The Mon Tiki Floating Classroom Project Inaugural Outing: Seeding Juvenile Clams and Oysters in Our Local Waters
I first had the idea for the Mon Tiki Floating Classroom Project in January of 2011, in about exactly the same spot on the Napegue Stretch as I had my (humbling) Sputnik Moment nine years earlier.
Not quite three years later, Mon Tiki is a reality, and so is the Floating Classroom Project. It’s a nice feeling when you get something in your head that you want to do, but you’re not sure if it will ever happen, but then it does.
Nicer still when it wraps up commerce, community service, local governance, and personal satisfaction into a neat little package: a local business hosting a local youth group to enhance the local waters with resources and expertise provided by a local government agency.
Photos from the day and a video below with the sights and sounds of day. Of course, many thanks to OG readers and writers both for your ongoing support!
Biologists loading juvenile oysters and clams onto the charter catamaran Mon Tiki
The Brownies of Girl Scout Troop 1181 arrive at the charter catamaran Mon Tiki for their Floating Classroom outing
The charter catamaran Mon Tiki on its way through Montauk Harbor and on the seeding grounds
Three Brownies examine juvenile oysters as the catamaran Mon Tiki makes its way to the seeding grounds
East Hampton Shellfish Hatchery biologist Pete begins his pre-seeding presentation.
The Brownies of Girl Scout Troop 1181 begin casting oysters and clams into Lake Montauk
East Hampton Shellfish Hatchery Biologists Kate and Pete keep the buckets filled as the Brownies distribute the clams and oysters
A Brownie from Girl Scout Troop 1181 casts juvenile oysters into Lake Montauk
East Hampton Shellfish Hatchery biologist Kate and Pete looking on as the Brownies are hard at work distributing clams and oysters
Shellfish seeding completed, the charter catamaran Mon Tiki passes the Montauk Yacht Club on her way back to dock
This is just awesome David. Love to see the success you are having and public education is the lord’s work.Report
The Girl Scouts and Mon Tiki make a great team. My daughter was a GS until she graduated high school. I can’t think of a better program for girls in this country, or anywhere else. Thanks for providing them with this opportunity.Report
This is a fantastic project, David. It’s the exact sort of thing I’d like to find for my kids as they get older and more interested in the world around them.Report
Cheered me up to read this. Now, wouldn’t it be great if a few more oyster boats were seen again in the Long Island Sound?Report
Good on ya for this.Report
Is there anything that’s not awesome about this? I wish I’d been there.Report
Looking good, David!
Any movement on that boatbuilding class you mentioned a few months back? Myself and a friend are still very interested.Report