Daily Harbor Tours on Long Island’s Only Non-polluting Electric powered passenger vessel
Science Program
WHEN: Monday – Friday (9 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.) throughout July and August
WHERE: Aboard the 30’ GLORY – Peconic Bay, Sterling Harbor, Deering Harbor, Pipes Cove
COST: $200 per student
CLASS SIZE: 10 students
AGE RANGE: 7-12 years of age. All students will wear Coast Guard approved life jackets.
REGISTER: 631-477-2515
Art Program
WHEN: Saturday & Sunday (9 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.)
July 25-26
August 1-2
August 8-9
August 15-16
August 22-23
WHERE: Aboard the 30’ GLORY – Peconic Bay, Sterling Harbor, Deering Harbor, Pipes Cove
COST: $100 per student
CLASS SIZE: 7 student minimum
AGE RANGE: 7-12 years of age. All students will wear Coast Guard approved life jackets.
REGISTER: 631-477-2515
Student, Parent and Crew Day:
At the end of August, EEMI will host a reception for all of the students that have completed the program, their parents and the crew. At the reception the crew and students will showcase their findings, discuss the program and enjoy refreshments and a few sea shanties from our very own Captain “bluefish” Berson.
The Peconic Bay Science Program
Launched in cooperation with the East End Maritime Institute, this 5 day program is an interactive marine ecology, local maritime history and boating safety course. This course has been designed by master mariner, Captain David Berson and Long Island’s 2008 Teacher of The Year and locally renowned science teacher Robert Jester.
Students will learn the basics of the scientific method by testing for the health of Peconic Bay. Marine life from plankton to oysters will be discussed and when possible observed under a microscope. Workbooks are provided so the students can have records of what they see and learn. The program is designed to conform to NY State teaching requirements. The class will meet at Preston's Dock for shore side instruction and then the students will go aboard GLORY for sample collecting on the bay.
Glory is Long Island's only Electric powered non-polluting boat certified by the United States Coast Guard to safely carry 14 passengers. For the past ten years Glory has been a pioneer in raising awareness of uses of alternate energy. Glory is under the supervision of a licensed Merchant Marine Captain.
Please call Captain David Berson at 631-477-2515 to check remaining availability and to register.
Program Outline (subject to customization)
Day 1: Introduction to GLORY, safety procedures and rules of conduct aboard a boat. We will review man overboard drills and familiarize students with the operation of the boat. All of this is done at dockside.
Upon completion of the initial safety briefing we will depart the dock and go to the middle of the bay between Shelter Island and Greenport. On the way to our first test site we will discuss tides and currents and review the types of marine life that exists in the Peconic Estuary. Once at our test site we will conduct a turbidity test. We will then proceed to Sterling or Deering harbor where we will repeat the operation. We will take note of the state of the tide, wind conditions and other environmental factors. On the transit back and while at dockside we will log and discuss the information we collected. All information will be charted and graphed over the period of the program.
Day 2: Depart dock and proceed to Pipe’s Cove and do a water sampling test, checking for the health of the bay. Both to and from our test site we will discuss climate, and cloud formation, and the relationship between temperature and barometric pressure giving the students an understanding of weather relationships. At the dock we will log information and combine all data.
Day 3: Stream plankton net and collect microorganisms from the bay. With the use of magnifying boxes we will identify the types of photo and zooplankton, and log our findings. We will discuss the particulars of Peconic Bay and the effects of storm water runoff and pollution have on the health of the bay.
Day 4: Maritime exercise: we will divide the class into two groups and teach them about the compass, nautical charts, establishing bearings, possibly including a lesson on finding direction using the sextant and a discussion about celestial navigation. Students will have the opportunity to chart a course and steer the boat. (navigation discussions will be introductory)
Day 5: Return to Pipe’s Cove to repeat water sampling. Talk about oysters in the bay and pull an oyster cage and show students the different growth of oysters. Discuss the value of mollusks in maintaining the health of the bay. Return to the dock, log our findings, review the week’s work and give certificate of completion to each student.
2nd Year for Peconic Bay Art Program!
Due to the success of the Peconic Bay Science Program, this year we are starting the Peconic Bay Art Program in cooperation with the East End Maritime Institute. Interested students will go aboard GLORY, Saturday and Sunday from 9-11 and under the instruction of a skilled art teacher will be given lessons in drawing. All materials are provided. Students need bring nothing but their enthusiasm.
GLORY is the only zero-emissions, electric powered, “Completely Green” commercial vessel operating under the aegis of the United States Coast Guard in all of New York State. She is a true Eco-tour vessel home ported in Greenport NY. Her skipper, Captain David Berson has operated GLORY out of Greenport for 10 years. Captain Berson is dedicated to the preservation of the East End’s marine environment and has spent more than 30 years as a mariner and maritime education instructor.
Did You Know?
Peconic Bay is a body of water that separates the North Fork from the South Fork in eastern Long Island. Commencing to the west at Riverhead, Peconic Bay stretches all the way past Greenport into Orient Harbor, ending at the beginning of Gardiner's Bay about where BUG Light stands. Peconic Bay is brackish water which means that it is a mixture of fresh water coming from the Peconic River and other sources of fresh water to the west, and salt water coming in from the Atlantic Ocean to the east environment that is perfect for a diversity of life that includes the famous Tectonic Bay scallops, oysters, hard shell clams, bluefish stripped bass and other examples of marina fauna.
