Day 7: Free Day- Fishing and Swimming

   This morning we woke up late because of our campfire. We then packed up, made our way to the boat and set off. We weren't heading to another camp so we had a day full of everything fun we loved to do. We didn't even have to go anywhere in particular. After we finished breakfast, we began sailing across the bay and down the shore. Along the way, we fished with the trawl net and caught many white perch, croaker, comb jellies, and even a 22-inch Channel Catfish! Once we reached a certain part of the Magothy River, we dropped anchor and had a chance to jump off the boat into the water. We even got to jump from the bowsprit (the very front of the boat) and the strongback (the very back of the boat). Amazingly, no one got stung by jellyfish while swimming, although some people did get stung when we pulled up the trawl net. We got to see the Sultana, another boat with a student crew on it, and even sang our signature "We Eat Birds" song. 

Inspecting the catch from the trawl net

We pulled up a blue crab in the net, which we got to hold because it had no chelipeds (claws).

Jumping off the bowsprit

Cat landing

Race of working coils

Port watch preparing dinner- spaghetti with tomato sauce, caprese salad, and brioche

Lucy, Cooper, Colby, Jake

Photos by Natalia and Mikaela

Day 6: The Beach

Today we left St. Michael's around 8:00 and began sailing to Sandy Point. Since it was only a 2 1/2 hour sail, we stopped along the way to fish with the trawl net. We didn't catch quite as much as last time, although we loved the comb jellies and caught many sea nettles. While deck watch sailed the boat, science watch continued to work on the projects until it was time to switch. As we passed the deepest part of the bay (187 feet, which means it was about 31 fathoms) and the Bloody Point lighthouse, we tossed pennies into the water for good luck. We also got to wet the deck a few times to keep us cool and the Sigsbee happy. Once we reached Sandy Point (which was very aptly named) we headed to the beach, our first swim of the trip. The water was surprisingly warm, especially to those who were used to California or Maine water. After the crew hung out on the beach playing in the sand and eating snacks, we got to take yet another shower. We then headed to the campsite by van. Along the way we saw many deer, which was exciting to the bigger city dwellers. Dinner was gyros and watermelon, which was succeeded by playing with soccer balls and footballs while this blog was written. Right now we are heading to do tie-dye and then roast s'mores. We're all excited!

It looks very stormy, but don't worry, we didn't get rained on

Looking up under the mainsail

Learning the science of sailing 

Learning which lines go where and their names

Passing under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge

We didn't finish this blog post until the morning after, so here are some pictures of last night:

In line for dinner

Doing tie-dye 

The campfire we roasted s'mores over and played the Song Game 

Lucy, Colby, Aurora, Kalyn, Jake

Photos by Mikaela and Natalia

Day 5: Saint Michael's and the Museum

In the morning we packed up at Tilghman Island and began sailing to St. Michael's and the Chesapeake Maritime Museum. During science watch we talked about bioaccumulation and marine debris with a fun game to go along! Deck watch hoisted the sails and helped navigate to Saint Michael's while we learned how to triangulate our position on a map. 

Once we reached St. Mike's, we left the boat and had a picnic lunch before touring the museum and obtaining valuable information about our projects. Meanwhile, the boat was open to the public for tours. Tragically, our boat was outshined by the Maryland Dove, which was docked next to us. Luckily, once we finished touring, we had a massive water fight. We drenched the Sigsbee, and all the crew. After cleaning up the water, we dissected a squid and did a fun activity with the ink. Then we finally got to see the Dove ourselves, which was pretty cool. At night we camped within the museum grounds and had pizza night. We were also extremely happy because we got SHOWERS!!!!!!!!!!!! After five days of working on a boat, we were relieved to be clean for once. Overall it was a really great day. 

Going under the drawbridge while leaving Tilghman Island

Learning how to triangulate our position

Working on our projects

A beautiful day on the Sigsbee

Working on steering skills

Time to relax 

Lucy, Colby, Jake, Kalyn, Samantha

Pictures by Natalia

Day 4: Going Fishing and Dredging

    Today we sailed from Horn Point to Tilghman Island. The boat ride was shorter than the one to Horn Point, so we got to go fishing along the way. We used a trawl net that we dragged along with us to catch a bunch of sea life. We caught perch, spot, oyster toadfish, blue crab, gobies, bay anchovy, and over a hundred jellyfish. We got a chance to hold a comb jelly, which does not have any stinging cells and is bioluminescent. As our captain Nick said, it was probably the best biodiversity he had seen. After finishing lunch, we got a chance to dredge for oysters on a real oyster dredging boat- our skipjack! We caught a lot of oyster shells along with some live oysters, baby blue crabs, and one goby in a dead oyster shell. We were very surprised when we pried open an oyster shell and a fish jumped out! On science watch we began our final projects and learned about birds and how to identify them. While on deck watch, we raised the sails, and more of the student crew got a chance to steer.

    When we reached Tilghman Island, we docked in Knapps Narrows. It was pretty cool because people were taking pictures and waving at us, which made us feel like minor celebrities. After docking, we toured the Phillips Wharf Environmental Center and the Tilghman Waterman's Museum. We learned about the history of watermen and viewed may sea animals, which included oysters, rays, and Atlantic sturgeon. We also learned about oyster aquaculture using an upwelling-downwelling system, which helps the baby oysters grow while purifying the bay. 

At night, we set up our tents in the environmental interns' yard, which they graciously let us use. We also got to hang out in an AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM for most of the night and use a flush toilet, which was amazing!!! Overall it was a pretty good day, except for the fact that almost half the crew got sick. 

Starting to work on our final projects: creating a resort on the Chesapeake Bay

Unloading the catch from fishing with trawl nets

Throwing the trawl net into the water 

Pulling up the oysters and examining them

A baby blue crab that we found with the oysters

Throwing in the oyster dredge

Oyster catch

Kalyn, Lucy, Aurora, Jake, and Mikaela

Day 3: Going to Horn Point

Today we went on a long trip to Horn Point, Maryland. Before we left, starboard watch went to the Sigsbee to get the boat ready while port took down the campsite. While underway, the watches switched off between science watch and deck watch. Science watch included water quality testing and plankton catching,mwhcih was exciting. Starboard even caught a larval fish. On deck watch, we raised the sails and learned about navigation. The boat ride was seven hours long and the waves were huge, yet despite the ocean spray it was fun. The campsite at Horn Point is beautiful, with clouds that look painted and an actual bathroom (yes, there is running water here. Yay!). After a delicious dinner of hotdogs and hamburgers, we played a few extremely competitive rounds of Capture the Flag, then turned on for bed.

Also, the Sigsbee's crew set a new speed record today: 8.7 knots

Leaving the harbor 

Preparing to raise the sail

Learning to steer the Sigsbee

The view from Sigsbee

Catching plankton

Eating dinner

Lucy, Kalyn, Natalia, Cooper, Colby

Photography by Mikaela (our RA)

Day 2: Rained out

        After we were woken up at 6:00 in the morning, we took down our tents and split into our Port and Starboard watches. Port watch headed to the boat and learned how to prep to get underway while starboard watch learned about the Chesapeake Bay ecology. We began to sail to Horn Point. As we continued sailing, the rain got progressively worse and soon forecasts predicted water spouts and high waves. Due to bad weather we were forced to turn back, and head back to the Solomons, not before one extrodanarily tall student got to drive the boat. When we got back to the docks, the rain had stopped and we began activities. We fished for jellyfish, tested water samples and shucked oysters. We went back to the Calvert Hills to camp. We watched a demonstration of a runoff model and learned about Riperian Buffers, salt marshes, and oyster reefs. We had a scrumptious

dinner of meatball subs, salad, and corn on the cob. We then moved our belongings to a pavilion to be sheltered from possible rain and set up our tents. We then painted out watch flags. Tomorrow we will be sailing to Horn Point to camp and continue on our way from there.

Lucy, Colby, Jake, Kalyn, Aurora, and Cooper

Natalia and Cooper catching Jellyfish

Jellyfish catches!!!

Card Playing

Relaxing by the dock

Oyster Shelling!

Flag making for out two groups, Port Watch and Starboard

Day 1 of Awesome Camping Adventure

After a three-hour van ride to The Solomons, we reached Sigsbee. We had sandwiches for lunch, then headed to the Calvert Maritime Museum to view the exhibits. We viewed otters, rays, skates, starfish, turtles, sharks, and fossils. We also toured the lighthouse and dock area. Then we learned about skipjacks and other types of boats. We were also very excited to discover that there was a gift shop. Once we returned to the boat, we packed up our belongings and headed to camp. We had a delicious taco dinner, prepared by staff and campers. 

Long live Edgar

Day Eight: Project Presentations and Tent Races

Our last day aboard Sigsbee was marked by the presentation of the projects that students have been working so hard on these past few days. They covered a wide range of topics concerning the Chesapeake, from biodiversity to climate change to dredging and fishing's effects on the Bay.

Otherwise, the day was filled with our last attempts to catch some fish, visiting the Calvert Marine Museum, and racing to see who could set up their tent the fastest. I don't have a lot to say for this last day, so I think I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

One of the three sea robins we caught.

Some from inside the Calvert Marine Museum.

The very end of our last voyage aboard Sigsbee.

Tent races!

And a last photo of our campsite.