Category: Field Trips

Phillip Gillette, our speaker for August 2019, offered our members a tour of the Aplysia Marine Lab at Rosensteil School of Marine and Atmospheric Science on Virginia Key, Miami. So, on November 10, about 14 members of our club went to the National resource for Aplysia Lab. This lab is the only one in the country to raise Aplysia californica from egg to adult. They keep stringent records and know lines of ancestors. Since the Aplysia hatches to a veliger, raising them is extremely labor intensive. The water needs to be kept clean, the animals need to be fed daily and the veligers need constant turning so as not to settle prematurely. 

Aplysia californica is an extremely important animal for neuro research. The ganglia are the largest in the animal kingdom and scientists can work with them easier than other animals. 

Phillip gave us a great tour and we are very grateful he gave us this opportunity. 

Before we even got to the time to meet, our members were fossil hunting in the parking lot.

 

 

 

We are having a field trip to the Aplysia lab at the Rosensteil School of Atmospheric and Marine Science. The Date is November 10 and you can sign up at the October meeting. Call me at 561-386-5036 or e-mail me at Marshalldg@aol.com. Put field trip in the subject line. There is no charge for this field trip, but you must get there on your own. We will meet at the gates of RSMAS at 9:45 a.m. You will be asked to sign a hold harmless waiver before entry.

We have been to this facility before and our August speaker Phillip Gillette has kindly offered to allow us to visit the lab. You will see how the Aplysia are kept and he may even allow you to gently hold one. We’ll see on that one. Last time we went to the lab we gathered at a nearby restaurant for lunch and then went shelling. So, a nice day is planned.

This is a limited person trip and only 20 members will be allowed to go, so sign up or call soon.

Our next, and very highly anticipated trip will be to the fossil pits in Ft. Myers. The date is Saturday, February 25th, 2017 and you must be at the staging area by 8:30 AM. The cost is $25 per person, and the trip is limited to 20 participants only. Due to legal restrictions we cannot give you the information as to where the fossil pit is, nor the staging area. All of that will be supplied to those who are attending.

Cash is fine and checks are to be made out to Gary Schmelz. After the outing we will meet at the Country Roads Café for a wonderful lunch of your choice….. and there will be “contests and prizes”.

Again, an information packet will be given to the attendees. For reservations contact Richard Sedlak at sedlaki1@comcast.net / 954-296-5633 and there will be a sign-up sheet at the January meeting. I might remind everyone that there are only 7 spots left.

Our next outing will be to the Sanibel Shell Show on Saturday, March 4th and for this the club will rent a van so everyone can arrive at once. There is room for a maximum of 12, but if there is enough interest we will rent a second van. The cost for the trip is $30 per person with the only other expense being the $5 “donation” for the show plus whatever you want for lunch.

We will leave at 7:30 AM from the Coral Ridge Mall parking lot, the side facing US 1, at the base of the AMC Theatre sign. The location is very secure and the Target security carts patrol until after 10 PM. We should return by about 9 PM.
Upon arrival to Sanibel we will go directly to the show, followed by lunch at the popular Island Cow located right next door. We can then go back to the show for a while and then go to one of the local beaches for some shelling and if there is time stop at one of the shell shops. On the way home (we leave Sanibel about 6 PM) we will have a special “refreshment” stop.

The only thing I have to mention is that if you commit to the trip you must pay up front, and unless you are in the hospital “gasping for breath” there are no refunds. This trip has to pay for itself. But come along….you won’t regret it.

Coral Cove, October 19th, 2013, starting at 9:30 AMThe park is located at 1600 Beach Road, Tequesta (Jupiter area). Please call Richard Sedlak at 954-296-5633 / email sedlaki1@comcast.net if you plan to attend…..or sign up at the September / October meetings.

Plan on bringing your own picnic lunch (remember that there are picnic tables, restrooms, and showers) and plenty of water and sunscreen. There is good snorkeling but NO LIVE SHELL COLLECTING – dead shells only. Drive time form Pompano is about 1 hour, 20 minutes.

Coming from the south using I-95: go north on I-95, take Jupiter exit 87A (Indiantown Road), continue east on Indiantown Road to US 1. Turn north (left) on US 1 to Jupiter inlet. Immediately after crossing the bridge, turn right on South Beach Road (CR707). Drive about a mile and a half and look for the park sign on right. Parking is free.

The sign-up sheet will be at the September and October meetings. We already have quite a group going so don’t miss out on the fun!

A number of our new members are very much interested in doing some good-old- fashioned shelling and we have just the
place for it. Coral Cove Park is just to the south of Blowing Rocks Preserve where we have had trips before but is MUCH easier to get to. Plus there are picnic tables, rest room facilities and such which are lacking at Blowing Rocks. I am planning the date of Sunday, May 19th for this trip. Plan on bringing your own picnic lunch and plenty of water and sunscreen. There is good snorkeling but NO LIVE SHELL COLLECTING – dead shells only. Drive time from Pompano is about 1hour, 20 minutes. We will meet at 9:30 but if you get there early or late, no problem….go ahead and hit the beach. Coming from the south using I-95: go north on I-95, take Jupiter exit 87A (Indiantown Road), continue east on Indiantown Road to US 1. Turn north (left) on US 1 to Jupiter inlet. Immediately after crossing the bridge turn right on S. Beach Road (CR707). Drive 2 miles and look for sign on right. Richard Sedlak 954-296- 5633 / sedlaki1@comcast.net. There will be a sign-up sheet at the May meeting ENTRANCE: 1600 Beach Road, Tequesta, Florida 33469 HOURS: Sunrise – Sunset ACREAGE: 14.64 acres AMENITIES  beach frontage, guarded (600 feet) o play structure (ages 5-12 years) saltwater fishing and surfing not permitted in guarded swimming areas • fishing (saltwater) • intracoastal waterway frontage (600 feet) • parking • picnic areas with grills • restroom facilities • showers, outdoor