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St. Luke's Marine Science Class Explores Calf Pasture Beach
Each year, our Marine Science class studies the local Long Island Sound (LIS) ecosystem and then visits Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk, CT to explore and gain field experience in specimen collection. This year, the tide was especially low, exposing an extensive mudflat ecosystem normally hidden beneath the waves. Students found thousands of hermit crabs and even encountered very young horseshoe crabs. The entire class literally got their feet wet and excitedly pulled 5 seine net collections. The diversity of fish this year was impressive—they even caught a pipefish, a close relative to the seahorse. Expressions of oohs, aahs, and "wow!" were frequently heard above the waves lapping on the shore. Even a few shrieks of shock escaped when these scientists lifted a large rock and upwards of 40 invasive Asian shore crabs scurried to find a new hiding place. Crabs, fish, seaweed, seagrass, shrimp, and plankton were all brought back to the lab. The students are now responsible for caring for these mini-ecosystems or microcosms in the class tanks. This was one of the most successful trips to date!
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St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 40 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Leading with Humanity curriculum builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
