News

Exploring Science at LBIF 2010

If you want to know more about the world in which you live we invite you to participate in some mind expanding activities! We invite you to explore with us. “LBIF Science Explorers.” Science Explorers come in all sizes, ages and levels of knowledge, but we share one thing in common; a love of learning and a curiosity about the world around us. So welcome to the club!

We will be offering an extensive schedule of science programming in 2010. As you know we have 21 acres of marshes and wetlands, as well as labs, classrooms, and an art gallery where people of all ages can experience fun and learning unlike anywhere else on Long Beach Island so we want to bring our members and our community here to enjoy and learn from our environment.

Things to think about:

LBIF’s “Science Saturdays” program will run for 10 weeks, kicking off on Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. It’s something fun to do on a winter afternoon with neighbors and friends.

We are looking for volunteers to get more involved in our activities by learning and acting as informal guides. We’d call them Explorer/guides to welcome people at various LBIF functions (an hour at a time on certain days). We will offer training to these Explorer/guides and provide handout material. But the goal is for them provide a “personal touch” and find out visitor’s interests and encourage them to participate. Here is where we can use some help:

Ø We have a wonderful Coastal Rain Garden and we would like to show it off. We are looking for volunteers to point out the plants and explain the benefits of this garden and the fact that we all benefit if someone does his own rain garden on LBI or, in fact, anywhere.

Ø Project Power, a full scale alternative energy demonstration that provides a real learning experience for everyone, especially any homeowner considering energy independence. We’d like volunteers to how off the equipment and explain (in nontechnical terms) how it works.

Ø Marsh Tours – In 2009 we had more that 250 people visit our facility and, with a naturalist, visit the marsh. People learned about the unique habitat and the critters who call it home. We need volunteers to maintain the marsh path, to help the naturalist and tell visitors about all the things that LBIF has to offer.

New and exciting for 2010, the LBIF has teamed with Project Terrapin, a rescue mission initiated by Professor John Wnek, from the Marine Academy for Technology and Environmental Sciences. Because of its unique location, the LBIF was selected to help track and monitor the animals, and will eventually provide a hatchery for young terrapins that will increase their chances for survival in the wild. For more information, visit the Project Terrapin website at www.projectterrapin.org. There will be an overview at one of the Science Saturdays in April and then training and participation.

Give us a call at the LBI Foundation 609-494-1241 and tell us how you would like to be a part of our science program. We’ll get right back to you!

LBIF Science Explorer (and Science Co-Chair) Rick Bushnell