Monmouth County Parks

Monmouth County Parks Campers and counselors arrived on a windy afternoon. The wind kept us off the kayaks for that day and the rain and wind kept us island bound the next day as well. Even without leaving the island we were able to do a variety of outdoor and indoor activities.



In the immediate area in front of the Sedge House the group gathered 168 clams!!! We sorted and measured the clams and the students decided how many we would keep and how many we would throw out based on what they had learned about sustainability in the marsh.

The group measured the water quality in front of the Sedge House and also monitored the weather checking the wind speed several times that day. We were able to identify many different species of birds with the spotting scope, and were able to see a bit of territorial behavior between our resident great egret “Henrietta” and her new adversary a juvenile great blue heron that keeps chasing her off her normal feeding spots.



As a service project the group circumnavigated the island with trash bags and picked up debris from the rack line. They also learned about salt marsh zonation, the different plants on the island, and were able to see first hand mosquito ditches dug out in the 1930’s by the CCC.



Along the way we also happened upon a juvenile common loon resting on land out of the wind. Loons typically do not leave the water unless they are sick or injured, and we made sure to keep our distance from the bird. Later on we observed it was back in the water but preening itself constantly.



We stopped to rest on a soft bed of salt hay, which we made a story about and determined the coarse salt hay was just the hair of a giant green buffalo that we were careful not to disturb. Back at the campers made fish prints and used seaweed as paintbrushes to make elaborate designs. We laid on the dock that night and while waving our hands in the water watched the bioluminescent dinoflagellates and comb jellies glow between our fingers.



The next morning the campers did an awesome job cleaning the sedge house, and sorted some baby clams. They were going to stay for a few hours but the weather report called for bad thunderstorms, so we packed up the boat and headed off the island.

Thanks to the counselors of Monmouth County Parks Service for being such great facilitators and helping to keep spirits up in the dreary weather. We look forward to working with you in the future.

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