Come and explore our sea shore!

The rocky shores along our coast are homes to an amazing collection of weird and wonderful critters. Molluscs, sea stars, worms, sea squirts, anemones, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, crabs, shrimps and others can all be found on our doorstep.

Come and explore with an experienced marine observer from the local Nature Coast Marine Group. See what you can find and learn about how these animals live. Meet at XXX at 3.30 pm on Monday, 29 December. We will proceed to Piccaninny Beach to explore the rock shelves there.

Wear a hat, appropriate footwear (no thongs or bare feet), and sunscreen. Bring drinking water, small plastic containers and a digital camera if you have one.

Remember that the rocks can be slippery and uneven and care has to be taken. We will provide a safety briefing prior to the walk but people participate in this activity at their own risk and neither the NCMG nor its members can take responsibility. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

And after the event...

This is to report that, as foreshadowed, on 29 Dec I took a group from the Beachcomber Resort, Blackfellow Point, on a rock shelf walk on Piccaninny Beach, which is just near there. I had a total of 12 kids and 4 adults and despite the indifferent weather, the fairly ordinary site and the fact that the tide was not all that low, it seemed to be an enjoyable experience for the participants and the feedback was apparently good. The resort seemed happy with the exercise. They are going to give us $50 for the trip.

None of the participants had ever done a rock shelf walk before. I was able to show them some of the intertidal dynamics and to point out various kinds of algae, molluscs, anemones, barnacles and so on. I gave out several copies of the BMP map. I had some copies of the NCMG brochure with me but judged that it would be a bit of a waste giving them out.

I have another similar walk scheduled for Sunday 11th, when we will have a more favourable tide. To make things better for the next time I have in mind to try something with the kids' activity sheets that Jenny has prepared for the school education program.