Marine Science class goes coastal

Tuesday, the first of November, Ms. Bailey's first and fourth block classes had an unusual school day. That's correct; they ventured on a field trip.

During early October, the classes were notified that sometime in early November they would be going on an adventure to the coastline to have hands-on experience with the organisms and habitat that they were studying in class. Ms. Bailey has gone on a field trip to Edisto Island, South Carolina with her Marine Science class every year, but this year wasn't going to be able to happen. The class feared what most fear the most, weather. A tremendous tropical storm was off the coast of the United States during early October and it had mischievous plans of destroying many miles of South Carolinian coast.

The storm became stronger and on October 8th it made landfall on the South Carolina coast. Beaches across South Carolina were closed due to much destruction. Edisto Island was now a fading pigment in the Marine Science’s minds.

However, Ms. Bailey was on a mission. She researched many research centers hoping to find a facility that her students could search through on the same day as the trip planned for Edisto, November first. Luckily, A light shone through as a research facility utilized by U.S.C and Clemson Universities, the Baruch Institute. The trip was set.

Students paid $20 and had guardians sign two permission forms, then patiently waited for November first to roll around. Bailey, couldn't tell the students what they were going to encounter at this new facility, considering that it had been over 15 years since she had visited this place. The students, anxious.

November first, students board the bus driven by CSM Ferguson and accompanied by assistant principal Mrs. Diimmler, and Secretary Torres. The students were “anxious” and “tired”. At promptly 7:30 a.m the bus began its two and a half hour journey to the coast.

Upon arrival at the Baruch Institute the students were greeted by Hannah and Beth two huge smiling faces that lead the students into a meeting room and furthered their limited knowledge of the institute. The room was surrounded by many different captive organisms including an alligator, horseshoe crab, and turtles. The students were “in awe”.

Once the presentation was finished they reloaded the bus and ventured deeper into the estuary. Once there the students immediately encountered estuary life as a crab scurried across the ground to avoid the large oddly shaped students, he was quickly snatched up and examined by each person. The leads took the students on a walk down a miniature peninsula where they came to a heap of cord grass left behind by the high tide. The students were notified that where they stood was a clam bed created by native Americans long ago. Many shells were then picked up and examined by curious eyes.

As they headed back the students were disappointed. Many thought that the trip was over but the guides had other ideas in mind. After a quick walk onto the pier and lunch they had them follow them into unknown territory to the students. Mud. Everywhere. Some students refused to walk through it, but to get to their destination it was essential. Students began piling discarded wooden beams one in front of the other to make it across without muddying up their shoes. The destination was empty, just a freshwater stream slowly entering the estuary. But the curious kids loved it. Gathering crabs as they went along the trail. Comparing who had caught the largest crustacean. The trip back to the bus was just as bad as coming in.

Once back on the bus they traveled back to the Baruch headquarters and thanked their guides before they headed back to school. The ride back was vivid, laughter everywhere, and it seemed as if it was not a regular school day.