Atlantic City, N.J. — Atlantic City High School science teacher Emily Loeb likes to bring her classes to Stockton University’s annual Coast Day because it can be tough to make her classroom interactive every day. 

“To have hands-on experiences like Coast Day makes the learning experience fun for my high school students,” said the 2023 Stockton graduate.

The annual event returned on Friday, Oct. 18 at the Fannie Lou Hamer Event Room at the university’s Atlantic City campus. The annual event brought the community together to celebrate coastal culture, beach activities and environmental sustainability.  

“With the floating idea outreach and the focus on K-12 schools,” said Susanne Moskalski, coordinator of the event and associate professor of Marine Science, “students have the chance to interact with tons of exhibitors.” 

This engagement inspires high school students, like John Guzman-Herrera, to consider majoring in Marine Science, and allows them to explore aspects of the coast that are not visible in their own backyards.  

“I know I'm going to college here, and I wanted to find out more information about the Marine Biology and Oceanography courses offered, as I’m interested in pursuing a major in one of the two,” said Guzman-Herrera, a junior at Egg Harbor Township High School. 

The event featured four breakout sessions: Interact with the Exhibitors, Exploring Sea Level Rise in A.C., How to College, and Coastal Crafts, which included printmaking with a Stockton artist.

Students enjoyed getting their hands immersed in the activities, especially with the Project Terrapin exhibitors.  

“Out of all the tables I visited, my favorite was holding the sea turtles,” said Hannah Tozer, a senior at Cape May Tech. “It was fascinating to learn that one of the turtles was revived by being refrigerated.” 

Other exhibitors included various offices, professors and Stockton students. The college students there were volunteers at the event, gaining experience in communicating science to those less familiar with it.  

“They're getting valuable experience in science communication and public outreach,” Moskalski said. “This gives them a chance to practice skills that are essential in any job. You don’t really know how well you understand something until you have to explain it to someone else.” 

Stockton students were seen helping at the welcome desk, guiding tours and directing exhibits. Some students staffed the wave tank to explain how waves work, while the first exhibitor visitors encountered was the Invertebrate Zoology class, displaying various invertebrate marine creatures. 

John Sherfey, another Stockton alum and administrative assistant for the Eastern Service Workers Association, made a notable point: “We live on the coast ourselves.” He reminded the community of the importance of increasing public awareness about issues impacting the world’s oceans and recognizing local initiatives to bring change to the coastal environment. 

Coast Day highlighted the significance of education and engagement in fostering a deeper connection with our coastal ecosystems and the importance of sustainability in preserving them for future generations. 

— Story by Courtney Combs, photos by Susan Allen

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