August 22-25
The No’easter that hit the Jersey Shore in August of 2007 continued to provide cold, rainy, windy conditions for the students from the Germantown Academy Summer Camp. We managed to paddle several miles one day. We explored the continually narrowing channels in the Spizzle Creek area of Island Beach State Park eventually reaching a dead end where several mosquito ditches joined.
The high point of the trip for many of the students was the fishing. We caught plenty of small blue fish. Some pesky six-inch sea bass would steal bait as fast as it could be put on the hook. But the best catch was the twenty one and nineteen-inch fluke that were landed right off the dock. These we ate along with the blues, crabs and clams. In addition, one diner consisted of squid that the kids had dissected several hours earlier.
Monday, August 27, 2007
NJ Audubon
August 19-21, 2007
Three NJ Audubon Staff and nine teachers from local schools arrived at Sedge on a rainy afternoon. Little did we know that this weather pattern was to be the norm for the three days that they stayed on the island. We began with a paddle in the marsh, in the rain. There was no wind and since it was quite warm no one was uncomfortable. In fact many people remarked that the rain enhanced the experience. The colors seemed more vibrant. The green Spartina grass against the gray clouds was spectacular. The white feathers of the egrets stood out. Osprey wheeled overhead. Pelicans flew over in pairs and small groups.
Audubon leaders frustrated the group by forcing them to look closely at everything they saw. Rather than answering questions about what this or that was, the leaders would encourage the teachers to sharpen their scientific observation skills by making closer observations.
As the NorEaster built into a three day storm the wind rose making kayaking impossible for the remainder of their time at Sedge. Undaunted the group fished, clammed, crabbed and even hiked- all in the rain and wind. On the last day the boat trip back to Island Beach was the heaviest rain and the strongest wind. But the group took it in stride and before changing out of their wet clothes went on a hike to the beach to look at the storm surf.
Three NJ Audubon Staff and nine teachers from local schools arrived at Sedge on a rainy afternoon. Little did we know that this weather pattern was to be the norm for the three days that they stayed on the island. We began with a paddle in the marsh, in the rain. There was no wind and since it was quite warm no one was uncomfortable. In fact many people remarked that the rain enhanced the experience. The colors seemed more vibrant. The green Spartina grass against the gray clouds was spectacular. The white feathers of the egrets stood out. Osprey wheeled overhead. Pelicans flew over in pairs and small groups.
Audubon leaders frustrated the group by forcing them to look closely at everything they saw. Rather than answering questions about what this or that was, the leaders would encourage the teachers to sharpen their scientific observation skills by making closer observations.
As the NorEaster built into a three day storm the wind rose making kayaking impossible for the remainder of their time at Sedge. Undaunted the group fished, clammed, crabbed and even hiked- all in the rain and wind. On the last day the boat trip back to Island Beach was the heaviest rain and the strongest wind. But the group took it in stride and before changing out of their wet clothes went on a hike to the beach to look at the storm surf.
Friday, August 10, 2007
SEDGE LATE SUMMER UPDATE
Staff and Friends of Sedge Clean Up
What happens at Sedge when due to small enrollment our teacher workshop is canceled? The staff and friends get together and do some work. Tony poured new footings to support the front porch. Jim cut dead branches off the big pine tree to the west of the house. Jackie, Karen, Brett, Ryan, scrubbed house walls and floors and the Clivus floor. Jim and his guests from Michigan re-erected the Marine Conservation Zone sign. Brett’s mom scrubbed the kitchen sink. Everyone agreed that although the place looked good to begin with, it is now even better. THANKS EVERY ONE
Staff Update
Today I said good-bye to Brett who is soon to be heading back to school in Maine. It was a sad occasion. Brett is a great worker. He is well liked by everyone who works with him. Jackie thinks of him as the son she didn’t have. He will be missed. I sure hope he comes back next year but Katina has invited him to visit her in Greece for a month next summer so …
Sherry has been gone (she took a course in Maine for one month) and if she makes it back to Sedge it will be only briefly before she heads off to Cornell. Her smile and efficient way of doing things made her a very valuable asset at Sedge this summer. She will be missed by John Wnek as well as she was doing a scholarship project working with diamond backed terrapins.
Ryan was busy not only with his internship at Sedge. He spent much of the summer managing his new restaurant, the Seafood Coop. in Point Pleasant. In addition he worked on his scholarship project monitoring oysters and water quality in three locations around the Bay.
Alton has been the most consistent worker at Sedge this summer. His hard work and dedication was appreciated by all of us. Having graduated from Rowan, Alton is now looking for full time work with the DEP. He will be a valuable asset to anyone lucky enough to employ him. While I hope he gets a great job as soon as possible, I don’t want to lose him.
Samantha has been spending some of her summer up north helping with her family restaurant business. She loves teaching and is looking forward to helping out at Sedge in the fall when she returns to Stockton. A highlight of her summer was visit by her family. She proudly toured them around.
I’m having a great summer due in large part to the fact that I had such a wonderful staff. I spent time at Sedge with some great groups. I was able to offer a greater variety of programs because I had so much help. I was also able to spend lots of time at home. I got to the beach and did some great early morning surfing. I was able to spend time with my family and friends who visited from points far and wide.
Jim
What happens at Sedge when due to small enrollment our teacher workshop is canceled? The staff and friends get together and do some work. Tony poured new footings to support the front porch. Jim cut dead branches off the big pine tree to the west of the house. Jackie, Karen, Brett, Ryan, scrubbed house walls and floors and the Clivus floor. Jim and his guests from Michigan re-erected the Marine Conservation Zone sign. Brett’s mom scrubbed the kitchen sink. Everyone agreed that although the place looked good to begin with, it is now even better. THANKS EVERY ONE
Staff Update
Today I said good-bye to Brett who is soon to be heading back to school in Maine. It was a sad occasion. Brett is a great worker. He is well liked by everyone who works with him. Jackie thinks of him as the son she didn’t have. He will be missed. I sure hope he comes back next year but Katina has invited him to visit her in Greece for a month next summer so …
Sherry has been gone (she took a course in Maine for one month) and if she makes it back to Sedge it will be only briefly before she heads off to Cornell. Her smile and efficient way of doing things made her a very valuable asset at Sedge this summer. She will be missed by John Wnek as well as she was doing a scholarship project working with diamond backed terrapins.
Ryan was busy not only with his internship at Sedge. He spent much of the summer managing his new restaurant, the Seafood Coop. in Point Pleasant. In addition he worked on his scholarship project monitoring oysters and water quality in three locations around the Bay.
Alton has been the most consistent worker at Sedge this summer. His hard work and dedication was appreciated by all of us. Having graduated from Rowan, Alton is now looking for full time work with the DEP. He will be a valuable asset to anyone lucky enough to employ him. While I hope he gets a great job as soon as possible, I don’t want to lose him.
Samantha has been spending some of her summer up north helping with her family restaurant business. She loves teaching and is looking forward to helping out at Sedge in the fall when she returns to Stockton. A highlight of her summer was visit by her family. She proudly toured them around.
I’m having a great summer due in large part to the fact that I had such a wonderful staff. I spent time at Sedge with some great groups. I was able to offer a greater variety of programs because I had so much help. I was also able to spend lots of time at home. I got to the beach and did some great early morning surfing. I was able to spend time with my family and friends who visited from points far and wide.
Jim
NJ Kayak
8/3-8/6/07
NJ Kayak brought a group of it’s customers to Sedge in order to help its paddlers better appreciate the natural environment they frequently paddle in. Everyone had their own single sea kayak complete with spray deck. This, combined with their expertise, made it possible to paddle farther in more challenging conditions than the average Sedge group.
Bucking a strong incoming tide on the edge of the Oyster Creek Channel is never easy. Dealing with power boat traffic on a beautiful Saturday morning made it even more challenging. This group stroked hard to get to the outer side of the dike for some well deserved rest. A potential thunder storm made us leave the early but it never materialized.
Always a highlight for me is the ability to introduce people to new things. It was a real treat to watch one member of the group catch his first fish. A professor from Temple University was very proud when he landed not one but two bluefish. He ate ‘em too!
NJ Kayak brought a group of it’s customers to Sedge in order to help its paddlers better appreciate the natural environment they frequently paddle in. Everyone had their own single sea kayak complete with spray deck. This, combined with their expertise, made it possible to paddle farther in more challenging conditions than the average Sedge group.
Bucking a strong incoming tide on the edge of the Oyster Creek Channel is never easy. Dealing with power boat traffic on a beautiful Saturday morning made it even more challenging. This group stroked hard to get to the outer side of the dike for some well deserved rest. A potential thunder storm made us leave the early but it never materialized.
Always a highlight for me is the ability to introduce people to new things. It was a real treat to watch one member of the group catch his first fish. A professor from Temple University was very proud when he landed not one but two bluefish. He ate ‘em too!
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