Marine Science Day Four: Lab Results, Blue Crabs, Estuary Exploration, Behind the scenes at the Fort Fisher Aquarium and SCUBA!

We had a very full day.  We began in the lab analyzing the experiments that we ran yesterday.  We also examined blue crabs, and looked at tiny shrimp under the microscope.  Next we drove to Fort Fisher and explored the estuary.  It was freezing, but we got wet in spite of the cold, learning to use a seine net.  We examined critters that we caught in the seine nets.  We put them all back into the water after looking at our catch.

We had a picnic lunch at the Fort Fisher historical area and then went to the Fort Fisher Aquarium for a behind the scenes tour and it was fascinating.  We finished up the day back in downtown Wilmington learning some scuba basics.   This was a challenge and the girls took to it like fish! Fabulous and very full day!  Enjoy!

 Looking at the properties of sponges and their chemical make up.  We looked at sponges through the eyes of researchers who might be looking to the ocean for new cures for diseases.

                                                        The MarineQuest  Lab.

                                                             Analyzing our findings.

Getting to know a blue crab, for science, not for dinner.

                                             Collecting samples at the Fort Fisher estuary.

                                                            Unrolling a seine net.

                                                   Observations in the estuary marsh.

Behind the scenes at the Fort Fisher Aquarium.

At the aquarium.

Our introduction to SCUBA instructor Brian.

Out of the water the tanks are heavy!

Alan and Brian getting the girls ready to go!

                                                                   
                                                                        Mermaids!