{"id":70,"date":"2013-10-03T13:32:10","date_gmt":"2013-10-03T17:32:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/scotchbonnet\/?p=70"},"modified":"2017-06-14T16:34:36","modified_gmt":"2017-06-14T20:34:36","slug":"autumn-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/scotchbonnet\/2013\/10\/autumn-2013\/","title":{"rendered":"Autumn 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to the newest online issue of Scotch Bonnet<\/em>. This marine education newsletter also is available as a PDF<\/a> \u2014 if you\u2019re like me and want to keep a hard copy!<\/p>\n

Recently, I had to complete a survey before attending the first in a series of workshops on ocean and climate change interpretation. My favorite question was \u201cWhen you think about the future, what is one thing that gives you hope?\u201d I didn\u2019t hesitate or really even think about my answer. What gives me hope are the teachers and students that I interact with on a regular basis.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s why. In 2005, I helped bring the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\u2019s Phytoplankton Monitoring Network (PMN) to the North Carolina coast. PMN uses volunteers to monitor marine phytoplankton in coastal waters, with special attention to species that cause harmful algal blooms (HABs) that can result in human health problems.<\/p>\n

With PMN staff from the NOAA lab in Charleston, S.C., I coordinated training sessions for interested classroom teachers and informal educators along the coast. We started with 10 groups and 10 sampling sites. One of them was Katie Neller, a science teacher at First Flight High School<\/a> (FFHS) in Kill Devil Hills, and her students. Each week, they sampled their site after school, examined their samples the following day and reported their data online.<\/p>\n

In 2005 and 2006, the Phytofinders (as they named themselves) of FFHS reported blooms of the toxic species Pseudo-nitzschia pseudodelicatissima<\/em>. This diatom can produce domoic acid, which can lead to amnesic shellfish poisoning. These blooms of Pseudo-nitzschia<\/em> were the first ever recorded in North Carolina waters \u2014 discovered by a dedicated group of high-school science students!<\/p>\n

The group was named \u201cYouth Conservationists of the Year\u201d in 2007 as part of the Governor\u2019s Conservation Achievement award program. In October 2012, Ms. Neller and three students presented four scientific papers at the Oceans \u201912 conference in Norfolk, Va., impressing many veteran conference attendees.<\/p>\n

In late September, I had the honor of driving Ms. Neller and three Phytofinders to a banquet in Edenton, N.C., to receive the 2013 Albemarle Stewardship Development Award from the Albemarle Resource Conservation and Development Council.<\/p>\n

Ms. Neller and her revolving group of student scientists have been going strong for eight years! The composition of the Phytofinders changes annually, with seniors graduating (some going on to study science in college), and underclassmen joining or taking on leadership roles in the group. But what remains constant is the students\u2019 dedication to their job as citizen scientists and the support and mentoring they receive from Katie Neller.<\/p>\n

Teachers and students like these give me hope for our future!<\/p>\n

Explore this issue of Scotch Bonnet<\/em>. There are professional-development opportunities and family explorations for everyone. Try to take advantage of these wonderful conferences, workshops and more. Keep reading for those unique opportunities and ideas for educators. There is a lot going on in North Carolina and beyond!<\/p>\n

Thanks to Rick Bolling, James Charlet, Melissa Dowland, Sara Hallas, Jennifer Metzler-Fiorino, Steffany Reeve and Bruce Roberts for their contributions to this issue.<\/p>\n

\n

Reminder of Fall Conferences<\/h2>\n

There are many conferences scheduled for the fall. Join your fellow marine educators and beach lovers at one \u2014 or more \u2014 of these great events.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

International Beachcombing Conference<\/strong>
\nwww.beachcombingconference.com<\/em><\/p>\n

\"International\u201cCome Outside and Play!\u201d the poster beckons, advertising the only conference of its kind in the world. The fifth annual International Beachcombing Conference (IBC), set for Oct. 3 to 6<\/strong>, offers new, novice and skilled beachcombers a weekend of serious learning fun about the beachcomb experience. Participants can attend tutorials, arts workshops and field expeditions to places such as Smith Island, Md., Cape May, N.J., and Delaware\u2019s sea glass and shipwreck beaches.<\/p>\n

Held at University of Delaware\u2019s Virden Center in Lewes, IBC \u201913 includes tutorials ranging from sea glass genres and Miocene beach fossils to Thames River mud-larking and tsunami debris tracking. Tutors also will discuss factors negatively affecting marine health and beachcombing including the plastic problem, water-borne diseases and lack of beach access. This year\u2019s speakers include British-born geologist, Dr. Richard Ash; marine scientist, Dr. Blair Witherington; marine education specialist for North Carolina Sea Grant, Terri Kirby Hathaway; and conference chair and beachcomb specialist, Dr. Deacon Ritterbush (aka Dr. Beachcomb).<\/p>\n

Conference space is limited and preregistration is required. For information or to register, visit www.beachcombingconference.com.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

North American Association of Environmental Education Conference<\/strong>
\nwww.naaee.net\/conference<\/a><\/em>
\n\"North<\/a>Enjoy the beautiful city of Baltimore, the site of the 2013 conference of the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), Oct. 8 to 12<\/strong>. The 42nd NAAEE conference opens with the 10th annual NAAEE Research Symposium, the Affiliate Workshop, and an extraordinary array of field trips and conference workshops on Tuesday and Wednesday. Field excursions include biking in school gardens, snorkeling in a trout stream and exploring the Anacostia River.<\/p>\n

Things get into high gear on Wednesday evening with an opening celebration and a keynote address by Stephen Ritz, a classroom teacher in the Bronx, whose students and local community have grown more than 30,000 pound of vegetables, while maintaining excellent academic standards. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, participants can select from hundreds of concurrent sessions and a range of outstanding keynote speakers.<\/p>\n

For agenda and registration details, visit www.naaee.net\/conference<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

2013 North American Sea Glass Association Annual Festival<\/strong>
\nwww.seaglassassociation.org<\/a><\/em>
\n\"North<\/a>For the second year in a row, the North American Sea Glass Association Sea Glass Festival will be held in Virginia Beach. Mark your calendars for Columbus Day weekend, Oct. 12 to 13<\/strong>, for this unique event.<\/p>\n

Join beachcombers from around the world who will assemble at the Virginia Beach Convention Center for the eighth annual Sea Glass Festival. The event will feature sea glass aficionados, including artisans, who will be offering their nautical creations for sale, as well as collectors of the popular coastal gems, who will be eagerly sharing their unique, accrued sea glass exhibits with attendees.<\/p>\n

In addition to various sea glass-related lectures and seminars, another highlight of the festival will be the renowned Shard of the Year contest. The grand prizewinner will receive $1,000 for the most desirable, rare piece of sea glass.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

2013 Annual Fall Conference for Mid-Atlantic Marine Education Association<\/strong>
\nwww.mamea.org<\/a><\/em>
\n\"Mid-Atlantic<\/a>Celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Mid-Atlantic Marine Education Association, or MAMEA, by joining marine educators from the region, Nov. 1 to 3<\/strong>, as they look back and forward at marine education. The 2013 MAMEA conference will be held on the campus of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science<\/a> in Gloucester Point, Va. More details on field trips, conference events, and lodging are available on MAMEA\u2019s website, www.mamea.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

BOLD Homecoming at Bodie Island<\/h2>\n

www.outerbankslighthousesociety.org<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Bodie<\/a>This summer, the Bodie Island Lighthouse in Nags Head was open for climbing for the first time in its history. The Outer Banks Lighthouse Society was instrumental in making this happen by providing hands to clean and preserve the rare and priceless First-Order Fresnel Lens, money for structural studies on restoration of the tower and lantern room, and volunteers to keep the base of the light open.<\/p>\n

On Oct. 18 to 20<\/strong>, 300 descendants of Bodie Island keepers will gather for the first time. The Outer Banks Lighthouse Society is calling the event the Bodie Island Lighthouse Descendants (BOLD) Homecoming. There are only a handful of keepers\u2019 children surviving who lived at the lighthouse. In celebration of the completed restoration, these surviving children will be joined by not only their own descendents but also by the great-grandchildren of John B. Etheridge, the Bodie Island keeper who was appointed in 1849.<\/p>\n

As part of this event, there will be a breeches buoy rescue demonstration by representatives of the U.S. Coast Guard on Oct. 20, at 2 p.m.<\/strong> at Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station. This event will be open to the public.<\/p>\n

For more information, visit www.outerbankslighthousesociety.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

Teacher Workshops at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences<\/h2>\n

www.naturalsciences.org<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n