Marine Science

This area of study introduces coastal and marine environments and explores human impacts on ocean and estuarine resources. Students engage in explorations of coastal, lagoon, and rocky intertidal habitats. Please note that we cannot guarantee that all students/groups will experience any one activity. Visiting many locations depends upon schedules, tides, and minimizing human impacts. Possible activities include:

Tidepool Exploration

Explore the tidepools at South Rodeo Beach and:

• Discover anemones, sea stars, mussels, and more
• Use field guides to identify species
• Make observations about how each of the organisms is specially adapted to survive in this harsh habitat

For your group's safety, tidepooling may not be available based on tides, waves, and weather. 

Whale Bones

 Headlands Institute is home to an 80 foot blue whale skeleton. Students:

• Learn about marine mammal physiology as they measure, touch, and compare the whale's bone structure to other mammals' anatomy
• Discover how baleen and toothed whales feed during a whale feeding game
  

Intertidal Marine Lab

Headlands Institute's state-of-the-art marine lab has over 20 species of intertidal organisms for students to observe. The marine lab allows groups to:

• Take scientific investigation of tidepool life to a deeper level
• Using a powerful digital microscope, observe a sea star's tube feet in action or see an anemone's mouthparts up close
• Discover how cultures around the world relate to the ocean through exploration of multicultural stories, foods, and traditions related to the ocean
  

Plankton Tow

Plankton is the base of virtually all ocean food chains. The bridge across Rodeo Lagoon is an ideal place to  perform a plankton tow. Field groups:

• Collect plankton from the lagoon and take it back to the lab to investigate with microscopes where they typically identify several different types of zooplankton and phytoplankton 
• Learn about adaptations plankton use to remain neutrally buoyant
• Are challenged to design their own neutrally buoyant object using wood, rocks, sponges, and balloons
  

Beach Care Stewardship Project

Headlands Institute is proud to have helped keep Rodeo Beach clean for over 30 years. After learning about the harmful effects of plastic in the ocean, students:

• Are equipped with gloves, trash bags, and safety instructions to perform a beach clean up
• Classify and record the type of debris they find on the beach
• Discuss how they can care for the environment in their community after the clean-up
  

Suggested Evening Programs

Bioluminescence night hike
This evening program focuses on the study of bioluminescent plankton through a video and a short walk to the beach to observe bioluminescence at water's edge. May not be available if waves or tide are too high or if bioluminescent activity is not present at the beach.

Grey whale migration
Why do creatures migrate? How can they survive when migrating? Students assume the role of grey whales in this activity illustrating the seasons, availability of food, the importance of breeding sites, the ecology of different parts of the ocean, and human impacts on ecosystems.

View all evening programs.