Delta Discovery Voyage - Grades 5 to Adult
The Marine Science Institute is proud to offer Discovery Voyages in the
Sacramento/San Joaquin River Delta. These voyages will provide your students
with a better understanding of this vital freshwater ecosystem and how they
can become stewards of the Delta. Below you will find a link in which you
can download a .pdf version of this year's teacher packet. Please be sure
to download and read through the packet (It is formatted to print doublesided
for your convenience). You will also find a link to the student Water Patrol
workbook and relevant background information.
Teacher Resources:
Delta Discovery Voyage
At a Glance
IMPORTANT NUMBERS AND WEBSITES:
-Marine Science Institute Website: www.sfbaymsi.org.
Email Karen Peluso, Ship Program Manager, at karen@sfbaymsi.org
with questions, or call 650-364-2760 x15
- R/V Robert G. Brownlee (the ship) Cell Phone: 650-455-8113
- Contra Costa Water District Website: www.ccwater.com.
Email Marianne Hook, Water Education Coordinator, at mhook@ccwater.com,
or call 925-688-8307.
- Mount Diablo Unified School District Website: www.mdusd.k12.ca.us/.
Email Spoogmai Habibi at habibis@mdusd.k12.ca.us,
or call 925-682-8000 x4041.
PROGRAM LOGISTICS
-Trips run from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM, and from 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM.
- Please arrive 30 minutes before departure to use land bathrooms, check-in
etc.
- Please call the boat cell (650-455-8113) if you are going to be late.
- Trips are 3.5 hours long.
- There are four total groups and stations. If you are sharing with another
class, please communicate with the other teacher to divide all students
into four total groups.
- Nametags are helpful.
- Total number of adults should be at least 4, optimally 8, and no more
than 12 please.
- Total number of students per voyage: no more than 70.
- YOU WILL BE OUTSIDE REGARDLESS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS, including rain!
TRIPS DO NOT CANCEL AND ARE NOT RESCHEDULED. Dress appropriately and
warmly.
Note: Even if it is raining, the trip is still fun, interactive, and well
worth it. Some time is spent inside at the Plankton and Hydrology stations,
so kids get a chance to warm up.
- Life vests are required and will be provided upon boarding the R/V Robert
G. Brownlee.
- There is NO SMOKING aboard the ship.
-Updated manifest list (present students with emergency numbers), all adults
listed, absent individuals crossed off.
- Warm clothes and many layers. Best to wear old clothes that can
get muddy and wet. Hats that won't blow off. Sunscreen. Winter: Gloves.
Rain jackets or ponchos are extremely smart. No umbrellas.
- Closed-toed, closed heeled sneakers on everyone. No sandals.
- You can bring a non-messy, non-crumbly snack such as a chewy granola bar
or fruit roll up. Wrappers, littering, and crumbs left behind are not tolerated.
- Do the drivers know how to get to the Marina? One Marina Plaza, Antioch,
CA 94509.
- Do you know when your busses are coming and going? Are you sharing?
- Where are you eating lunch? You can eat outside on the lawn at the Antioch
Marina. What will you do if it is raining?
THE PROGRAM FORMAT
- Introduction: After life vests are put on, students and adults
listen to a short introduction and safety talk. Once completed, students
will divide into four cooperative learning groups and rotate through four 30 to 40 minute stations.
- Ichthyology Station: The first and third groups will perform a
fish trawl. Students will: use a pictorial fish key to identify fish species.
Learn about anatomy and life history of local fish species, interact with
and touch fish.
- Plankton Station: Students will: perform a plankton tow to obtain
sample from Delta, discuss the importance of plankton to the environment,
and view the sample which is routed through a microscope onto a TV.
- Benthic Station: Students will: perform a mud grab, inspect mud
sample, learn about bioaccumulation and biomagnification, invertebrates,
and discuss human impact on Delta geography.
- Hydrology Station: Students will: discuss stewardship,
household hazardous waste disposal, local drinking water sources, recycled
water, conservation of resources, and more.
- Closing Activity: Trivia, review, emphasis on conservation and
stewardship activities will tie the program messages together.
POST-TRIP CHECKLIST
- Have your students acknowledged their sponsor? Thank-you poetry,
letters, and artwork can be sent to MSI at 500 Discovery Parkway, Redwood
City, CA 94063. We will distribute the letters to the sponsors of your Delta
Discovery Voyage. They deserve your gratitude! Without them, this program
would not happen.
- If your submissions are poetry, artwork, or other creative means of expression,
your class can participate in MSI's Translating the Tides contest! For questions,
please contact Jeanine Borland Mann at jeanine@sfbaymsi.org
or call (650) 364-2760 x14. Winners are published and you may win a discounted
program for your class! See out website for more information on the contest.
PROGRAM SPONSORS
- Contra Costa Water District: www.ccwater.com
- Marine Science Institute: www.sfbaymsi.org
- Central Contra Costa Sanitation District: www.centralsan.org
- Delta Diablo Sanitation District: www.ddsd.org
- Mt. Diablo Unified School District: www.mdusd.k12.ca.us/
- Mt. View Sanitary District: www.mvsd.org
- Lesher Foundation: www.lesherfdn.com/
- Dow Chemical Corporation: www.dow.com/homepage