Blog Susquehanna University

Although they never actually touched Sedge Island, Susquehanna University was the last group to have a program associated with the Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center this year. Because the new paint on the floor or the McLain center takes so long to dry, we had to conduct the program off site. The group of 14 students led by professor Jennifer Elick camped Friday night at Cedar Creek Campground. On Saturday morning they met Jim Merritt at the Forked River Interpretive Center on Island Beach State Park. The group began indoors due to heavy rain blowing in from a strong northeaster. A hike to the beach along the nature trail was made additionally challenging by the strong winds on the beach. Since a major part of the students’ work was to study diversity, we looked for as many examples as we could find. Our collection included: shells, bones, feathers, plant stems and leaves, but our best find was a four-foot dog fish shark.

Despite the fact that the rain continued, the group wanted to paddle. We hauled the kayaks out of the trailer that was parked near the dock and paddled toward the dike at the southern end of the Marine Conservation Zone. The strong wind pushed us across the sections of open water speeding our trip but in protected areas like the Snake Ditch we observed many Great Egrets, several Blue Heron, and a small flock of Black Brant. We climbed the dike and as we watched the waves lapping up on the geo-tube it seemed to me that it is more exposed than it was as recently as last week. This was a great opportunity for the Oceanography Class to see first hand the effects of the forces they have been studying. A strong downpour chased us back to the boats and we began the trip back – into the wind! We hugged the shore as much as possible. Strong paddlers made the crossing of the open water of Little Bay uneventful. Our final challenge (the longest, most exposed section) was the final half-mile to the dock. After a brief rest in the lee of the northern end of the Snake Ditch, we struck out on our final big push. Everyone pointed their bows directly into the wind (now gusting to twenty MPH) and stroked hard. At one point a pair of paddlers in the Big Banana asked me if they were still moving! Thirty minutes later we were all safely back at the dock. Knowing they couldn’t get much wetter, several of the students held hands and jumped off the dock.

This trip was a great conclusion to a wonderful season at the Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center. I hope some of you students will write comments describing how the experience was for you. Jim