1

Spring, 2003

I don�t know about the rest of you but I sure am glad to see signs of spring and the melting snow replenishing our groundwater supply. My students have always been interested in how our heavier snowstorms come from the south. I think they learned that lesson this year. We have been provided with some great teaching moments! Our midyear board meeting was productive in spite of the 7+ inches of snow that greeted us in Gloucester. Two modifications were made to the standing rules concerning memberships. The first was to limit the number of free memberships given by MAMEA and to leave those to the president�s discretion. The board also altered the renewal date of those becoming members after the first of the year. More details on both of these actions as well as the minutes from the board meeting can be found on the MAMEA web site.

MAMEA was well represented at the National Science Teachers Association Conference in Philadelphia. I manned the share-a-thon booth where I presented an activity on sustainable fishing. I also promoted MAMEA and the upcoming National Conference in Wilmington. Members of the NMEA planning committee, including Vicki Clark and Terri Hathaway, also met in Philadelphia. It is not too late to get involved with the planning or committee work for the Wilmington conference. I want to extend a personal invitation to any and all that would like to help out with the auction.

Mark your calendars for October 10-12. Lewie Lawrence has been busy planning this fall�s MAMEA conference (see page 4). Fields trips are being planned for Friday and Sunday. Saturday will include a strategic planning session to determine the future direction of MAMEA. On that note, I would appreciate any comments you may have about the organization and your visions for the future before the fall conference.

Beth Jewell MAMEA President

Congratulations go to Beth Jewel, our MAMEA President. She has been elected to the Council of the National Science Teachers Association, District Eight Director. Beth will represent Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky science teachers at NSTA for the next three years.

For more information about the 2003 NMEA Conference, read the article (pages 3 & 4) in this issue of Masthead and log on to www.marine-ed.org/nmea2003.

************ Hello again. It seems like we just mailed the winter Masthead issue. We hope you enjoyed it and found the contents useful. This issue will focus on the upcoming NMEA Conference and educational resources. As a reminder, please feel free to submit any articles, news briefs, program and conference announcements, information on new educational resources, lesson plans, or anything that will advance the field of marine/aquatic education. This issue also contains a student activity (grades 5 - 7) about Chesapeake Bay pollution, crabs and oysters. Students are asked to interpret graphs (from the Bay Program) and then make inferences from the data. Feel free to photocopy the pages for classroom distribution. Barry Fox, Editor (bfox@vsu.edu)

2

The Pacific Whale Foundation is sponsoring the Wild Whale and Dolphin Project that will allow educators to participate in whale and dolphin research. There are several eleven-day research cruises from May through October that focus on cetaceans living around the Hawaiian Islands. The cost is $1,595 plus travel to Hawaii. For more information, contact www.pacificwhale.org or call 1-800-942-5311. A Guide to Common Freshwater Invertebrates of North America is a new book written by J. Reese Voshell and illustrated by Amy Bartlett Wright. It is a good introductory guide to these organisms with highly readable text, excellent illustrations and very good natural history information. It does not contain a taxonomic key but provides a character matrix for insect orders and important characteristics of families. It is a valuable reference guide for students interested in aquatic biology. Copies can be ordered from The McDonald & Woodward Publishing Company, Blacksburg, VA for $29.95 plus shipping. The State of the Chesapeake Bay Report, 2002 is available from the Bay Program, 410 Severn Ave., Suite 109, Annapolis, MD 21403 (1-800-YOUR BAY) or order on line at www.chesapeakebay.net. The Guide to Marine Mammals and Turtles of the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico is an excellent resource for students. It contains informative natural history data, outstanding photos and illustrations and reference list. To obtain a copy, contact the Rhode Island Sea Grant, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett Bay Campus, Narragansett, RI 02882-1197 or call 401-874-6842. The price is $25.00. Journey To Planet Earth returns for its second season on Wednesday, March 26*, 2003, 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. ET (check local listings) to explore the delicate balance between people and the world they inhabit. The concluding two episodes of the series will air on April 2 and 9, also from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. ET. (* This issue of Masthead could not be released in time to alert you of the first episode.) The first episode, On the Brink (3/26), investigates a growing national security threat throughout the world: how environmental pressures can lead to

terrorism and regional conflict. This episode was filmed in the politically unstable areas of Haiti, South Africa, Bangladesh, India, Peru and along the United States/Mexico border. The second episode, Seas of Grass (4/2), examines the devastating environmental, political and economic effects of the degradation of the world's grasslands, which make up 30 percent of Earth's land surface. The program was filmed on the pampas in Argentina, the steppes of Mongolia, the savannas of Kenya, the plains of South Africa and the prairies of North America. The third episode, Hot Zones (4/9), rounds out the series by examining how recent trends in globalization and the altering of ecosystems have led to dramatic increases in the spread of infectious diseases. The program was shot in Kenya, Peru, Bangladesh, New York City and along Maryland's Chesapeake Bay, where changing climates, uncontrolled development and loss of natural habitat have led to an upsurge of infectious diseases. For more information about the "Journey To Planet Earth" series, visit the PBS website at www.pbs.org/journeytoplanetearth/ or contact Melanie Wood at (202) 364-0055 or mwood@screenscope.com. March 2003 has been designated Non-point Source Awareness Month as part of President Bush's October 2002 proclamation of "The Year of Clean Water." To help spread greater awareness of NPS Pollution and to help the public understand how we can all minimize our NPS impacts, a series of new materials have been developed in conjunction with NPS Awareness Month. These materials include a poster, a bookmark, a crossword puzzle placemat, fact sheets, and even a pop-up sponge promoting Low Impact Development. They are available free-of-charge through EPA's publications warehouse. An order form and links to PDF versions of these sample materials are available online at www.epa.gov/water/yearofcleanwater/month.html#mar.

The Masthead is the official newsletter of the Mid-Atlantic Marine Educators Association (MAMEA) and produced quarterly. The Association is an affiliate of the National Marine Educators Association and dedicated to the advancement of marine and freshwater education curricula, programs, and events that foster effective instruction, learning and environmental stewardship. Annual dues are $10.00. For membership application, send your name, institutional affiliation, address, telephone/Fax numbers and e-mail address with payment to Andrew Wilson, MAMEA Treasurer, 1004 S. Dickenson Ave., Sterling, VA 20164 (e-mail: underthesea@erols.com). For more information, contact any Board member.

3

NMEA 2003 � Taking Marine Education By Storm PSST . . . 2003! Yes, you know what we�re talking about! By now, I�m sure everyone has their calendars marked for NMEA 2003 taking place in Wilmington, NC July 20-24. Concurrent session proposal reviews, menu selections, field trip leader assignments, exhibitor applications and support contracts are some of the work that is going on in the mid-Atlantic region. Registration information will be available soon � so save your pennies and get ready to enjoy a week of summer in sunny, coastal North Carolina Taking Marine Education By Storm! The beautiful port city of Wilmington, North Carolina is welcoming us with open arms. The University of North Carolina at Wilmington, one of the top 10 colleges in the southeast for five years running, is looking forward to hosting our most auspicious group of marine educators. In addition to a keynote address by the Weather Channel�s noted meteorologist Dr. Steve Lyons, appearances by Dr. Stan Riggs, coastal geologist, and Jay Barnes, author of North Carolina�s Hurricane History, will enlighten and entertain us. Delightful social events will balance out the content and activity-filled concurrent sessions! A Cape Fear River tour aboard the �Henrietta III,� a 156-foot riverboat, will introduce us to the river environs. The Coastal Cohorts� performance of �King Mackerel & the Blues Are Running� will set your toes a�tappin� for the Stegner Concert. Field excursions to explore the best of North Carolina�s southeastern coast will finish out the week. The strength of the conference lies in the depth and breadth of concurrent session offerings. With topics ranging from hurricanes to shipwrecks, watershed monitoring to ocean observation systems, and Blackbeard to aquatic insects, you'll find over 150 concurrent sessions led by scientists, university faculty, resource managers, and K-12 educators from 26 states, three Canadian provinces, China, and the Caribbean. Presentation formats include hands-on workshops, research updates, demonstrations, and discussions. For your convenience, the presentations will be organized into tracks such as Climate and Weather, Ocean/Coastal Research, Elementary Education, Conservation, Maritime Culture and History, National Initiatives, and Technology.

Highlights from the daily schedule: July 19-20 July 22 Board meeting Speaker � Dr. Stan Riggs Committee meetings Concurrent sessions �Meet and Greet� for 1st time conferees Awards, auction, evening event Opening event and welcoming address July 23 July 21 Sea Faire/Sea Swap Speakers � Jay Barnes, Dr. Steve Lyons Concurrent sessions Concurrent sessions Chapter meetings Committee meetings Cape Fear River cruise - Henrietta III Eco-Reception at the North Carolina Aquarium Stegner concert

at Fort Fisher King Mackerel & the Blues Are Running July 24

Field explorations Blockade Runner beach party at Wrightsville Beach Keep an eye on the web site for updates: www.marine-ed.org/nmea03. If you�re interested in assisting with the conference, contact the chair of the committee you wish to join. The list of committee chairs can be found on the web site! See you in Wilmington in July! NMEA 2003 Conference Committee Needs You!

4

Calling all MAMEA members who are attending the NMEA conference July 20-24 at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington! MAMEA is the host chapter for this event, and we need you to help make the NMEA members from the other 16 chapters feel welcome. There are lots of interesting and important jobs to be done. You can volunteer for a day, a half-day, a couple of hours, whatever suits your schedule. Please join us and be part of the behind-the-scenes work on the conference. It will be fun! We need MAMEA helpers for these tasks and more: Registration desk workers Auction workers Field trip assistants Concurrent session hosts Special event workers Exhibit hall workers Contact the committee chair of your choice to volunteer: Conference Co-Chairs

Andy Wood, awood@audubon.org Terri Hathaway, terri.hathaway@ncmail.net

Finance: Andrew Wilson, underthesea@erols.com Auction: Beth Jewell, fin2fluke@hotmail.com Publicity: Adam Frederick, frederic@mdsg.umd.edu Exhibits: Kathy Siegfried, ksiegfried@aqua.org Special Events: Peggy Sloan, peggy.sloan@ncmail.net Concurrent Sessions: Vicki Clark, vclark@vims.edu Field Trips: Amy Sauls, amy_sauls@ncnerr.org A new curriculum entitled Healthy Waters will be released soon. It is modeled after the nationally known Project WET and will be an excellent teaching and resource guide. It covers a wide range

of activities dealing with water quality monitoring. The Masthead will keep you posted.

Announcing the Fall MAMEA Conference

Educators - find your boots and binoculars! The annual MAMEA Conference is scheduled for October 10-12, 2003 in Chincoteague, Virginia. Field trips are tentatively planned for Friday 10th and Sunday 12th. Some of the possible field trips include the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Sea Kayaking, Waterfowl Museum, NASA Wallops Station, and the Oyster and Maritime Museum. Saturday the 11th will be the main event featuring Eastern Shore local historic, cultural, and coastal speakers. The Chincoteague Center has been reserved for the conference. Those interested in previewing the facilities can find more information at www.Chincoteague.org. Remember Monday October 13th is a holiday for some (Columbus Day), so stay longer and enjoy the hospitality of the Eastern Shore.

Announcement

Under the Sea is looking for a part time or full time instructor for their outreach program. We travel to schools, festivals and parties to show live sea animals so applicant must be a good driver and be willing to handle various critters. Please call (703) 464-4763 or e-mail us at underthesea@erols.com if interested. Excellent pay and benefits. Andrew Wilson, Director, Under the Sea, Sterling, VA

If you know of college students who are looking to work in a camp setting for the summer, ask them to visit www.ACAcamps.org/jobs.htm for a listing of paid camp staff positions available across the country.

5

Bottle Biology by Mrill Ingram has taken the lowly plastic drink bottle to new heights with this informative and fun activity guide. It is useful for all grades, even college level instruction. There are detailed instructions on making living systems such as Eco-columns, Predator/prey columns and Terra-Aqua Columns. Be sure to save all of those one and two liter bottles and get a copy of this book. For ordering information, contact: Acorn Naturalist, 17300 East 17th St., #J-236, Tustin, CA 92680 (800-422-8886) and ask for their catalog. ($15.95) Clean Water for the Frog is a simple yet entertaining animated cartoon about the structure and function of wetlands. Designed for youth in grades K - 3, it contains an animated story featuring Lilly the Frog, interactive games, glossary and teacher�s guide. Flash animated and Power Point versions are contained in the CD. It is available from Barry Fox, Extension Specialist, 4-H Marine/Aquatic Education, Box 9081, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA 23806 (8040524-5848) for $5.00 per copy. Cycling Back to Nature is a series of activity guides produced by the Environmental Stewardship Office of the National 4-H Council. Titles include Soils Alive, Food Production and Pesticide, Mud Muck and Other Wonderful Things, Energizing Your Future (energy, environment and economics), Going Places - Making Choices (transportation) and Field of Genes (biotechnology). Information about these curricula and other National 4-H Programs is available at the National 4-H Council WEB site: http://www.fourhcouncil.edu. Fish Banks is a computer-based game that explores the science and social implications of fisheries managements. Students must make decisions on when, where and how to fish as well as fishing fleet decisions. The computer program analyzes the consequences of their decisions and students are presented with fishery stock impacts. This is a terrific educational program involving natural resource management strategies. For more information, contact: Laboratory for Interactive Learning, Institute for Policy and Social Science Research, Hood House, UNH, Durham, NH o3824 (603-862-2186). (Cost - $110.00)

Give Water a Hand actually challenges youth to address water issues. Students are guided through a series of activities that help them identify, research, investigate and address water issues. For a copy, contact: Give Water a Hand c/o Barry Fox, Box 9081, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA 23806 (804-524-5848). Living in Water is a grade 4 - 6 curriculum that addresses the physical, chemical and biological aspects of life in water. It has numerous, easy to follow activities that students will enjoy. It is available through Acorn Naturalist (www.acorn-group.com) and the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland (www.aqua.org) for $29.95. Pond and Stream Safari is a terrific introduction to the world of aquatic insects. Adaptations, ecology and identification are covered with interesting activities and excellent insect drawings. It is designed for upper elementary and middle school grades but can also be useful in the biology classroom. For more information, contact: Resource Center-GP, 7 Business & Technology Park, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850. (Publication 147L24, $15.00) Water Source Book is an excellent series of four (grades K-2, 3-5, 6-9, 10-12) activity guides for water education. They are quite comprehensive and the series is a good resource, providing hands-on activities for a wide range of water topics. Prices range from $22- $30. For more information, contact: Georgia Water Wise Council, 1033 Franklin Rd., Suite 9-187, Marietta, GA 30067-8004. What is Water? is a brand new multimedia educational program that teaches youth, grades 4 - 6, about the structure and properties of water. To receive a free copy for review and evaluation purposes, send a blank CD with case and return address to Barry Fox, Box 9081, VA State University, Petersburg, VA 23806.

• Chesapeake Bay Program: http://www.chesapeakebay.net/ - The official site for information, programs, data and current news concerning restoration efforts for the Chesapeake Bay.

• Global Change Research Program: http://www.epa.gov/globalresearch/ - The US-EPA database and information site on global environmental change.

6

• Volunteer Water Quality Monitors� Site: http://www.science.widener.edu/~grant/crc/crc_biol.html This has dozens of links to aquatic invertebrate sites.

• Forest Biology and Dendrology: http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/wwwmain.html - Virginia Tech�s comprehensive WEB site on forests issues and tree identification.

• North American Association for Environmental Education: http://naaee.org/ - Official WEB site with links to other affiliates and resources.

• North American Native Fishes Association: http://www.nanfa.org/ - An organization dedicated to the protection, culture and study of our native fish fauna.

MARYLAND (Kathy Siegfried) 2003 Coastal Ocean Observatories Workshop July 7-18, 2003 The Mid-Atlantic Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence (COSEE) is offering a unique opportunity for middle and high school educators from New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia to participate in an exciting, two-week field experience focused on the technology and data associated with coastal observation systems. Participants will work with scientists and education professionals to learn about coastal systems research and bring this science to the classroom through applications based on real-time data. The application deadline is May 23, 2003. For more information see: http://marine.rutgers.edu/cousteau/education/coseecourse.htm. Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs Program The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will offer their popular fishing program this summer. Girls and boys, ages 7-15, can participate in this free, five-day instructional program about the Chesapeake Bay watershed, aquatic ecology and fishing techniques. Throughout the week children are taught angling ethics, how to assemble rods with tackle, how to cast, and how to safely catch and release fish. Children will also learn about water safety and precautions that should be taken when fishing on a boat. Clinics are scheduled for five weeks during July and August, 8-11 AM and 12-3 PM at five sites. Registration is on-going and first come, first served. Visit Maryland DNR�s website at www.dnr.state.md.us and search for Hooked on Fishing for more information and a registration form or contact Donna Gartner at 410-260-8721.

Chesapeake 2000: Incorporating the Chesapeake Bay Agreement into the Classroom is a one-week course that offers K-12 teachers the opportunity to bring together University-based research and data with the Chesapeake Bay 2000 agreement. This course will give teachers field and lab experiences in living resources, habitat and water quality protection and restoration, sound land use practices and environmental stewardship. It will also facilitate the C2000 goal of a �meaningful outdoor experience.� Equipment and resource materials will be provided to perform lab-based activities in the classroom. Dates: July 28 � August 1, 2003 Credits Offered: 2 MSDE or 2 MEES Contact Information: Jackie Takacs, Regional Marine Specialist* Maryland Sea Grant Extension, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, P.O. 38, Solomons, MD 20688 410-326-7356, Takacs@cbl.umces.edu. Science Seminar Program This is a series of professional development opportunities for Maryland public and private K-12 educators in Marine and Environmental Sciences. The one-day seminars will offer hands-on research based activities, resources and materials to carry out activities and experiments in the classroom. All activities are correlated to Maryland Core Learning Objectives and Goals. Topics include:

• Oysters and their Benthic Community • Chesapeake Bay Fisheries • Plankton Communities

Dates: Summer 2003 Credits Offered: None Contact Information: Jackie Takacs, Regional Marine Specialist*

7

Research Fellowship Program This summer research fellowship will enable teachers to gain a greater understanding of the watershed and the scientific process in decision making. During this 8-week program, teachers will spend the first week in an introductory course (Ecology of the Chesapeake Watershed) traveling to the various Institute sites learning how current research is addressing critical watershed issues. Teachers will then spend 7 weeks in a research lab working with University scientists on a research project that they will translate into practical �hands-on� classroom activities for their students. Institute sites for research fellowships include: Appalachian Lab (terrestrial ecology), Center of Marine Biotechnology (biotechnology), Chesapeake Biological Lab (estuarine ecology and fisheries) and Horn Point Lab (coastal ecology and restoration). Teachers in the program will receive classroom applications, educational resources and supplies, and follow-up support in addition to a stipend. Dates: June 22-August 15, 2003 Credits Offered: None Audience: Maryland MS/HS teachers Cost: NONE - Paid Internship Contact Information: Dr. Jack Greer , Maryland Sea Grant 4321 Hartwick Road, Suite 300 College Park, MD 20740 301-403-4220 ext.18, greer@mdsg.umd.edu. Chesapeake Bay Aquarium In the Classroom Workshop August 11-15, 2003 The University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI) is funding an opportunity for teachers to participate in a workshop that will allow them to set up a 20 gallon Chesapeake Bay fish tank in their classroom. Participants will be given all the necessary equipment as well as instruction on maintenance of the tank. Two days will be set aside to collect organisms from Bay locations for the aquarium. The purpose is to utilize an aquarium as a hands-on instructional tool for students and to develop curriculum associated with the Chesapeake Bay. For more information, contact: Jeff Morgen, Education Specialist UMBI Science/Technology Education Programs 701 East Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21202 410-576-5778, morgen@umbi.umd.edu

NORTH CAROLINA (Amy Sauls) Integrating Science Into Curriculum - A Study of NC Sea Turtles June 16-17 9AM - 3PM, grades: K-12 Graphing, technology, geography, reading, writing, art, anatomy and research skills are activities your students will enjoy while studying NC sea turtles! You will leave this workshop with your hands full of ready-to-use activities for your students. Enable your students to share information with others about sea turtles by attending this workshop. Bring with you: scissors, markers, specialty papers for making book covers and bookmarks. There is a $65 registration fee. Contact Meredith College 919-760-8353 to pay by credit card or pay at the Park Center on campus. For more information, call 919-760-8353 or fax 919-760-2898 or e-mail at outreach@meredith.edu. Congratulations to East Carteret High School and Barbara Waters for winning the North Carolina Blue Crab Bowl Competition. They will go on to compete for the National Ocean Sciences Bowl title in La Jolla, California in April. North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve (NCNERR) Estuary Live! will appear April 10th and 11th and again the week of September 22-27th on a computer near you! Check the Web page for details including schedules and registration at www.estuarylive.org. The NCNERR education office is teaming up with the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher to host teachers for a one and a half day Estuary Workshop focusing on salt marshes, seahorses and coastal ecology. Contact Peggy Sloan at the Fort Fisher Aquarium or Amy Sauls at the NCNERR Education office for details. Rachel Carson Birthday Celebration will take place on Piver's island June 6th from 4 - 8pm. Join us for field trips to the Rachel Carson Reserve, featured updates on projects on and around the reserve, refreshments, entertainment, NOAA project exhibits, and more! Sponsored by the Carolina Estuarine Reserve Foundation, this annual event

8

celebrates the efforts of Rachel Carson and the site named after her in Beaufort, NC. Do you have questions or curiosities about buffers, septic systems, storm water or other developmental issues near estuaries? Then contact Coastal Community Services staff Lori Davis or Whitney Kurz at the NCNERR education office for more information (www.ncnerr.org). Coastal Explorations Workshop for teachers and educators will be held at the Beaufort Education office June 12-13th. For more information or to register, contact Amy Sauls Coastal Education Specialist NCNERR, Education office 135 Duke Marine Lab Road Beaufort, NC 28516 252.728.2170 (amy_sauls@ncnerr.org). North Carolina Maritime Museum The Down to the Monitor exhibit will be showing through August commemorating the 30th anniversary of the USS Monitor discovered off Cape Hatteras by Duke University. Related programs include a lecture about the Monitor, summer children's activities, and a Monitor Symposium in August. The Blackbeard Film Festival will take place May 13-17 at the museum and the Blackbeard Fest Symposium will take place in Morehead City. The NCMM Repository tours feature exhibits and artifacts about Blackbeard's flagship, the Queen Anne's Revenge. A permanent Blackbeard exhibit is on display in the museum, and a traveling exhibit is available to other museums by request. A variety of environmental field trips will be offered this year. Participants can observe marine life, fossils, birds, barrier islands, and coastal plant communities. Collect marine life on a research vessel and pull nets in estuaries. Related lecture programs will be offered including the FerryMon Project (Ferry-based Monitoring of Surface Water Quality) and management of the Shackleford horses. Summer Science School offers day classes on seashore life, saltwater science, kayaking, fishing, fossils, pirates, boat models and maritime archaeology, and overnight camps at Cape Lookout. The Junior Sailing Program uses the fun of sailing

to teach seamanship during two-week sessions. The Wooden Boat Show features races, demonstrations, sailing and children's model making on May 3. A full schedule of year-round classes is offered in boat building, adult sailing and sea kayaking. Patricia Hay has returned as natural science curator in charge of school programs. Teachers may call to make reservations for group tours and field trips. Visitors are invited to the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort and the branch facilities on Roanoke Island and Southport. Some programs may qualify for teacher renewal credit and NC Environmental Education Certification with authorization from a principal or school district. A selected group of programs may meet the requirements in coastal ecology or maritime history. For information on these and other programs, view the current calendar of events and education services at www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/maritime or email maritime@ncmail.net or phone 252-728-7317 for information. North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is opening a new exhibit on May 23. Don't miss an opportunity to check out BITE! SHOCK! STING!, a temporary exhibit focusing on the delivery systems of animals, both aquatic and terrestrial, whose bite or sting can be dangerous. Armed and dangerous, these can strike within a moment�s notice. Think jellyfish, pink-toed tarantulas, black widow spiders, copperheads, poison dart frogs, lionfish, stingrays, and electric eel. This exhibit promises to be one that piques the curiosity and enlightens the uninformed. In other news, the North Carolina Aquarium Society, the not-for-profit support group for the three NC Aquariums, has purchased Jennette's Pier with grant moneys from the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund. The fishing pier has been an integral part of the NC Outer Banks since 1939. In addition to fishing at Jennette's Pier, beach goers and others can attend education programs

9

conducted by the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island. Programs such as Catch and Print a Fish, Fishing 101, and Nautical Wreaths from Beachcombing Finds will be offered Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. For more information, contact Terri Kirby Hathaway, (252) 473-3494, ext. 227, terri.hathaway@ncmail.net. VIRGINIA (Lisa Ayers Lawrence) At a recent ceremony in Washington DC, MAMEA�s Cathy Roberts was awarded the National Science Foundation�s Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching for Virginia. Established in 1983, this prestigious award identifies outstanding K-12 math and science teachers. Congratulations Cathy!!! Congratulations to Thomas Jefferson High School for winning first place at the 2003 Blue Crab Bowl on February 22 at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. The competition was intense with fifteen other outstanding Virginia teams competing. Runners-up included: Second Place - Chesapeake Bay Governor�s School; Third Place - Rustburg High School; and Fourth Place - Catholic High School. Thomas Jefferson will now go on to compete for the National Ocean Sciences Bowl title in La Jolla, California in April. Visit the Blue Crab Bowl website www.vims.edu/adv/bcb/ . This summer, MAMEA, the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Program and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science�s Virginia Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program will host a one-day mini-conference on blue crabs. VIMS crustacean biologists and marine educators will offer information sessions, classroom resources and field and laboratory activities on these important Bay critters. The workshop will be held on Wednesday, July 9 and is targeted to middle and high school science teachers.

Registration is limited to 25. To receive information on the workshop, contact Lisa Ayers Lawrence at ayers@vims.edu or (804) 684-7608. Teacher Workshop - Are you looking for a course that will enhance your marine science knowledge, introduce you to current research activities, provide insight into some of the environmental issues facing Virginia's coast, get you two graduate credits, and energize your teaching? Join other secondary teachers in an intensive week of field, lecture, and laboratory experiences at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science's Eastern Shore Laboratory, June 22-27, 2003. The course, Marine Fisheries Science and Management, is limited to 15 participants. Application deadline is May 16, 2003. For application information, visit www.vims.edu/adv/ed/MS54803.pdf.

Education Resources - Are you in search of resources to help you teach Virginia�s new watershed SOL�s? Download classroom activities that focus on watersheds from the Love A Tree website www.loveatree.net or contact Jennifer Comfort at the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (jkcomfort@dq.state.va.us or 804-698-4235) and request a Love A Tree kit.

The EPA is developing a National Agenda on the Environment and the Aging to identify research gaps in environmental health; prepare for a rapidly aging population; and encourage older adults to volunteer to address environmental hazards in their communities. The Agenda will lay a strategy that combines filling research gaps and developing educational programs that promote preventive actions to address environmental health hazards. The EPA wants comments on the main components of the Agenda listed above. You can contribute to the National Agenda by attending Public Listening Sessions or by providing comments. For more information please visit: http://www.epa.gov/aging/agenda/index.htm. On February 26th, 2003 the D.C. Court of Appeals upheld the EPA's water standards pertaining to the permissible levels of radioactive contaminants in drinking water. The ruling maintains the existing standards

10

for radium-226, radium-228, and certain beta/photon emitters, and established standards for uranium for the first time. The court rejecting claims that the drinking water standards set by EPA were not based upon the best available science and that the EPA failed to perform required cost-benefit analyses for the drinking water standards. Environmental watch groups brought the suite against the EPA. The National Source Water Protection Conference is scheduled for June 2-4, 2003 at the Hotel Washington in Washington, D.C. This conference will promote protection planning and coordination, partnerships, and identifying opportunities that lead to implementation of drinking water protection and preventing contamination. The conference will also provide a wide variety of action-oriented sessions for participants. Advanced registration for the conference is required. For more information visit: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/protect/swpconf.html or call 1-800-426-4791. Attention Watershed Organizations: Please make sure that your organization is listed in EPA's on-line Adopt Your Watershed database. You can search the database at www.epa.gov/adopt. Click on "Catalog of Watershed Groups." If you are not listed and would like to be added, click on "Join Now" on the sidebar. Groups that are already listed can now up-date their information on-line. Click on catalog and then "update your existing information" at the bottom. Watershed organizations can also apply to receive a Certificate of Appreciation. The Nature of Learning is a new community-based environmental education initiative that seeks to use National Wildlife Refuges and other natural areas as outdoor classrooms to promote a greater understanding of local conservation issues, encourage an interdisciplinary approach to learning, utilize field experiences and student-led stewardship projects, and involve a partnership among local schools, community groups, natural resource professionals, and local businesses. The program will award grants of up to $5,000 on a competitive basis to support start-up expenses. Programs must involve a partnership among a local school(s), community group (e.g., refuge support group), and National Wildlife Refuge. Application deadline: June 30th. http://www.nfwf.org/programs/tnol.htm. On February 20th President Bush signed the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003 into law, ending negotiations over the Federal Budget for FY2003. The bill directs the U.S. EPA to proportionately distribute $9.16 million, from available funds, for Environmental Education programs in a manner consistent with the provisions of the National Environmental Education Act of 1990. National Conference on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration (April 13-16, Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland) The full spectrum of the restoration community will convene for the first time to advance the practice, knowledge, pace and success of habitat restoration. Incorporating the nonprofit, government, business and academic sectors, this gathering will enable networking and communication throughout the growing habitat restoration movement. Conference program and registration forms available online. http://www.estuaries.org/nationalconference.php. El Agua Es Importante: guia de maestro sobre recursos de agua, Volumen 3 includes a teacher's guide and a set of colorful posters created by the U.S. Geological Survey's Water Resources Education Initiative. This Spanish curriculum is designed to help primary and middle school teachers satisfy the National Science Education Standards and provide background information and suggestions for activities to heighten student interest and promote query-based, hands-on learning. Topics include oceans and coastal hazards, watersheds, and hazardous waste. Copies can be ordered free of charge from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Center for Environmental Publications at 1-800-490-9198 or ordered on-line (EPA Publication Order Number: 171-K-02-001). http://www.epa.gov/ncepihom/ordering.htm. The American Birding Association's youth program includes a Young Birder of the Year Contest with 4 modules, a Scholarship Program to subsidize attendance at summer camps, a bi-monthly newsletter, and conservation and fund-raising components that are designed to get young people out into the field to learn more about birds and raise awareness about bird conservation issues. Please contact Brete Griffin for more

11

information at bgriffin@aba.org or visit http://www.americanbirding.org/programs/ygbgen.htm. Food Land and People is an interdisciplinary curriculum with fifty-five hands-on lessons that develop critical thinking skills needed to understand the complex interdependence of food systems and environmental conservation. The curriculum is also available in Spanish and can be ordered on line. http://www.foodlandpeople.org/index.html. Have you seen ChesSIE lately? Forget rumors of the fabled Bay beast or wayward manatee. We�re talking about a reliable Internet resource for Chesapeake Bay science educators. ChesSIE (Chesapeake Science on the Internet for Educators), www.bayeducation.net, is a unique web-based resource center and communications hub that supports watershed-wide K-12 Chesapeake Bay science education. Launched in November 2001, ChesSIE provides educators with access to quality Bay-related education resources, online data and professional development opportunities, and gives researchers, resource managers and other Bay stakeholders a venue for sharing information and connecting with K-12 classrooms. Recent additions to the site include a state science standards section, an Ask a Scientist feature, announcement bar, and bay organism links. The site is supported by the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program and housed at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. For more information about ChesSIE, visit the site online at www.bayeducation.net, or contact Susanna Musick, sxmusi@vims.edu. Project Cool (Coastal Ocean Observation Laboratory) from Rutgers University includes tutorials and modules for grades 6-12 using real-time data based on the latest ocean science research and technology. Modules are tied to national science standards and frequently incorporate mathematics. Each module consists of a series of 4-6 sequential lessons. Each lesson cluster can either stand alone, or be used in conjunction with other clusters to develop greater understanding and skills. http://www.tsgc.utexas.edu/lists/teachers/links/iii/5/link_05.html. Are you looking for satellite images of regions on Earth or images of Earth as the "Big Blue Marble"? NASA Spacelink's latest Focus article Viewing Earth From Space can help. Viewing Earth from Space showcases NASA's educational products, websites and missions that highlight various images of Earth. Included is a listing of missions that research Earth's various attributes - land, water, air/atmosphere as well as a list of multimedia resources available through the Center of Resources for Educators (CORE). Viewing Earth from Space can be found at http://www.tsgc.utexas.edu/lists/teachers/links/iii/5/link_06.html.

Kidz Quiz (Grades 5 - 7)

The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure. It is the largest estuary in North America. It contains 64,000 square miles of land with five major river systems. It extends from New York to West Virginia to Virginia. The Bay once produced vast quantities of shellfish, finfish and waterfowl. Since the 1960�s production within the Bay has steadily declined. In fact, many species are in serious trouble from over fishing, pollution, diseases and other factors. The Bay is very shallow with an average depth of less than six feet. This helps make the Bay very productive. However, the vast amount of land that drains into the Bay adds a lot of pollution.

KIDZ QUIZ ANSWERS: 1.A- clear water, balanced algae, oxygen and fish abundant, aquatic plants and bottom habitat healthy; 1.B- produces algal blooms, low oxygen, poor water quality and stressed plants and animals; 1.C- either by exposure to the water or eating contaminated seafood. 2.A- about 118 million pounds, 1993; 2.B- E; 2.C- about 50 million pounds; 2.D- about 68 million pounds; 2.E- E; 2.F- limit season, number of crabbers, number of crab pots, location of crabbing, increase minimum size of legal crab; 3.A- about 38 million pounds, 1954; 3.B- D; 3.C- about 1 million pounds, 1993; 3.D- about 37 million pounds; 3.E- E; 3.F- after 1956; 3.G. limit the season and number of watermen, close oyster grounds, increase the legal size of oysters, try introducing a new oyster that is not affected by disease.

12

Sixteen million people live within its boundaries. Millions of vehicles and boats also add pollution. Pollution from storm water, agriculture, sewage, erosion, livestock, air, industry and other sources has severely stressed the Bay. Each of us adds to the problem just by conducting our daily activities. Do you know what is happening to the Bay? The following are graphs produced by the Chesapeake Bay Program (www.chesapeakebay.net). Study each graph and answer the questions. Then go to the Chesapeake Bay Program Web site, click on �students� to learn more about the Bay and what you can do to help restore this remarkable resource. 1. Types and Effects of Water Pollution

A. Describe the condition of a healthy Bay. B. How do excess nutrients stress animals and plants in the Bay? C. How could toxic substances in the water eventually find their way into humans?

13

2. Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Landings

A. Estimate the greatest amount of crabs harvested in one year. What was the year? ______________________ ____________ B. Select a reason for the large crab harvest: a. More watermen were fishing for crabs.

b. More crab traps were used. c. More watermen were dredging for crabs.

d. There were possibly more crabs in the bay. e. All of the above. C. Estimate the crab harvested in 2001. ________________ D. What is the difference in harvest between 1993 and 2001? _____________________ E. Select a reason for the sharp decline in crab harvest from 1993 - 2001: (Assume that the number of watermen fishing for crabs had not changed much.)

a. Too many crabs had already been harvested. b. Not enough crabs were reproducing. c. Storms and other natural events reduced the crab population. d. Underwater grass beds, where crabs grow up, were not abundant. e. All of the above. F. Suggest two actions that may help restore the blue crab population.

______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

3. Chesapeake Bay Oyster Harvests

15

20

25

30

35

40

ial L

andi

ngs

(milli

on lb

s)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

14

A. What was the greatest amount of oysters harvested? What was the year? __________________ ____________ B. Select a reason for the large oyster harvest: a. There were many oysters in the Bay. b. A lot of watermen were harvesting them. c. Mechanical harvesting methods were used. d. All of the above. C. What was the least amount of oysters harvested? What was the year? __________________ ____________ D. What is the difference between the greatest and least oyster harvests? ___________________ E. Select a reason for the sharp decline in oyster harvest:

a. Too many oysters had been harvested in the past. b. There must be a disease or parasite killing the oysters. c. Water pollution was weakening the oysters. d. There were fewer suitable places for the oysters to grow. e. All of the above. F. Dermo and MSX are oyster diseases. When do you think these diseases began destroying large numbers of oysters? _______________ G. Suggest two actions that could help restore oyster populations. _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

Paul Standish Scholarship The Paul Standish Scholarship is awarded annually to one MAMEA member interested in attending the regional conference but in need of financial assistance. The Scholarship covers the full registration package excluding field trips and other additional fees. Applicants must have at least one year of membership in the Association prior to application. To apply, complete this application form and submit a letter of application justifying the need for the scholarship and explaining how the conference will benefit you and your students. Application deadline is August 1, 2003. Include on your application letter: your full name, years of MAMEA membership, institutional organization, subjects/grades taught, address, home and work telephone, Fax and e-mail. Mail, Fax or e-mail your application to: Barry Fox, Box 9081, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA 23806 (804-524-5848) (Fax: 804-524-5057) Email - bfox@vsu.edu. This scholarship was started in 1998 in memory of Paul Standish, a dedicated educator from Williamsburg, Virginia. He served as the VA Representative and MAMEA Treasurer for many years. Paul valued the stimulating exchange of ideas and camaraderie this conference provides and wanted to encourage marine educators to attend.

15

President: Beth Jewell 5462 Stavendish St. Burke, VA 22015 703-913-3800 (W) fin2fluke@hotmail.com President Elect: Lewie Lawrence MPPDC 125 Bowden St., PO Box 286 Saluda, VA (804) 758-2311(W), (804) 758-3221 (fax) mppdc@inna.net

Past President/NMEA Board Rep: Carol McCormack 107 Mahon Lane, Beck�s Pond Bear, DE 19701 carolm@dca.net Secretary: Susan Haynes Virginia Institute of Marine Science PO Box 1346 Gloucester Point, VA 23062 (804) 684-7735 (W), (804) 84-7161 (fax)

shaynes@vims.edu

Treasurer: Andrew Wilson 1004 S.Dickenson Ave. Sterling, VA 20164 (703) 464-4768 (H), (703) 464-4763 (W) underthesea@erols.com

MAMEA Educational Project Grant Program Purpose:

The MAMEA Educational Project Grant Program provides funding to classroom teachers and other educators for marine and aquatic educational projects.

Eligibility: Any MAMEA member (individually or through a fiscal agent) may submit one proposal per year.

Program Structure: • Projects must focus on marine or aquatic topics. Applicants are encouraged to plan innovative projects that conform to grant guidelines. • One $500 grant will be available for the 2003-2004 year. • Cost sharing (match, in-kind, cooperative funding) is encouraged. • Institutional indirect, overhead costs or personal compensation (other than honoraria) should not be included. • Up to 80% of the total amount of the grant may be available to the grantee at the beginning of the grant period. The

remaining 20% is issued subject to Board acceptance of the final report. • Original material produced should be in the public domain and prominently display credit to MAMEA. • Proposals must clearly describe plans for ownership and continuing management, distribution, and post-grant use of project products and equipment purchased through the grant. After the grant period, the grantee may continue to produce and

distribute project products at cost. • Project staff should include an advisor from the target user group and receive input from knowledgeable professional

educators (and/or scientists) other than the applicant. • Grant application deadline is August 1, 2003. Applications are accepted year-round. The application form is available at

http://www.vims.edu/adv/mamea/minigrant.html or contact the Grants Chair. Send five copies of the completed application, with attachments, to: MAMEA Grants Committee Chair Barry Fox, Box 9081, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA 23806 (804-524-5848) (Fax: 804-524-5057)

E-mail: bfox@vsu.edu Evaluations of Proposals:

The Grants Committee consists of 5 individuals appointed by the President with staggered 3-year terms. The Grants Committee makes decisions on proposals and notifies awardees as soon as possible after the spring Board meeting, and announces recipients of awards at the fall conference. Applications are evaluated using the guidelines as presented in the Grant Application.

Obligations of Grantee: • Applications must include all requested information in the sequence indicated on the application form. The application

(excluding letters and optional materials) should not exceed five pages. • Grantees will submit a final report to the Treasurer of MAMEA within 90 days of the end of the funding period. The report (no more than five pages) should include the following items: project title, project staff�s names and titles, description of activities completed and/or copies of materials produced, audience numbers and description, evaluated

impacts and user comments, copies of news articles and/or pictures and plans for project continuation (if applicable). • Grantees will present a seminar or poster session at a MAMEA conference (regional or local) and/or submit an article to an environmental or science education newsletter or publication about the funded activity.

Be sure to • Attend o• Apply fo• Conside• Use the • Renew y

Mid-Atlantic Marine Education Association Masthead Box 9081, Virginia State University Petersburg, VA 23806

16

State Representatives: Shaun Giudice (DE) 200 N. 8th Street Delmar, DE 19990 (302) 846-9544 (W) shauneen@shore.intercom.net Sarah Schoedinger(DC) CORE 1755 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20036 (202) 332-0063 x221 (W), (202) 986-5072 (fax) Sschoedinger@COREocean.org Amy Sauls (NC) NC NERRS 135 Duke Marine Lab d Beaufort, NC 28516 (252) 728-2170 (W) (252)728-6273 (fax) amy_sauls@ncnerr.org Lisa Ayers Lawrence (VA) VIMS PO Box 1346 Gloucester Point, VA 23062 (804) 684-7608 (W), (804) 684-7161 (fax)

ayers@vims.edu Kathy Siegfried (MD) NAIB Pier 3/501 East Pratt Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 576-3888 (W), (410) 570-1927 (C) ksiegfried@aqua.org Masthead Editor: Barry Fox Box 9081 Petersburg, VA 23806 804-524-5848 (W), 804-524-5057 (fax) bfox@vsu.edu MAMEA Webkeeper: Frances Lee Larkin VA Inst. of Marine Science PO Box 1346 Gloucester Point, VA 23062 (804) 684-7172 (W), (804) 684-7161 (fax) larkin@vims.edu Standing Rules Committee: Vicki Clark (NMEA Board) VA Inst. of Marine Science PO Box 1346 Gloucester Point, VA 23062

(804) 684-7169 (W), (804) 684-7161 (fax) vclark@vims.edu Grants Committee: Barry Fox Awards Committee: John Chubb PO Box 836 Eastville, VA 23347 (757) 442-9041 (W) jchubb@broadwater. esva.net Nominations Committee: Carol McCormack Archives Committee: Terri Kirby Hathaway (NMEA Board) NC Aquarium Roanoke Is. PO Box 967, Airport Road Manteo, NC 27954 (252) 473-3494 (W), (252) 473-1980 (fax) Terri.Hathaway@ncmail.net NMEA Conference Chairs: Terri Kirby Hathaway Andy Wood Audubon NC 3806-B Park Ave. Wilmington, NC 28403

(910) 798-8376 (W) (910) 798-8034 (fax) awood@audubon.org