On-site Group Programs
SERC Group Programs
Thank you for your interest in SERC Programs! Please follow the instructions below to receive more information or to book a field trip with us.
- Complete the Form: You can request a form from Karen McDonald (McDonaldK@si.edu) or you can fill out our online Field Trip Request form. Once we receive your request we will contact you for future details. Please note, this form does not constitute an agreed-up booking or reservation.
- Group Ages: We require that for all groups with minors, students be within three grades or three ages of each other (ex: 6th, 7th, and 8th grade or 9th,10th, and 11th graders). If you have students in a wider range of ages then you will need to book separate field trips for them. This could be on the same day (morning and afternoon) or on separate days.
- Program Payment: Payment is due no later than two weeks before your trip. All reservations are non-refundable unless there is inclement weather, but we will make every attempt to rebook your group before refunding fees. If your group does not give five day’s advance notice of cancellation you will be charged and invoiced the entire program fee.
| Age | Program | Activities/Stations Available | Time Required | Group Size | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Ages | SERC Science Talk | Talk and PowerPoint | 1 hour | Up to 40 | Flat rate of $300 |
| 8 to Adult | Guided Hike | Hike to Hog Island | 1.5 hours | Up to 18 | Flat rate of $300 minimum |
| 6 to Adult | Canoe Excursion | Muddy Creek canoe trip | 3 hours | Up to 20 | 5-10 people flat rate $300 11-20 people flat rate $460 |
| Hands-On Programs | |||||
| 9 to Adult | Shoreline Connections |
|
1 activity = 1 hour 2 activities = 2 hours 3 activities = 3 hours 4 activities = 4 hours |
Max group size 30 for multiple stations | 10-15 people, 4 stations ($300) 10-15 people, 2 stations ($250) 16-30 people, 4 stations ($510) 16-30 people, 2 stations ($460) |
| 5-8 years | Explore Nature |
|
1 activity = 1 hour 2 activities = 2 hours 3 activities = 2.5 hours 4 activities = 3 hours |
Max group size 30 for multiple stations | 10-15 people, 4 stations ($300) 10-15 people, 2 stations ($250) 16-30 people, 4 stations ($510) 16-30 people, 2 stations ($460) |
| 12 to Adult | Biodiversity Field Study | Participants will learn how scientists study biodiversity and join in participatory science by helping survey the biodiversity of different habitats using sampling grids and iNaturalist. | 3 hours | Up to 18 | 5-15 people flat rate of $300 |
| Engineering and Design (STEM) Programs | |||||
| 12 to Adult | Engineering a Blue Crab | STEM building hydraulics | 3 hours | Up to 18 | $375 minimum, cost includes materials fees |
Mixed Grade Groups
We ask that groups be composed of students within at least three grades or years of each other. For example, 5th, 6th, and 7th grade could be together, or 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. If you have a larger mix, then you must book two separate field trips. However, those trips could run on the same day.
Chaperones
If the group has more than each number of students, they should round up. For example, if you have 12 students, round up to two chaperones instead of one. For mixed age groups, you should use the ratio for the youngest grade you have for the entire trip. For example, if you have grades 2, 3, and 4, then you’d use the chaperone ratio for 2nd grade.
CITs and Jr. Counselors: Please note that minors, CITs, and Jr. Counselors DO NOT count as adults and chaperones. You must have one adult, age 18 or older, with each sub-group.
We allow up to 5 CITs and Jr. Counselors per group. After that, they are included in the student numbers.
| Students | Number of Chaperones Needed Ratio of adults to children |
|---|---|
| K-2nd | 1:5 |
| 3rd-12th | 1:10 |
| Special Needs Students | 1:5 |
Program Descriptions
General SERC Programs
SERC Science Talk (All Ages) 1 Hour
Participants will meet with our Educators and learn about SERC’s research on climate change, oysters, blue crabs, orchids, invasive species, shark, and global research. This talk can be modified for all ages, from children to adults. For younger students we will try on field gear and test some research tools.
Guided Hike (Ages 8 - Adult) 1.5 Hours
A 1.5 mile round trip hike to Hog Island. We will take you along SERC’s shorelines, stopping along the way to look for wildlife and talk about SERC research.
Canoe Excursion (Ages 6 - Adult) 3 Hours
Maximum of 20 people, the minimum age is 8
All children 12 and younger must have one adult per canoe
Canoes can seat three people safely (one forward, middle, and rear)
Canoe with one of our guides. We’ll talk about SERC research and look for local wildlife. We will include basic paddling instruction, life jackets, and canoe guides.
Hands-On Programs
Shoreline Connections (Ages 9 - Adult) 1-4 Hours
Pick Your Stations
Station Options (Rotations run for about 45 minutes)
- Seining (all grades) - Students grades 3+ will don waders and use nets to try and catch a diversity of fish and invertebrates in the nearshore zone. K-2nd grade students will help handling creatures, while chaperones put on waders and seine for them.
- Oysters (all grades) - Students sort through oyster baskets and learn about why oysters and vertical reef structure is important to benthic biodiversity.
- Microscope & Magnification Lab (5th grade and up) - Set up with a wide variety of bay organisms, macroalgae, and plankton, students will use microscopes and make their own samples to study epibenthic biodiversity and plankton.
- Blue Crab Lab (all grades) - Dive into the world of blue crabs by learning about their adaptations for living in the Bay, and if the season allows we’ll see a live blue crab up close.
- Turtles and Terrapins (all grades) - Visit with our ambassador terrapins and learn all about turtle and terrapin adaptations for living in the Bay, and how scientists study turtles.
- Marsh Hike (all grades) - Students take a short walk to our Marsh Overlook to learn why marshes are important. For older students, we’ll talk about ecology and our SERC research.
Exploring Nature (Ages 5-8 years) 1-4 Hours
- Seining - Gather fish and invertebrates from a seine net and sort them based on their adaptations for moving. Chaperones will be needed to go into the water in waders to use nets to collect the fish.
- Blue Crabs - Investigate what makes a blue crab well adapted for living in the Bay, meet a live blue crabs, and play a fun migration running game.
- Marsh Hike - Walk with us to the Marsh Overlook, listen and use your senses to learn why marshes are important. We’ll even look for signs of river otters and other animals that visit the overlook.
- Terrapins – Discover the world of terrapins, what makes them unique to the Bay, and visit with our resident terrapin. We’ll play games and learn about terrapin tracking too.
Engineering and Design (STEM) Programs
Engineering a Blue Crab (12 - Adult) 3 Hours
- Introduction to Blue Crab Anatomy, Hydraulics, and Pneumatics - We’ll visit with some live crabs, study their anatomy and learn about how they use fluid movement (hydraulics) to move after molting, and how this relates to pneumatics (motion through compression of air) by using syringes of air and water.
- Build a Blue Crab Hydraulic Arm - Discover the field of biomimicry, and be challenged to engineer a blue crab arm that moves. After sketching schematics you will then using simple materials and syringes filled with fluid to build a hydraulic arm that can move.
