Annual 'Ocean Fun Days' slated for May 17, 18

The New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium (NJMSC), Sandy Hook, will present the fifth annual Ocean Fun Days May 17 at Island Beach State Park and May 18 (rain or shine) at the NJMSC Headquarters. The free events will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Ocean Fun Days offers the public a unique opportunity to learn more about New Jersey's ocean and coastline and encourages environmental stewardship. Visitors can find out about marine research, bay environments, shore birds, fish habitat and more. Both locations will offer exhibits, student science fair project displays, demonstrations and hands-on activities such as seining, fishing workshops and marine crafts. Guided bay and beach eco-tours will also be conducted at both events.

Visitors to the Sandy Hook location can enjoy Revolutionary and Civil War re-enactments and take ranger-guided tours of historic sites as part of Fort Hancock's Civil Defenses Day. Highlights include souvenir photos taken with event mascot Limulus the Horseshoe Crab, fiddler crab races and a chance to win a family-of-five fun pack to Jenkinson's, Point Pleasant.

Ocean Fun Days has evolved into one of the Monmouth-Ocean area's most popular educational eco-tourism events. The event was originally organized and sponsored by the NJMSC and New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), and both later welcomed the NJDOT Office of Maritime Resources as a sponsorship partner.

Scouts and other youth groups may use the experience for badge requirements through activities such as seining with an experienced guide. Information for Scouts is at www.njmsc.org/oceanfunday.html. For more information on the event, visit www.njmsc.org.