adults.

There is a small fishery for whelks here in the Long Island Sound, mostly sold in Italian markets as scungili.

The whelk must have started laying over the weekend, the above photo is from when is was discovered on Monday, September 28.

On Thursday, an oyster toadfish decided that the egg case would be a good hiding place.

Friday's progress

By Monday, October 3, the laying was complete.

Last Public Sails of the 2011 Sailing Season

2011-10-03T13:53:00.000-04:00

Sunday marked the last two public sails of the 2011 sailing season. We had a great season and this year we expanded the public sails program to Greenwich, Bridgeport, Stratford and Port Jefferson. Check back in April for the 2012 schedule.

The crew is all smiles before the last afternoon sail

Coastal Clean-Up Day a Success!

2011-10-03T13:35:00.002-04:00

Despite the threatening weather, we had over 75 volunteers turned out on Saturday morning to clean Cove Island Park as part of International Coastal Clean-up Day. Over 400 pounds of trash was collected in including a bike, metal pieces from what we think date back to Cove Island’s previous life as a factory and a debit card. Along with these larger items, teams picked up hundreds of pieces of smaller debris that is particularly harmful to wildlife. Special thanks to our groups from BuildOn, Junior Achievement and Westhill Environmental Heroes.

Crew swim call

2011-09-26T16:01:00.000-04:00

During our warm and humid transit to Oyster Bay the crew took a quick dip in the sound to cool off.

Cool catch in this morning's trawl

2011-09-23T12:24:00.000-04:00

We believe we caught an "Inshore Lizard Fish" today. Pretty cool.

Whoa BABY!

2011-09-22T15:07:00.000-04:00

Can you spot them?! All no bigger than a paper clip, Winter Flounder, Sea Robin, and Oyster Toad Fish were found on our beach. These juvenile fish have survived summer and we hope they make it to full grown size. Well done Litchfield Middle School for THE catch of the day!

Anybody here named peat?

2011-09-21T10:13:00.000-04:00

Kate, one of our educators talks to Long Ridge School about peat. Students got a close-up encounter with the most important component of a salt marsh and learned why it is an important habitat for the biodiversity of Long Island Sound.

FORE!

2011-09-20T10:08:00.003-04:00

SoundWaters board member, Griff Harris along with his teammates played a full round of 18 holes at the Greenwich Country Club. 15 other teams joined SoundWaters on Monday for our very successful, first annual Golf Tournament.

SoundWaters Education program goes global!

2011-09-18T16:08:00.001-04:00

SoundWaters, Scofield Magnet Middle School, and Shandong University educators got together to give American and Chinese students a hands-on watershed learning experience. What better way than to spend a day on the Long Island Sound shore.

SoundWaters goes global!

2011-09-15T17:18:00.000-04:00

SoundWaters Long Island Sound Watershed Experience

Scofield 8th graders and middle school students with Shandong University, China learned about the process it takes to clean up oil spills. They used different materials to determine which works best and is most cost-efficient. It takes a team effort to solve global problems such as these!

Schooner SoundWaters remembering those lost on 9-11

2011-09-11T19:38:00.001-04:00

A balanced breakfast to start off the Fall Education Programs on the schooner SoundWaters

2011-09-09T09:38:00.000-04:00

Oh man that was delicious! The crew is ready and excited to teach!

Sailing Again!

2011-09-01T18:53:00.001-04:00

After a busy week cleaning up from Irene the Captain and Crew are enjoying a well deserved 5kt sail over to Riverside Yacht Club. We are still working on dockage in Stamford Harbor and hope to have some announcements on where the schooner will dock in Stamford.

Unfortunately we will not be having any public sails this weekend. If you purchased tickets on line we will refund your card once we get power back to the Community Center.

The clean up begins aboard the schooner SoundWaters

2011-08-29T18:56:00.000-04:00

The captain and crew moved the boat out of the East Branch of Stamford this morning and borrow a mooring from the S/V Sirena 3. We were then able dock the schooner next to several finger slips at Avalon on Stamford Harbor Marina and the crew began cleaning from Irene. There are many people to thank who helped the schooner SoundWaters this weekend: Stamford Harbormaster, Stamford Marine Police Unit, Stamford East Branch Hurricane Barrier, Stamford Yacht Club, S/V Sirena 3, Avalon on Stamford Harbor Marina, Vinny's Dockside Deli, Buchanan Marine and O&G Industries. If we forgot anyone we sincerely apologize and thank you too.

The SoundWaters Community Center does not have power and staff spent the day cleaning out the basement. We will update the blog as we know more.

1700 Update

2011-08-28T17:13:00.000-04:00

Although the Stamford East Branch Hurricane gate is open, the schooner is still firmly attached to the barge and water treatment plant all the way up the East Branch. We are waiting for the next high tide cycle to pass through before we think of leaving. The wind is still blustery and coming out of the NW so we are starting to get a fine covering of sand from the barges that protected us through the night. The crew are keeping themselves busy by making ditty bags.

1000 update, schooner SoundWaters riding comfortaly in East Branch.

2011-08-28T10:20:00.000-04:00

This is the schooner all tied up and secure yesterday evening around 1900 (7 pm)
.
This is the 10 am boat check. Still riding comfortably, only difference a little wetter and and a little windier from the south. Crew are below decks playing rummy and reading.

Schooner SoundWaters all secure inside the Stamford East Branch Hurricane Barrier

2011-08-27T19:07:00.001-04:00

A huge sigh of relief as the crew and captain of the schooner SoundWaters brought the boat inside the Hurricane Barrier on the East Branch of Stamford. We would also like to thank the Stamford Harbormaster and the Marine Police Division who orchestrated the assisted the varous vessels into the east branch of Stamford harbor. Check out updates on if and when the Army Corp of Engineers will close the Hurricane Gate.

A weary traveler hitches a ride on the schooner SoundWaters

2011-08-25T15:09:00.000-04:00

A gull landed on the staysail as we motor towards Stamford. With 9.5 hours and nearly 49 miles behind us we have only another 10 miles to go.

Summer Showers and Pixel Power

2011-08-25T14:06:00.000-04:00

Our dedicated Pixel sailors are still smiling after a soggy morning of sailing on the Sound!

Sunrise on the schooner SoundWaters

2011-08-25T06:42:00.000-04:00

The crew got up before first light to ready the boat for our transit back to Stamford to prepare for the approaching hurricane Irene.

Sailing wing on wing on wing down the CT river.

2011-08-23T13:08:00.000-04:00

After motoring up to Hamburg Cove we set sail as we headed down river. We just sailed past the CT River Museum.

EAST BOUND and down.

2011-08-21T08:59:00.000-04:00

After a busy day of sailing at the Milford Oyster Festival the crew and captain of the schooner SoundWaters are enjoying their coffee and a nice broad reach sail off New Haven and headed towards Old Saybrook. If the breeze hold up we should get there by 5pm.

Working aloft during a transit.

2011-08-17T11:22:00.000-04:00

After two great days at Captain's Cove in Bridgeport CT the captain and crew enjoying a nice sail to Stratford and taking care of various little projects.

Pixels wish the schooner SoundWaters bon voyage

2011-08-05T13:23:00.000-04:00

As the schooner SoundWaters heads east to Port Jefferson the pixel sailors came out to wish us fair winds.

Point!

2011-08-04T10:06:00.003-04:00

How do you harness the wind? Opti sailors review sail positions ("points of sail" in boat-speak) with their instructor.

Eat up!

2011-08-03T16:03:00.000-04:00

Campers love lunchtime, and so do our resident Horseshoe Crabs (though they prefer scallops to sandwiches).

Mantis shrimp

2011-08-03T11:37:00.000-04:00

The junior sailors from Larchmont Yacht Club are checking out one of the coolest animals SoundWaters catches in the trawl net: Mantis Shrimp. It's strike is faster than a. 22 cal bullet.

Feeling Crabby?

2011-08-03T11:34:00.000-04:00

These campers look anything but as they show off the results of their population study & search.

Follow the Leader

2011-08-01T17:12:00.000-04:00

The Bluefish had a fabulous time canoeing on Holly Pond. It was a great opportunity to see native and invasive species, like Cormorants and Mute Swans. It was also a chance to get a different perspective on Cove Island -- some campers didn't recognize the foot bridge they walk over every morning (visible behind the canoes in this photo).

Look!

2011-08-01T14:36:00.000-04:00

Nothing beats the excitement of catching your own fish, even if it's not quite big enough for dinner. Using seine nets, campers can catch mummichogs, killifish, silversides, and even young flounder.

Pixel sailors cool off!

2011-07-26T12:30:00.000-04:00

It takes HOW long?

2011-07-21T15:51:00.001-04:00

Bluefish campers learned about marine debris. Here they are showing off some commonly-found debris and the time it takes for those items to decompose. Did you know that plastic bags take around 20 years to disintegrate?

Charting a course for the Vineyard or Nantucket bound?

2011-07-17T15:27:00.000-04:00

The Downeaster Alexa out bound Stamford CT.

Transiting back from Greenwich under a full moon

2011-07-15T22:59:00.006-04:00

Great sail with Greenwich Green Drinks!

2011-07-15T20:56:00.000-04:00

Some recent sunset sails

2011-07-13T16:54:00.002-04:00

Discovering the Sound Under Sail

2011-07-07T13:35:00.013-04:00

What do rabbits, trees and rabbit holes have to do with sailing? At SoundWaters small boat sailing camp, young mariners are discovering what every veteran sailor knows: that the bowline knot is indispensable when making a loop at the end of the line to attach one thing to another. Learning to tie the bowline can be tricky, but with encouragement from SoundWaters instructors, SoundWaters campers can imagine that the end of a rope they put through a loop, around the line and through the loop again might, just might be a rabbit coming out of a hole, around a tree, and back into his hole.

Tying bowlines is just the beginning of sailing camp at SoundWaters, which takes place on Long Island Sound and Holly Pond, located right outside the SoundWaters Coastal Center at Cove Island Park. Combined with fun-filled, hands-on marine science activities, the campers are able to understand the importance of protecting the Sound, and appreciating its beauty, in a very visceral way, said SoundWaters Educator Kate Lowe, a U.S. Sailing Certified Instructor who has taught the sailing program for several years.

While on the water, they become very aware of their surroundings, Lowe said. "They have to because they are very dependent on the wind, the weather, and any obstacles they might encounter." For example, by participating in a recreational activity on the Sound, they become conscious of trash and debris they come across, and the harm it can do to marine animals. "When we go on distance sails, the kids will pick up trash along the way," Lowe said, without any prompting from instructors.

Learning to sail also requires teamwork and patience while mastering new skills and these mariners get plenty of practice in both. Each morning, groups of six novice sailors going into 4th to 6th grades stop by the weather station to check on wind speed and direction, then pull 8-foot Optimist sailboats out of the boat rack and carry them to the launch site on Holly Pond. Others bring sail bags and life jackets. More advanced sailors going into 5th to 8th grades haul sail bags and other gear to the marina where the 14' Pixels are docked. There the campers split into twos and threes and head to the boats, where they attach the rudders, and use the bowline to secure the sails to the cleats on the masts.

"Do the mainsail first," Lowe reminds the students. "And don't forget to put on your life jackets and sunscreen!" Once the boats are rigged, the young sailors spend part of the day practicing various drills and experiencing the thrill of handling their own boat under sail. At the end of each day, both groups de-rig boats, and stow their gear until the next day.

The one-week sailing sessions begin each Monday from now through August. Sessions run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In addition to the sailing programs, SoundWaters camp also offers two-week sessions for children going into kindergarten through fifth grade, with activities such as collecting animals along the beach and salt marsh, swimming, canoeing, fishing, arts and crafts and games.

Camp SoundWaters offers scholarships to those that are eligible for free or reduced lunch according to the State of CT; applications are available via their website. These scholarships are made possible in part by the Fairfield County Community Foundation. For more information visit www.soundwaters.org

Noroton Yacht Club Jr Sailors take over the Schooner SoundWaters!

2011-07-07T13:01:00.003-04:00

The Opti sailors from Noroton Yacht Club are learning how to sail the Schooner SoundWaters today. The jr sailors set sail and are now getting the chance to steer the 32 ton schooner.

Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria?

2011-07-01T10:23:00.000-04:00

Nope! It’s SoundWaters’ trio of Pixels: Altair, Vega, and Deneb, sailing in formation on Long Island Sound during the first week of camp. Even though they (probably) won’t be finding a New World, these sailors are learning more about boats and themselves as they explore the Stamford coastline.

It's Alive!

2011-06-30T16:47:00.001-04:00

Sea Stars cooled off in Long Island Sound. Our fearless explorers wrapped themselves in sea lettuce; a great reminder that Long Island Sound is a vibrant ecosystem.

1 fish, 2 fish..wait no 1000 !!!

2011-06-30T16:47:00.000-04:00

The Bluefish spent their afternoon fishing at the beach using dip nets and seining nets. They caught a pipefish, mumichogs, baby silversides, and comb jellyfish. Keep checking back to see what these adventurous young scientists do tomorrow!!!

Feelin' the salty breeze

2011-06-29T16:39:00.000-04:00

During week 1 of camp, Opti sailors take to the pond to develop their talent. Teamwork & Fun – the way summer should be!

Brigantine Yankee Reunion Sail aboard the Schooner SoundWaters

2011-06-24T16:30:00.003-04:00

The crew from the 6th world circumnavigation on the Brigantine Yankee reunited for a sail aboard the schooner SoundWaters. It was great to have them aboard, hauling on lines and taking tricks at the helm. Fair Winds.

Thank You GE Asset Management!

2011-06-22T18:35:00.000-04:00

We had a great group today from GE Asset Management! After learning about Horseshoe Crabs, the group split into 3 groups to do various projects throughout the park. One group gave the SoundWaters rocking chairs a much needed fresh coat of paint. Another went off looking for Horseshoe Crabs (we only found 1) and cleaning the park (we picked up at least 6 bags of trash). The final group helped the Cove Island Park Conservancy with a mulching project. Thanks to GE Asset Management for your hard work, you truly made a difference!

Happy Summer!

2011-06-21T17:46:00.000-04:00

Summer Solstice aboard the Schooner SoundWaters

23 more horseshoe crabs in 13 minutes!

2011-06-20T16:14:00.000-04:00

6 more males and 17 females tagged numbers 237076 through 237098. Keep an eye out for them.

What a catch!

2011-06-20T11:41:00.000-04:00

17 horseshoe crabs in 15 minute trawl. 2 male and 15 females.

Thank You Daymon Worldwide!

2011-06-17T14:02:00.000-04:00

The weather cleared and the sun came out just in time for a group of volunteers from Daymon Worldwide. They spent the morning tagging Horseshoe Crabs (38!!) and picking up trash in Cove Island Park. (The gloves are for picking up the trash, not the Horseshoe Crabs!)

Kelly and Christine

2011-06-13T16:42:00.001-04:00

Wellesley intern Kelly and sloop Christine sailing along in Oyster Bay.

Schooner SoundWaters on the Horseshoe crabs.

2011-06-13T15:32:00.000-04:00

This afternoon's trawl we picked up 5 Horseshoe Crabs today. 4 females and 1 male. We also caught several sea robins and a large winter flounder.

Arrving in Suits and Leaving in Flip Flops

2011-06-10T16:55:00.000-04:00

A group of interns from UBS came to SoundWaters to today for a team-building experience. The interns spent the day canoeing on Holly Pond, tagging horseshoe crabs, playing team-building games and learning about the creatures that call Long Island Sound home. It was definitely not your typical day in the office for them.

What a trawl!

2011-06-07T11:06:00.000-04:00

Just pulled up a pair of horseshoe crabs, 7 winter flounder, 1 windowpane flounder, 2 spotted hake, a spider crab, a mantis shrimp and 95 sea stars. Not bad for a 15 minute trawl.

Horseshoe Crabs Rule!

2011-06-06T17:22:00.001-04:00

SoundWaters annual Horseshoe Crab Day drew dozens of volunteers who protected marine life at Cove Island Park by picking up nearly 40 pounds of trash, then combed the shoreline for horseshoe crabs to tag as part of Project Limulus. Boy Scouts and high school students from Darien and Greenwich, middle school and elementary school students from Stamford and adults from all over learned first-hand that this marvelous creature has been around since the dinosaurs, that they swarm the beaches during mating season, and that the tagging helps scientists determine where they go afterward. Keep your eyes out as you walk the beach. You’re bound to see them.

Open for Tours!

2011-06-05T11:32:00.001-04:00

Looking for something to do on this beautiful Sunday? Come on down to the Mamaroneck Harbor Fest. We will be open for tours, take a look at the "critters" in the touch tank, steer the boat and then get your funnel cake fix in shore!

Science & Art happen everywhere!!!

2011-06-02T15:41:00.002-04:00

Newfield Elementary School Arts 2 Life students spent the afternoon at Bartlett Arboretum searching for frogs and creating plant press artwork. They will showcase all their works of art in a gallery opening. Check back to find out details for the opening.

THEY'RE HERE!!!

2011-06-02T09:44:00.001-04:00

Horseshoe crabs are storming the beaches of Cove Island Park! Every spring these ancient creatures come to shore to find a mate and spawn. Amy, a SoundWaters Educator, and Robert, a Darien High School intern, are tagging a male horseshoe crab. Yesterday afternoon we tagged 20, including 4 mating pairs.

The Horseshoe Crab research conducted at SoundWaters is in partnership with Project Limulus: A Study Examining the Ecology of the Long Island Sound Horseshoe Crab (Limulus polyphemus) population.

Got Waders?

2011-06-01T15:41:00.000-04:00

Dolan Middle school spent the afternoon seining in Holly Pond to find local critters. Their findings included: a blue crab, mummichogs, grass shrimp, comb jellyfish, and hermit crabs.

Touch tanks and Tall Ships

2011-06-01T14:49:00.000-04:00

SoundWaters is sailing off of Stamford Harbor with the Tall Ship Unicorn. (Not that we are racing but we are catching up to her)?

SoundWaters is open for tours!

2011-05-28T13:49:00.000-04:00

Come on down to Tod's Point today and check out the Greenwich Shellfish Commission Festival. We'll be open until 4pm.

Sailing below the starting line

2011-05-27T15:02:00.000-04:00

The schooner SoundWaters is sailing just to leeward (downwind) of the start for the Storm Trysail Club Around Block Island Race. The crew of SoundWaters wish all the racers fair winds and good luck on this 185 mile race.

Grand slam in flounder family

2011-05-27T14:25:00.000-04:00

In one trawl we caught a winter, summer, and windowpane flounders as well as a hogchoaker. Pretty cool. Now we are sailing to leeward of the starting line for the Around Block Island race.

Springtime = BABIES!!!

2011-05-27T06:26:00.000-04:00

While at SoundWaters for a coastal field experience, Turn of River Middle School discovered 6 juvenile flounders while seining.

Where would you spend a perfect New England afternoon?

2011-05-25T17:41:00.000-04:00

These 2nd and 3rd graders from CTE spent a gorgeous afternoon canoeing on Holly Pond. This was the first time canoeing for many of the students! Great job to all.

Great day to be on the water!

2011-05-25T15:04:00.000-04:00

The sun is out, its starting to warm up....We are enjoying a beautiful sail out here with the 2nd graders from Northeast Elementary School. If you need to get your boat ready for this season swing on by Stamford West Marine today as they are donating a portion of today's proceeds to SoundWaters.

We picked up a Horseshoe crab couple in the trawl this morning

2011-05-19T10:44:00.000-04:00

First mate Josh is showing the students how to tag Horseshoe crabs. Keep your eyes out for Tag numbers 237002 & 237003!

What a fluke

2011-05-18T10:50:00.000-04:00

We caught 4 this morning, as well as a nice striped bass, a big male blue crab and a male horseshoe crab. We tagged the horseshoe crab with tag # 237001. If you see him please call it in and get your Horseshoe Crab tracking certificate.

Motoring to Oyster Bay

2011-05-16T18:32:00.000-04:00

After a busy weekend with the Tall Ship Ball and transiting to Mamaroneck for programs with Green Acres 3rd graders we are motoring East towards Oyster Bay. Unfortunately we are pounding into 2-3 footers.

Rogers International School Over Night by the Numbers

2011-05-13T13:42:00.000-04:00

96 hours

70 Roger's International Students

14 tents pitched 56 times

18 lbs of spaghetti noodles, 12 jars of pasta sauce, 34 lbs of ground beef, 264 eggs, and 120 burritos were consumed

3 horseshoe crabs spotted on Sheffield Island

56 spider crabs, 8 windowpane flounder, 1 striped bass, 3 moonsnails in the trawl

... and thousands of memories.

Final sweep of the camp site

2011-05-13T13:39:00.001-04:00

Group 4 is cleaning up the camp site after an excellent burrito breakfast. The schooner is loaded up and we're headed home. A huge thank you to the Norwalk Seaport Association and Lighthouse keeper Greg Goomrigian.

Spring is in the air...

2011-05-13T13:39:00.000-04:00

After the students went to sleep the mate noticed a pair of horseshoe crabs emerging from the water perhaps preparing to lay eggs on the beach at Sheffield island.

Wing on wing on wing!

2011-05-12T15:33:00.006-04:00

Sailing wing on wing on wing around Greens Ledge Lighthouse. Those 2 masted schooners can't do that.

Setting sail

2011-05-12T12:42:00.005-04:00

"What's gonna work? TEAMWORK!!!"

2011-05-12T11:32:00.003-04:00

Group 4 started of the program working together in teams. We're now loading gear on the boat and getting ready to sail to Sheffield island.

Signing the buoy

2011-05-12T11:19:00.003-04:00

Every Roger's student that camped out on Sheffield Island signs the lobster pot buoy found on the island. SoundWaters crew and Sheffield Island Staff have been following this tradition for over 5 years of camping on the island. Next time you visit the island check out all the signatures on all the buoys.

S'mores!

2011-05-11T20:33:00.005-04:00

'Nuf said.