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Marine Science Institute
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7 reviews for Marine Science Institute
Here's something you may not know. If you want to see fish, rays, crabs, sharks, shrimp, etc. or you just want to learn about sea life, you don't always have to drive to an aquarium in Monterey or San Francisco. There's a place you can go in Redwood City to get first-hand experience.
The Marine Science institute (MSI) is a non-profit organization with a straightforward mission: teaching kids (and adults) about the our estuary, the nearby ocean, and the environment. Offering classes, camps and school programs, the emphasis at MSI is hands-on learning and investigation. For instance, kids are asked to help catch various bay creatures, to study them, discuss them, ask questions, and have a great time doing it. And of course, creatures that are caught are released back into the water. (But they do keep a small collection in tanks on shore for teaching purposes)
This is such a great resource! And so close. Unfortunately we have been lax in using MSI this year. Though both our kids attended marine camp here last summer (and loved it), this year we failed to get them in camp before our summer filled up.
Nevertheless, as members of MSI we do occasionally get invited to events here. The one we chose to attend recently was a quick tour of the bay on their ship, the Robert G. Brownlee. After we boarded the ship, the staff briefed everyone on safety and then allowed us to roam the ship and enjoy the view on deck(s). Kids were even allowed to steer the ship w/ supervision of the captain. Once we reached the middle of the bay, the kids gathered critters using several methods. They dragged a net to catch fish and rays (and one small leopard shark), they dropped a metal claw onto the muddy bottom, the contents of which was rinsed and filtered for worms, and crustaceans. They even took samples of water in which microscopic life could be seen under a microscope (displayed on a video screen).
The staff at MSI are phenomenal; Not only are they knowledgeable, but they are so good at working with the kids that it is a pleasure to behold. They have a great sense of fun and answer every question. At one point, the staff taught all the kids a silly game for remembering the sides on a ship: bow, stern, port, starboard; It was so effective the kids had these sides memorized in about 2 minutes. Pretty amazing.
We are already planning on signing up both our kids for marine camp next summer. We are even trying to figure out a way to get some of their more landlocked cousins to travel here and join them as well.
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Possibly the best thing you can do to learn about the Estuary Area (because the Bay Area is not actually a Bay :P).
The AP environmental science class in a east bay high school where I teach was coming here to learn "in vivo" in the ecosystem and I was asked to be a teacher chaperon aka "self-deputized" to throw any misbehaved kids overboard the research boat we were in.
Just south of the San Mateo Bridge, we did hydrology and test the temperature, density, and salinity of the San Francisco Bay at the top and bottom layers. We also scooped mud from the bottom of the Bay to discover what invasive species are down there. Moreover, we were able to fish sea creatures at all levels of the Bay to see what lives there.
On the way back to the shore, we talked about the trash in the Bay and how long it takes them to decompose (ugh, why are people still using plastic diapers (decompose around 500 years) and not recycling plastic bottles since they practically DO NOT decompose AT ALL unless unless you live for millions of years!?!)
Thanks to all the MSI guides (Sarah and Kerry?) for being so knowledgeable and helpful throughout the trip!
Interesting facts to take home:
- The shallowest part of the bay is around San Jose with depth of 3 meters (10 feet). The deepest part is around the GG bridge where the ocean meets the SF Bay.
- 70% of the oxygen we breathe are from the phytoplankton in the sea.
- 70% of the species in the Bay are invasive :(
- Bay Area was much larger before the Gold Rush when all the dug out debris was dumped into the Bay. :(
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This might be the best adventure available on the Bay. The Kids get to go out on the R/V (research vessel) Robert G. Brownlee and learn about the bay and its residents. The ship drags a trawl on the bottom and they get to see what the net picks up, Rays ,Sharks and every once in a while a Sturgeon. Then they get a sample of the mud and there are wash stations with a screen where each Kid gets to wash out Her/His own mud sample to see what lives in there. Then on the way in they take a water sample and in what would normally be the hold of a commercial vessel there is a microscope hooked up to a television where the kids get to see what lives in the water. This trip is so interesting and educational that even if you don't have any Children I highly recommend borrowing a Niece/Nephew/Grandchild whatever. It's worth the trip. Very educational.
http://www.sfbaymsi.org
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How fun is this? Hop on a boat to discover awesome big and little critters of the San Francisco Bay.
I was a chaperon for a San Francisco high school class field trip along with two other co-workers (one is fellow yelper: Josh G.). The students and adults all loaded onto this research boat, wore the "Back to the Future" life jackets, measured salinity, density, and temperature of the Bay water, scooped mud from the bottom of the bay to discover the mud critters, fished with a huge net and caught some crabs, fish, and shrimp, smeared mineral filled mud on our faces (our mud facial), touched a jelly and sting ray, and looked under the microscopes to identify the cope pods and other alien like looking creatures.
The instructors were enthusiastic and really got the kids involved and engaged in the hands on activities.
The restroom ("the head") was a trip! Gottah pump that stuff into the holding tank using a step pedal and stick-shift looking mechanism.
Smooth sailing...
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Big props to the MSI. I've been on two trips with them for Girl Scout days. For kids too young for the boat experience, they give a top-notch educational program about shoreside critters. When you get old enough to go out on the bay and scoop up stuff from the bottom so you can catalog it, study it, touch it - how awesome is that? My only criticism is the kids got to do everything and there was nothing left for a lowly adult to do!
I'd love to do a birthday party here but they are on the expensive side.
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This camp was an experience of a lifetime for my 7 year old. The field trips made me nervous as this was his first camp with off campus field trips but he loved every minute. They got to visit the Steinhart aquarium in San Francisco and the Don Edwards Wild life refuge. The boat trip on the Robert G Brownlee was the highlight for him. They caught two bat rays and a shark and got to put them back. The camp was very well organized and the counselors efficient ,warm,courteous and welcoming. We used this place for his 6th birthday and we had the most perfect winter day ever.The sun was shining and warming and there was not a breath of wind. Birthday parties at this venue are great for school age kids. You can support their work by buying a family membership.
We will definitely sign up again. He asked to go again this year. Will ask him what he thinks and post later.
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I volunteered last summer for MSI as a fish data collector for my internship requirement for my B.A. It was a fantastic and memorable volunteer experience; the crew is awesome as were other volunteers I met along the way. There aren't a whole lot of other volunteer opportunities that require people to take a scenic cruise on the bay while being up close to and handling different fish, sharks and bat rays. Summer's also the best season to volunteer since the water's calmer and weather warmer.
The ship captain, Jackson, is a funny guy, to say the least. Be sure to bother him if you're ever on the boat.
Anyone interested should contact their volunteer person, Aaron. I'm sure his contact information can be found on their website http://www.sfbaymsi.org. They can always use more fish data volunteers. Anyone can volunteer as long as they're at least in their late teens.
Dooo iiit! Trust me, you'll be glad you did.
