CONTACT:
Beth Heckman: (603)-778-0015
July 8, 2019
GREENLAND, NH — Youth day programs are being offered once again this summer at the Great Bay Discovery Center, 89 Depot Road in Greenland. Bayventures and Jr. Bayventures give boys and girls the chance to learn about the creatures and habitat of Great Bay, outdoor observation, and even what it might be like to pilot a lobster boat. Sessions will be offered in July and August. Great Bay Discovery Center is operated by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, and these sessions have nominal charges associated with them to cover the cost of programming and materials.
Bayventure programs are intended for children entering grades 3-6 in the fall of 2019; Jr. Bayventure programs are designed for children entering grades 1-4. Bayventure programs are held on Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., and each session is $35 for Great Bay Stewards members and $40 for non-members. Jr. Bayventures programs are held on Friday mornings from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., and each session is $15 for Great Bay Stewards members and $20 for non-members.
Participants may register for one or more sessions by calling (603) 778-0015, or by emailing beth.heckman@wildlife.nh.gov. Explore the opportunities, times, and dates listed to find exciting summer learning experiences for your child. Attendees should be prepared with snacks, water bottles, and a bag lunch for full-day sessions.
Week 1: Nuts About Nature
Learn how to be observant of nature, and awaken all of your senses in the great outdoors. Make a gingerbread fort to take home.
Wednesday, July 17: Bayventurers grades 3-6 (9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
Friday, July 19: Jr. Bayventurers grades 1-4 (9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
Week 2: Eelgrass, Eelgrass Everywhere
Eelgrass beds are the most abundant habitat in the Great Bay, and this flowering plant provides an ideal place for animals to hide. The session will include a craft to take home, and a presentation of “Eelgrass Theater” for parents at the end of the day.
Wednesday, July 24: Bayventurers grades 3-6 (9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
Friday, July 26: Jr. Bayventurers grades 1-4 (9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
Week 3: Mystery on Great Bay
It’s a day of indoor and outdoor surprises with mystery games and activities planned by the bay, including a wonderful craft to bring home.
Wednesday, July 31: Bayventurers grades 3-6 (9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
Friday, August 2: Jr. Bayventurers grades 1-4 (9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
Week 4: I Want to Be a Lobsterman
From a lobster boat to a scientific research vessel, pilots need to know how to traverse Great Bay. Participants learn basic chart skills and other navigation tools and build model boats to float.
Wednesday, August 7: Bayventurers grades 3-6 (9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
Friday, August 9: Jr. Bayventurers grades 1-4 (9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
Week 5: The Great Bay Escape
The group will work together to escape from the Great Bay Special Collections Room by learning about the bounty of the bay to solve puzzles and brain teasers. Create a game to bring home and challenge the whole family.
Wednesday, August 24: Bayventurers grades 3-6 (9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
Friday, August 26: Jr. Bayventurers grades 1-4 (9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
The Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve’s mission is to promote informed management of the Great Bay Estuary through linked programs of research, education, and stewardship. These programs enhance scientific understanding of the estuary and communicate this information to interested citizens and decision makers. The Reserve’s programs focus on management-relevant issues aligned with four priority topics: land conservation and stewardship, water quality, biological communities and habitats, and climate change impacts and adaptation. To learn more visit www.greatbay.org.