OceansWide Summer Camp Visits the CCAR!
This week, an enthusiast group of high school students from Village Community School in New York City visited the Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research. The students have been in Maine for the past two weeks participating in a marine technology and science summer camp operated by the non-profit group OceansWide. Based out of the Schoodic Institute in Acadia National Park, OceansWide’s mission is to reach students through ocean exploration and adventure. These summer campers learn all about various aspects of marine technology, chemistry, and biology through interaction with the natural environment. In part, they accomplish this by utilizing advanced technology such as remotely operated vehicles, or ROVs, that can dive up to one thousand meters, giving students a chance to explore parts of the Gulf of Maine few have ever seen. When they’re not on a boat exploring the depths of the ocean, they’re out and about learning from marine science professionals in the state of Maine, like those at the CCAR.
During their tour of the CCAR, these New York teens learned all about different types of aquaculture, what can be done to make aquaculture sustainable, and the value aquaculture adds to our society. While visiting our California yellowtail, Atlantic halibut, and Atlantic cod broodstock, they helped with feeding and learned all about what goes into the production of these species. After interacting with the big fish, they spent some time with our invertebrates (the sea urchins were a big hit!) and learned a little about macroalgae, what it takes to be a sea vegetable farmer, and the important role of ornamental aquaculture in reducing the wild collection of reef fish for the aquarium trade.
We were happy to be part of their learning experience and hope that we helped inspire the next generation of marine scientists.
To learn more about OceansWide visit their website: http://www.oceanswide.org