North Central Educational Service Distict (NCESD) of Washington's expedition in the San Juan Islands.  NCESDs' expedtion began with lively introductions as students stretched their legs following their bus trip from Wenatchee. Each of the students hailed from separate, district wide schools- all armed with a keen sense for academics, success in their science classes and curiosity that brought them aboard this Expedition. They proved throughout the voyage to be driven and dedicated individuals who displayed an amazing passion for science and compassion and respect for one another.

Day one of three (click here to view cruise track image)

The students had arrived after an already long day of travel and quickly got to work setting sail and getting ready for a Salish Sea Expedition first: the deployment of a Turkey Drumstick. Part of the students study focused on the following Hypothesis: The benthos will posess  more abundant and diverse life where it is rocky vs. where it is muddy.

The sampling site chosen for the afternoon deployment, Mud Bay, proved itself to its name early on. The most important data collection tool, and newest member to the suite of sampling equipment aboard Carlyn, was indeed the previously mentioned Turkey Drumstick. The idea was to use the leg as bait, attracting creatures to be hauled aboard and identified. Everyone on board was hoping we would catch a crab.  When a giant black shadow rose from the depths as the science watch reeled in the bait, a nervous calm came over those looking on. There were only two explanations for the Kelp matt the science team finally hauled aboard. 1) We have found the only carniverous Kelp ever observed in the field, or 2) The Turky leg had caught on some  Kelp that had become residence to  invertebrate and fish as appealing habitat. The students chose the latter explanation, and began to dig into the catch, finding shrimp, crabs, all types of algae (sea weed), small fish and....lots of mud!

Day two of three(click here to view cruise track image)

Throughout the Expedtion the leader who gathered students from NCESD, Henry Hettick, lead the students thrugh journal explorations focused to illicit reflective entries from the students. This journal served as a core thread by which the students were able to draw further information regarding their hypothesis and to help them recall all of the days events.

Once we had docked for the evening at Jones Island, the group finished their data gathering and took the seine net to the beach. They donnned chest waders and headed for the water. On the list of captured species; a handful of Porceline crabs, two small eels and various fish species were among the observed. We also caught an interesting siphonophore (a first time catch at SSE), which danced its way to the surface in our graduated cylindar before release. The water around the dock at Jones Island this day was teaming with Jellies and Nudibranchs of all sorts. This was a truly amazing day for marine life sightings and identifictation, and there was more still to come. Before supper there was a beautiful hike around a tip of Jones Island and  paused to observe some playful sea lions on the rocks.

Day three of three(click here to view cruise track image)

 The group decided to sample near a dense configuration of rocks just north of Shaw Island. The area was beautiful, provided excellent substrate for sample and data collection (recall the groups Hypothesis comparing rocky vs. muddy substrate), and kicked off an amazing afternoon of tacking, as you can see from our track just north of Shaw Island, while the Carlyn traveled east. The students finished up on final journal entries during the trip as they cruised between Blakely and Orcas Isl. and ended the day under beautiful weather,  headed off for the Cascades, and pizza, that evening.