Kachemak Bay Field Trip

Our home school co-op recently went on a field trip to Kachemak Bay. This was an activity sponsored by the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies.

Michelle and I volunteered to be chaperones we had a great time!

First we started out from Homer on a five hour Kachemak Bay On-board Oceanography tour.

We load our mountain -o- gear onto the Discovery for our three days at the Peterson Bay Field Station.

First stop Gull Island. Gull Island is a seabird rookery.

Plankton tow....trolling for plankton?

 Now to see what we caught trolling for plankton.

Trying some raw oysters from a local oyster farm......yum......?

Our pile-o-gear ready to be barged to the field station

Getting our gear to the field station.

Peterson Bay Field Station. 

 

Our sleeping quarters.

After moving into our yurts we went on a nature walk through the woods and then on the beach.

 

After a great dinner and a good night sleep it was time for me to get up early. Michelle and I were the breakfast cooks.

This is what I woke up to! 

After a great breakfast it was time for some learnin'. Our guides / instructors Katie and Rebecca are the best! They are patient, knowledgeable, and have a great sense of humor.

The kids dressed up like sea creatures.....not sure what they are.....but it was funny and a lot of fun!

 

 The next day we went on a field trip to China Poot Bay.

 

Checking out a tidal marsh.

 

Learning the geology of the rocks.

Looking for sea creatures in the intertidal zone, (aka tide pooling).

Making a list of  all the creatures that was seen during tide pooling.

The end of another great day.

 

Our last day was sunny and warm.

 

Taking the underwater ROVs, (remote operated vehicles), for a spin, er, swim.

Yes, there was even chores.

 

All too soon the Discovery arrived to take us back to Homer.

 

Katie, Rebecca, and the hogboys.

 

We had a great time on our field trip! 

Link to information on the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies:

http://www.akcoastalstudies.org/