Marine Science Sail & Camp Overnight

Sail the weekend away aboard a traditional oyster boat of Maryland, the Skipjack Sigsbee. We’ll cruise from the Inner Harbor to our campground at Sandy Point State Park with a full complement of hands-on activities, including setting the sail and steering the boat; trawling for plankton, fish, and crabs; water testing; oyster dissection; and bird morphology and identification along the way. Try your hand at Native American fishing with your handmade fish weir and practice those fancy knots that every sailor should know, too.

When we reach dry land, we’ll explore the beach, wade, swim, and fish with a seine net before heading off to make camp. We’ll end the day with a warm meal, a rousing game of kickball or frisbee, and a fire complete with all the s’more fixings. Come morning, we’ll pack up camp and head back to the boat to make our way up the bay for home. Be prepared to swab the deck, no joke! All food is included, cooking is done by the staff, and most camping supplies, including tents, are provided. Participants will be responsible for their personal camping gear, such as a sleeping bag and pad. Participants will be expected to help with some camp set-up and dinner cleanup.

Meals include two lunches, one dinner, and one breakfast. A sample menu would include bagels, with a gluten-free alternative, for breakfast, sandwiches and wraps for lunch, and tacos or burritos for dinner. Meat alternatives will be available. Snack items could include fruit, granola bars, goldfish, and pretzels.

We will be camping at a private youth group site at Sandy Point. Portable toilets are available at the site, with flush toilets open at the marina for use when we arrive and depart. Fresh water is available. There are no showers. More park information can be found here: https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/southern/sandypoint.aspx

• Our meeting location can be found in your registration confirmation email when payment is complete.
• Watch for additional details, including a packing list, in a welcome email a week before the date.
• Dress according to the weather. Layers of clothing work best. Include a hat for sun protection or warmth, depending on the season.
• Closed-toe shoes are required on board the boat.
• Bring sunblock, bug spray, and a camera with accessories.
• Bring binoculars and a hand lens or loupe for birding or looking at details if you have them.
• No pets, please.

Payment and Cancellation Policy: Payment is due online at the time of registration. Due to the nature of this trip, cancellations made 14 or more days in advance of the event will receive a refund minus a 5% processing fee. Cancellations made within 14 days of the event will not receive a refund. Events and field trips with fees of $10 or less are not refundable at any time unless canceled by NHSM. NHSM retains the right to update or change these requirements at any time.

For questions, please email Jayne at JAsh@marylandnature.org.