Celebrate Mother Earth & All Women This Mother's Day

May is a time to head outside and enjoy all that Mother Nature has to offer. The weather is warmer and the days are longer. Flowers are blooming and Spring is in the air. Mother nature is sprouting gifts every day. What better way to honor your all the women in your life, your mother, sister, friend, cousin, or neighbor than to spend time with them enjoying all that Mother Earth has to offer.  

Here are some ways to honor Mother Earth and the women in your life:

Picnic. Brunch is a popular activity for many on Mother’s Day. Inside of spending a beautiful day inside, pack a brunch, get a blanket, and head to your favorite outdoor spot. Whether it is a local park or the beach, a picnic is a great way to spend quality time with that special someone and Mother Nature.

Garden. As the frost recedes it is time to get down and dirty, and start planting. Bouquet flowers are always beautiful, but there is nothing like nurturing a plant, watching it grow from seed to sprout. You can plant tomatoes for summer salads or sunflowers for summer sunshine.

Treasure hunting. The beach is filled with all kinds of treasures from marine life to seashells. Go for a walk on the beach and go on a treasure hunt. Try to find blue sea glass or a sand dollar. Keep these treasures or find a great DYI project for items that you find on the beach.

Take a hike. From the Highlands to Sandy Hook, New Jersey is filled with wonderful hikes and trails. Pack a snack, fill up your reusable water bottle, and head into the woods. The hike could be a light stroll or for more avid hikers, a more strenuous trail. Be sure to stay safe and always stop to enjoy what is around you.

Get cooking. It is easy to just make reservations and enjoy a lovely meal out, but there is always something special about a home cooked meal. Your mom or whomever, may always be the cook in the house, but on Mother’s Day treat them to a home cooked meal or cook with her. Maybe visit your local farm or farmer’s market to pick up fresh and locally grown produce.

These ideas to honor the women in your life and Mother Earth should not just be dedicated to one day a year. There are plenty of different ways you can enjoy outside throughout the year. From hitting the slopes to kayaking down the Delaware during fall foliage. Always find ways to spend quality time with your mother, all the wonderful women in your life, and Mother Nature. 

Expand Learning Beyond the Classroom

Twice a year middle school students from around New Jersey experience hands-on marine environmental education at the Jersey Shore. Central and Northern County students visit Gateway National Recreation Area in Sandy Hook in May and Southern County students visit Island Beach State Park in October. The Student Summit is a great way to expand learning beyond the classroom.

Students get to learn about different marine animals and ecosystems at their location. In the Spring students learn about one of NJ’s unique and ancient marine animals, the horseshoe crab. Students learn about the life history of this species that pre-dates the dinosaurs, the myths about this animal, its role in the ecosystem, the biomedical and economic importance to humans, and how we have impacted the species. Students will be shown the proper way to handle the horseshoe crab so they can get a closer look at this valuable species.

In the fall, the students learn about terrapins, turtles that inhabit estuaries along the east and Gulf coasts of the United States. Students learn about the life history of this species, interesting variations in their marking attributed to genetic diversity, its role in the ecosystem, and how we have impacted the species. Students will be shown the proper way to hold and handle the terrapins so they can get a closer look at this interesting species.

Other activities at the Student Summit include an interactive series of work stations with a variety of hands-on activities for students to learn about the environment. Students will learn about the water quality approach to aquatic resource assessment by collecting and analyzing water samples. New Jersey is within the Atlantic Flyway, providing a diverse viewing of coastal birds throughout the year. Students will join local birding experts in a survey and identification of coastal birds. Waves, wind, and currents shape New Jersey's barrier beaches. By making a beach profile, students will understand sand distribution, beach zones, and tidal water levels. New Jersey’s estuaries offer a variety of habitats as important breeding, feeding, and nursery grounds for a diversity of fish and invertebrate species. Students will use seine nets and sieves to collect fish and invertebrates to observe and identify common marine animals found in the local bays. Students will learn about the types, quantities, and sources of marine debris plaguing our coastal region and will participate in a cleanup.

These hands on activities allow students to get out of the classroom and into nature. In this day and age it is important to get children back outside exploring their own backyard. During our Student Summits participating students not only get to learn about different species and issues, but get to hold the animals, collect samples, and see firsthand threats facing our coast. The Summit left a lasting impression on past participants and we encourage more schools to apply!

The deadline for the Spring Summit is April 24th. Apply today! 

More information on the Student Summit can be found on our website under Education Programs www.cleanoceanaction.org