Learn About Macro Invertebrates and Phytoplankton with Susan Pagano & Carol Mase

Join SPLASH Educators Susan Pagano and Carol Mase for an interactive science education program on Blacks Creek!  Teaching with maps and plant cards of native species at the marshlands, you will learn about macro invertebrates and phytoplankton while exploring the view from the waters.

Susan Pagano joined the SPLASH program to nourish her passion for  environmental science. This important program and her fellow volunteers have given her the opportunity to share her love for nature and our fragile ecosystem with young people who hopefully will become scientists helping to protect our environment for future generations.

After retirement, Carol Mase joined the SPLASH program to bring her back to teaching. She loves the curiosity and enthusiasm of the young people we work with as well as the dedication and comradery of fellow educators.

D & R Greenway will provide each kayak participant with the following:

• Kayak & Paddle
• Dry Bag
• Life Jacket
• Blige Pump for Every 2 Kayaks

Recommendations for each participant:

Clothing

1. Hat with a brim. There is no shade.
2. Sunscreen. Really, there is no shade. Yes, even on cloudy days and early in the season. Recommend you reapply it after lunch.
3. If you wear eyeglasses or sunglasses, an eyeglass retainer. Glasses don’t float.
   Shoes that can get wet and not fall off (no flip flops). There may be fishing hooks, broken glass, etc. along the shoreline.
4. Clothing that is NOT cotton. Cotton is heavy and cumbersome when wet and does not dry quickly. If you get wet wearing cotton and there is a slight breeze, you may get cold. Longer clothing means less sunscreen. Wool is highly suggested for colder temperatures.
5. Rain jacket with hood, if not also rain pants. You will likely be sitting in a puddle on the seat of the kayak and water from the paddle will drip onto your legs. If you get wet and there is a slight breeze, you will get cold without wind protection. If it is outright raining, there is no shelter.

Personal Items

Suggest you put these in the supplied dry bag (water-tight bag), with the exception of the snack, and clip it to your kayak.

1. Reusable water bottle or two or three, half-empty. This is so that they will float if they fall in the water
2. Snack, stored in your PFD. Do not put the wrappers or fruit peels in the water
3. Lunch, non-perishable. It may be in the heat for several hours
4. Eyeglasses, for the nature center, if you are wearing sunglasses when paddling
5. Medication, if you need it during the paddle
6. Car keys, if you drove
7. If requested by us, you will need to bring an entire change of clothes in a dry bag in case, you fall in. Wet clothing will cause your body temperature to drop. Bring one of everything –from hat to socks and everywhere in between.