Bay Shore Studies

Attention Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Grade Teachers

Sign up NOW for 2008-2009 Bay Shore Studies programs

Bay Shore Studies transforms students into estuarine ecologists. In small groups, we explore the inter-tidal zone, turning over rocks to study crabs, barnacles, mussels and more. Students collect data on population distributions, salinity and temperature. We ponder local bay ecology, while focusing on food webs, tidal zonation, adaptation, and estuarine processes.

To schedule, please call 415.388.2524

Program availability is limited by the tides. Please call soon to reserve your program date. If you are unable to choose an exact date now, put your name on our list and we will call you in the fall to schedule.

Help us save the Bay one 10-year-old at a time

Learn how to lead small groups of 4th through 6th graders on their best field trip ever. Dazzle kids with the wonders of the Bay.

Become a Bay Shore Studies Volunteer Docent at the Richardson Bay Audubon Center in Tiburon.

Once a week Docent training classes start in the fall. Enrollment is limited. . Sign up now.
For more information call Carol Schwartz at 415-388-2524, ext. 113

Bay Shore Studies FAQ

Q. What is the Bay Shore Studies program?

A. It's a 33-year-old all-volunteer program at the Richardson Bay Audubon Center. We take school children on science field trips on the beach.

We find crabs, mussels, algae, barnacles, and we discuss how they each have a roll in the ecology of the Bay.  We also do experiments. The kids really love it. They tell us we give them "their best field trip ever."

Q. What makes it so good?

A. We make learning fun. It's a very hand's on, get-your-feet-muddy experience. Many kids have never touched a marine invertebrate, or even been on a beach before. By the end of our field trips, we have them finding crabs, holding them and telling the boys from the girls. We also have created a lot of fun concepts to get serious science across. We explore the importance of food availability in the water column by talking about "Sea Soup." We do experiments on salinity that we call "the Bay Parfait." We also make sure our curriculum meets California State Standards. And that's important to the teachers who bring their classes to us.

Q What kind of person would like to become a Bay Shore Studies volunteer?

A. Our people tend to love kids and San Francisco Bay and they're concerned about the health of the Bay and want to teach kids positive ways to help.

Q Do you offer a training class for new volunteers?

A.Yes, a one morning a week training class runs for eight weeks in the fall.

Q. What kind of schools participate in your field trips?

A. . Our classes are mostly fourth and fifth graders (sometimes sixth graders). They come from as far away as Oakland and San Francisco, Marin, of course, and occasionally Sonoma. All kinds of schools.

We especially encourage participation of inner city schools, because we've found many of those children have not had an opportunity to experience the Bay and learn what they can do to keep it strong and healthy.

That's our goal for all our kids. To open their eyes to the importance of the Bay and show them things they can do or not do to help the quality of the Bay